At the Cafe Bohemia

At the Cafe Bohemia
At the Cafe Bohemia
	Volume 1
Live album by The Jazz Messengers
Released	Early April 1956
Recorded	November 23, 1955
Venue	Café Bohemia; New York City
Genre	Hard bop
Length	41:54 (Vol. 1); 64:48 (Vol. 1 CD reissue); 62:15 (Vol. 2 CD reissue)
Label	Blue Note; BLP 1507; BLP 1508
Producer	Alfred Lion
The Jazz Messengers chronology
At the Cafe Bohemia
	Volume 2

At the Cafe Bohemia, Vols. 1 & 2 are a pair of separate but related live albums by the Jazz Messengers recorded at the Café Bohemia jazz club in Greenwich Village on November 23, 1955, and released on Blue Note in April 1956.

Background

Release history

With the July 31, 2001 CD reissues, three additional tracks where added to each volume: "Lady Bird", "Deciphering the Message", and "What's New?" to the first, and "Just One for Those Things", "Hank´s Symphony" and "Gone with the Wind" to the second.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic (Vol. 1)	^[2]
AllMusic (Vol. 2)	^[3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz (Vol. 1)	^[4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz (Vol. 2)	^[4]

The AllMusic reviews called the albums "still timeless music"^[5] that have "influenced jazz up to present time".^[6]

The Penguin Guide to Jazz noted, while At the Cafe Bohemia didn't "match the intensity which the quintet secured at Birdland", the playing in general "is just as absorbing", calling saxophonist Hank Mobley "a somewhat unfocused stylist" while praising trumpeter Kenny Dorham as an "elusive brilliance [that] was seldom so extensively captured".^[4]

Track listing

CD Reissues

At the Cafe Bohemia, Volume 1
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Announcement by Art Blakey"		1:32
2.	"Soft Winds"	Benny Goodman	12:34
3.	"The Theme"	Kenny Dorham	6:11
4.	"Minor's Holiday"	Kenny Dorham	9:11
5.	"Alone Together"	Howard Dietz Arthur Schwartz	4:15
6.	"Prince Albert (All the Things You Are)"	Kenny Dorham Jerome Kern	8:51
7.	"Lady Bird" (reissue bonus track)	Tadd Dameron	7:30
8.	"What's New?" (reissue bonus track)	Johnny Burke Bob Haggart	4:31
9.	"Deciphering the Message" (reissue bonus track)	Hank Mobley	10:13
Total length:			1:04:48

At the Cafe Bohemia, Volume 2
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Announcement by Art Blakey"		0:38
2.	"Sportin' Crowd"	Hank Mobley	6:53
3.	"Like Someone in Love"	Johnny Burke Jimmy Van Heusen	9:18
4.	"Yesterdays"	Otto Harbach Jerome Kern	4:20
5.	"Avila and Tequila"	Hank Mobley	12:47
6.	"I Waited for You"	Gil Fuller Dizzy Gillespie	9:47
7.	"Just One of Those Things"	Cole Porter	9:28
8.	"Hank's Symphony"	Hank Mobley	4:44
9.	"Gone with the Wind"	Herb Magidson Allie Wrubel	7:27
Total length:			1:02:15

Personnel

The Jazz Messengers

Kenny Dorham – trumpet
Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone
Horace Silver – piano
Doug Watkins – bass
Art Blakey – drums

Technical personnel

Original

Alfred Lion – producer
Leonard Feather – liner notes
John Hermansader – cover design
Francis Wolff – photography

Reissue

Michael Cuscuna – reissue producer
Rudy Van Gelder – digital remastering
Bob Bluementhal – liner notes

References

^ Billboard Apr 14, 1956
^ Nastos, Michael G.. At the Cafe Bohemia at AllMusic
^ Nastos, Michael G.. At the Cafe Bohemia at AllMusic
^ ^a ^b ^c Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2004). The Penguin Guide to Jazz (7th ed.). Penguin Books. p. 153. ISBN 0-14-101416-4.
^ Scott Yanow. "At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 1". Retrieved November 26, 2006.
^ Scott Yanow. "At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 2". Retrieved November 26, 2006.

[1] Billboard Apr 14, 1956

[2] Nastos, Michael G.. At the Cafe Bohemia at AllMusic

[3] Nastos, Michael G.. At the Cafe Bohemia at AllMusic

[multiple-4] Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2004). The Penguin Guide to Jazz (7th ed.). Penguin Books. p. 153. ISBN 0-14-101416-4.

[5] Scott Yanow. "At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 1". Retrieved November 26, 2006.

[6] Scott Yanow. "At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 2". Retrieved November 26, 2006.

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The Jazz Messengers
Art Blakey Dale Barlow Mickey Bass Terence Blanchard Joanne Brackeen Cameron Brown Donald Brown Bobby Broom Donald Byrd George Cables Buck Clarke Chick Corea Steve Davis Spanky DeBrest Sam Dockery Kenny Dorham Essiet Essiet Robin Eubanks Charles Fambrough Curtis Fuller Carlos Garnett John Gilmore Benny Golson Benny Green Johnny Griffin Bill Hardman Donald Harrison Philip Harper John Hicks Freddie Hubbard Dennis Irwin Javon Jackson Carter Jefferson Geoffrey Keezer Frank Lacy Brian Lynch Branford Marsalis Wynton Marsalis Jackie McLean Jymie Merritt Mulgrew Miller Hank Mobley Lee Morgan Billy Pierce Lonnie Plaxico Valery Ponomarev Wallace Roney David Schnitter Woody Shaw Clarence Seay Wayne Shorter Horace Silver Victor Sproles Bobby Timmons Jean Toussaint McCoy Tyner Cedar Walton Peter Washington Doug Watkins Bobby Watson James Williams Reggie Workman
Studio albums	The Jazz Messengers (1956) Hard Bop (1957) Ritual (1957) Selections from Lerner and Loewe's... (1957) Cu-Bop (1957) Hard Drive (1957) A Night in Tunisia (1958) Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk (1958) Moanin' (1959) The Big Beat (1960) A Night in Tunisia (1961) Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (1961) Mosaic (1962) Buhaina's Delight (1963) Caravan (1963) The Freedom Rider (1964) Free for All (1964) Kyoto (1964) Golden Boy (1964) Indestructible (1965) 'S Make It (1965) Soul Finger (1965) Tough! (1966) Like Someone in Love (1967) The Witch Doctor (1969) Roots & Herbs (1970) Child's Dance (1972) Buhaina (1973) Anthenagin (1973) In Walked Sonny (1975) Backgammon (1976) Gypsy Folk Tales (1977) In My Prime Vol. 1 (1978) In My Prime Vol. 2 (1978) Reflections in Blue (1979) Night in Tunisia: Digital Recording (1979) Album of the Year (1981) Oh-By the Way (1984) Blue Night (1985) Feeling Good (1986) Not Yet (1988) I Get a Kick Out of Bu (1988) Chippin' In (1990) One for All (1990)
Live albums	At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 1 (1956) At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 2 (1956) A Midnight Session with the Jazz Messengers (1957) 1958 – Paris Olympia (1959) At the Jazz Corner of the World, Vols. 1 & 2 (1959) Art Blakey et les Jazz Messengers au Théâtre des Champs-Élysées (1960) Paris Jam Session (1960) Meet You at the Jazz Corner of the World, Vols. 1 and 2 (1960) A Jazz Hour with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers: Blues March (1961) Three Blind Mice (1962) Ugetsu (1963) Buttercorn Lady (1966) Jazz Messengers '70 (1970) In This Korner (1978) Live at Montreux and Northsea (1980) One by One (1981) Art Blakey in Sweden (1981) Straight Ahead (1981) Keystone 3 (1982) Live at Kimball's (1985) The Art of Jazz: Live in Leverkusen (1989)
Compilation albums	Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers (1956) The Cool Voice of Rita Reys (1956) Drum Suite (1957) Pisces (1979) Africaine (1981) Originally (1982)
Soundtrack albums	Des Femmes Disparaissent (1959) Les liaisons dangereuses 1960 (1960)
Art Blakey solo albums	Blakey (1954)* A Night at Birdland Vol. 1, Vol. 2 & Vol. 3 (1954) Orgy in Rhythm (1957) Art Blakey Big Band (1957) Holiday for Skins (1958) Drums Around the Corner (1959) The African Beat (1962) A Jazz Message (1963) Hold On, I'm Coming (1966) Killer Joe (1981) Bluesiana Triangle (1990)
Related	Discography

Hank Mobley
Discography Year(s) indicated are for the recording(s), not first release, except for the compilation section
As leader or co-leader	Newark 1953 (1953 [2012]) Hank Mobley Quartet (1955) The Jazz Message of Hank Mobley (1956) Mobley's Message (Prestige, 1956) Mobley's 2nd Message (Prestige, 1956) Jazz Message No. 2 (Savoy, 1956) Hank Mobley Sextet (1956) Hank Mobley and His All Stars (1957) Hank Mobley Quintet (1957) Hank (1957) Hank Mobley (1957) Curtain Call (1957) Poppin' (1957) Peckin' Time (1958) Monday Night at Birdland (1958) Another Monday Night at Birdland (1959) Soul Station (1960) Roll Call (1960) Workout (1961) Another Workout (1961) No Room for Squares (1963) Straight No Filter (1963–65) The Turnaround! (1964) Dippin' (1965) A Caddy for Daddy (1965) A Slice of the Top (1966) Far Away Lands (1967) Third Season (1967) Hi Voltage (1967) Reach Out! (1968) The Flip (1969) Thinking of Home (1970) Breakthrough! (1972)
With others	At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 1 (Art Blakey/The Jazz Messengers, 1955) At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 2 (Art Blakey/The Jazz Messengers, 1955) The Jazz Messengers (Art Blakey, 1956) Originally (Art Blakey/The Jazz Messengers, 1956 [1982]) At the Jazz Corner of the World (Art Blakey/The Jazz Messengers, 1959) All Night Long (Kenny Burrell, 1956) K.B. Blues (1957 [1979]) Byrd's Eye View (Donald Byrd, 1955) Byrd in Flight (Donald Byrd, 1960) A New Perspective (1963) Mustang! (Donald Byrd, 1966) Blackjack (Donald Byrd, 1967) Dial "S" for Sonny (Sonny Clark, 1957) My Conception (Sonny Clark, 1957) Someday My Prince Will Come (Miles Davis, 1961) In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, Complete (Miles Davis, 1961) Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall (1961) Afro-Cuban (Kenny Dorham, 1955) Whistle Stop (Kenny Dorham, 1961) This Is New (Kenny Drew, 1957) Undercurrent (Kenny Drew, 1960) Farmer's Market (Art Farmer, 1956) The Opener (Curtis Fuller, 1957) Sliding Easy (Curtis Fuller, 1959) Afro (Dizzy Gillespie, 1954) Dizzy and Strings (Dizzy Gillespie, 1954) Jazz Recital (Dizzy Gillespie, 1954–55) I Want to Hold Your Hand (Grant Green, 1965) A Blowin' Session (Johnny Griffin, 1957) My Point of View (Herbie Hancock, 1963) Informal Jazz (Elmo Hope, 1956) Goin' Up (Freddie Hubbard, 1960) Blue Spirits (Freddie Hubbard, 1965) The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Volume 2 (1955) Together! (Elvin Jones and Philly Joe Jones, 1961) Midnight Walk (Elvin Jones, 1966) I Wanna Talk About You (Tete Montoliu, 1980) Introducing Lee Morgan (1956) Lee Morgan Sextet (1956) Cornbread (Lee Morgan, 1965) Charisma (1966) The Rajah (1966) Tenor Conclave (Prestige All Stars, 1957) Star Bright (Dizzy Reece, 1959) The Cool Voice of Rita Reys (1956) Good Move! (Freddie Roach 1963) The Max Roach Quartet featuring Hank Mobley (1953) Max Roach + 4 (1956) The Max Roach 4 Plays Charlie Parker (1957) MAX (Max Roach, 1958) Yasmina, a Black Woman (Archie Shepp, 1969) Poem for Malcolm (Archie Shepp, 1969) Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers (1954–55) Silver's Blue (Horace Silver, 1956) 6 Pieces of Silver (Horace Silver, 1956–58) The Stylings of Silver (Horace Silver, 1957) A Date with Jimmy Smith Volume One (1957) A Date with Jimmy Smith Volume Two (1957) Julius Watkins Sextet (1955)
Compilations	The Complete Blue Note Hank Mobley Fifties Sessions (1998) The Feelin's Good (2013)

Horace Silver
Discography Years indicated are for the recording(s), not first release.
Blue Note albums	New Faces New Sounds (Introducing the Horace Silver Trio) (1952)/Horace Silver Trio and Art Blakey-Sabu (1952–53) Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers (1954–55) 6 Pieces of Silver (1956–58) The Stylings of Silver (1957) Further Explorations (1958) Live at Newport '58 (1958) Finger Poppin' with the Horace Silver Quintet (1959) Blowin' the Blues Away (1959) Horace-Scope (1960) Doin' the Thing (1961) The Tokyo Blues (1962) Silver's Serenade (1963) Song for My Father (1963–64) The Cape Verdean Blues (1965) The Jody Grind (1966) Serenade to a Soul Sister (1968) You Gotta Take a Little Love (1969) That Healin' Feelin', The United States of Mind, Phase 1 (1970) Total Response, The United States of Mind, Phase 2 (1970–71) All, The United States of Mind, Phase 3 (1972) The United States of Mind (compilation of the 3 'Phase' albums, 1970–72) In Pursuit of the 27th Man (1972) Silver 'n Brass (1975) Silver 'n Wood (1975–76) Silver 'n Voices (1976) Silver 'n Percussion (1977) Silver 'n Strings Play the Music of the Spheres (1978–79)
Albums released on other labels	Silver's Blue (1956) Paris Blues (1962) Live 1964 (1964) June 1977 (1977) Guides to Growing Up (1981) Spiritualizing the Senses (1983) There's No Need to Struggle (1983) The Continuity of Spirit (1985) Music to Ease Your Disease (1988) Rockin' with Rachmaninoff (1991) It's Got to Be Funky (1993) Pencil Packin' Papa (1994) The Hardbop Grandpop (1996) A Prescription for the Blues (1997) Jazz Has a Sense of Humor (1998)
Art Blakey / The Jazz Messengers	A Night at Birdland Vol. 1 (1954) A Night at Birdland Vol. 2 (1954) A Night at Birdland Vol. 3 (1954) At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 1 (1955) At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 2 (1955) The Jazz Messengers (1956) The Cool Voice of Rita Reys (1956) Originally (1956)
Selected singles	"Opus de Funk" (1953) "Doodlin'" / "The Preacher" (1954/55) "Señor Blues" (1956) "Peace" / "Sister Sadie" (1959) "Nica's Dream" (1960) "Song for My Father" (1964)