Art Blakey's Legacy: A Rallying Cry And A Gathering Place

'Art Blakey was born 100 years ago, on Oct. 11, 1919, and America's homegrown music — jazz — might not sound quite like it does today if it weren't for the influence of the late drummer. His group, the Jazz Messengers, founded in 1954 with pianist Horace Silver, became a gathering place. From the beginning, he sought out talented young musicians and encouraged them to compose for the group. It came to be called "Blakey's University." Wayne Shorter, who went on to become one of the most respected composers and saxophonists in jazz, was 26 years old when he joined The Jazz Messengers in 1959. Blakey's advice to Shorter and all the "students" of Blakey's University — future stars such as Lee Morgan, Donald Byrd, Clifford Brown and Terence Blanchard — was to "never overplay and don't short [change] your audience," Shorter says.' -- All Things Considered