Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Olympia Concert (2LPs, Sam Records)

“I’ve never played in front of an audience like this,” declared Art Blakey through tears. It was November 22, 1958, and he was just getting off the stage after one of the “Jazz Wednesdays” concerts at the Olympia in Paris. For a first performance by the “Jazz Messengers”, the musicians made a strong impression. Not content with drawing a huge crowd from the Boulevard des Capucines (the demand was so great that a second concert had to be held on December 17), they had converted everyone to “hard bop” and jazz musicians in two concerts , jazz lovers and onlookers alike in high spirits. Double LP with three recorded sides. Recorded in Paris on November 22 and December 17, 1958.