Art Blakey is deservedly recalled as one of the great jazz drummers and band leaders of all time. He led The Jazz Messengers for 35 years. Much like John Mayall did with his Bluesbreakers, the Jazz Messengers was a starting point for young but yet undiscovered jazz musicians.  Some of the greatest musicians of all time got their start with Blakey and the Messengers.  This was the first studio album from the Messengers, and it features a quintet of jazz hall of fame performers. You will hear Donald Byrd on trumpet, Hank Mobley on tenor, Horace Silver on piano, and Doug Watkins on bass.  This is one of those seminal jazz recordings.  The album was released on Columbia Odyssey in 1968, number 32 16 0246.  This is a reissue of the album originally released in 1956.  The vinyl is in beautiful condition with its bright original luster and just a couple of very light surface scratches that barely impact play.  It plays with almost no background noise. The vinyl grades VG+. The album cover still has its original shrink wrap. It shows no ring wear and no corner or edge wear.  All seams are clean, sharp, tight, and intact. The original label inner sleeve is included and has all seams intact.  The cover grades NM.

Track List: 
Infra-Rae
Nica’s Dream
It’s You Or No One

Ecaroh
Carol’s Interlude
The End Of A Love Affair
Hank’s Symphony

Grading Information I always clean and then listen to every record I list on eBay. I do this to make sure I can give as accurate a description of each record as possible.  I do both a visual check and an audio check. I absolutely attempt to give as objective a grading as I can. I don’t ever want you to be disappointed in the quality of the album you receive. 

I use four grades in my grading:  NM, VG+, VG, and G.  The only exception is a sealed album which is presumed to have vinyl in mint condition. My NM grading means that the vinyl looks and plays as though it is the first time out of the sleeve. The VG+ rating is used on any album that plays great but has one or two small defects.  It may have a pop here and there or some occasional background static. On a VG album you can expect that, typically, this album will play great, but you’ll see more defects on this than your VG+ rated album.  Most often the VG rated album may even play well enough to be graded VG+, but the color or blemishes drop the grading.  Likewise, you may occasionally find an album that looks almost NM but the sound quality just isn’t there. That’s why I play every album first, because this does happen.  In this case the vinyl will be graded VG.  Occasionally I will list an album with a grade of G. This is one where I consider the collectible value of the album to be great enough that the copy being presented is worth having as a filler copy.

Shipping Information – Combined Shipping The shipping cost will be based on the weight of your package. For Media Mail, shipping is $5.00 in the continental U.S. In addition, I will happily combine records from multiple auctions to reduce total shipping cost. In fact, I welcome it!  Shipping will be $5.00 in the U.S regardless of the number of auctions won in any 5-day period.

Canada shipping is calculated based on weight using US Postal Service rates.  Combined shipping is also welcomed here and does result in significant per-album cost savings. The first album will typically cost approximately $22. Additional albums will be shipped for $6 per album, with up to four pounds able to be shipped before we need to use International Priority shipping. At that point we will work together on final determination of shipping cost.

Shipments to outside the US and Canada will vary depending on your country. Typically the cost per album will be no more than $27.  Combined shipping is welcome here as well, at a cost of $10 per additional album up to the maximum of four pounds.

All albums will be shipped in specially designed album hard cardboard mailers with a cardboard insert to prevent damage upon opening.  The vinyl is removed from the cover and presented in a new poly sleeve.  I am committed to one day turnaround on shipments.  If I receive payment before 7:00 AM Central Time I will package and ship that same day.

Thank you   for looking and please contact me with any questions.