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You Tube Gold: Art Blakey

Related Topics: Art Blakey, Duke Ellington

What we know about music would fit into a thimble but we do remember what Duke Ellington said: if it sounds good, it is good.

With that in mind, check out this drum solo by Art Blakey. Keep in mind that this is from 1959, so post-Elvis but pre-Keith Moon.

We’re not judging him by the standards of rock but rather trying to give you a sense of how the concept of drum solos have changed.

This starts off and seems kind of...not simplistic certainly but not what we think of today as a drum solo which mostly relies on crashing about and making loud noise.