One of the most influential drummers of them all, Art Blakey's distinctive,
aggressive style had a profound effect on 20th century jazz and he is credited
with inventing the bebop rhythm along with Kenny Clarke and Max Roach. From
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Blakey was still in his teens when he started playing
piano and leading his own band. He later decided to take up drums, touring with
the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra in the early 1940s before joining Billy
Eckstine's big band and - closely associated with Miles Davis, Horace Silver and
Charlie Parker - he was identified as one...