The Ugetsu Project at

In 1963, Art Blakey‘s sextet, having recently returned from a tour of Japan, played a concert at the world-famous Birdland in New York. The concert was recorded and issued as the album Ugetsu (which means “fantasy” in Japanese). It is one of the finest recordings Blakey ever made, featuring brilliant performances and compositions by the legendary members of the band, which included Wayne Shorter, Cedar Walton and Freddie Hubbard. The recording was produced by legendary producer (now 90 years old) Orrin Keepnews.

To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the concert and the album,...

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In 1963, Art Blakey‘s sextet, having recently returned from a tour of Japan, played a concert at the world-famous Birdland in New York. The concert was recorded and issued as the album Ugetsu (which means “fantasy” in Japanese). It is one of the finest recordings Blakey ever made, featuring brilliant performances and compositions by the legendary members of the band, which included Wayne Shorter, Cedar Walton and Freddie Hubbard. The recording was produced by legendary producer (now 90 years old) Orrin Keepnews.

To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the concert and the album,
six of the Bay Area’s most accomplished jazz musicians will be performing the music of Ugetsu—music that is bold, richly textured, and, above all, swinging.

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