Live at Blues Alley (Wynton Marsalis album)

Live at Blues Alley
Live album by Wynton Marsalis
Released	June 21, 1988 (1988-6-21)
Recorded	December 19–20, 1986
Venue	Blues Alley, Washington, D.C.
Genre	Jazz
Length	107:28
Label	Columbia
Producer	Steven Epstein, George Butler
Wynton Marsalis chronology
Marsalis Standard Time, Vol. I (1987) Live at Blues Alley (1988) Baroque Music for Trumpets (1988)

Blues Alley in Washington, D.C.

Live at Blues Alley is a double live album by the Wynton Marsalis Quartet, recorded at Blues Alley in December 1986 and released through Columbia Records in 1987. ^[1] The quartet included trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, bassist Robert Hurst, pianist Marcus Roberts and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts. The album was produced by Steven Epstein; George Butler served as executive producer.

In 1988, the album reached a peak position of number two on Billboard 's Top Jazz Albums chart.

Composition

The double live album Live at Blues Alley by the Wynton Marsalis Quartet was recorded December 19–20, 1986 at Blues Alley in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. ^[1] Members of the quartet included trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, double bassist Robert Hurst, pianist Marcus Roberts and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts. The album was produced by Steven Epstein; George Butler served as executive producer.

Marsalis's compositions on the album include "Knozz-Moe-King", "Skain's Domain", "Delfeayo's Dilemma", and "Much Later". ^{[1] [2]} Stanley Crouch wrote the album's liner notes. ^[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[3]

AllMusic's Scott Yanow recommended the album, awarding it 4.5 of 5 stars. ^[1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Wynton Marsalis except where noted

Disc One

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Knozz-Moe-King"		6:03
2.	"Just Friends"	John Klenner, Sam M. Lewis	8:22
3.	"Knozz-Moe-King (Interlude)"		3:52
4.	"Juan"	Marcus Roberts, Jeff "Tain" Watts	7:33
5.	"Cherokee"	Ray Noble	2:50
6.	"Delfeayo's Dilemma"		9:20
7.	"Chambers of Tain"	Kenny Kirkland	15:12
8.	"Juan (E Mustaad)"	Marcus Roberts, Jeff "Tain" Watts	2:56

Disc Two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
9.	"Au Privave"	Charlie Parker	14:35
10.	"Knozz-Moe-King (Interlude)"		2:38
11.	"Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?"	Louis Alter, Eddie DeLange	11:30
12.	"Juan (Skip Mustaad)"	Marcus Roberts, Jeff "Tain" Watts	3:15
13.	"Autumn Leaves"	Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert	9:41
14.	"Knozz-Moe-King (Interlude)"		3:48
15.	"Skain's Domain"		9:39
16.	"Much Later"		6:15

Adapted from AllMusic. ^[1]

Personnel

Musicians

• Wynton Marsalis – trumpet
• Marcus Roberts – piano
• Robert Hurst – double bass
• Jeff "Tain" Watts – drums

Production

• Steven Epstein – producer
• George Butler – executive producer
• Tim Geelan – engineer, mixing
• Phil Gitomer – assistant engineer
• J.B. Matteotti – assistant engineer
• Delfeayo Marsalis – mixing
• Stanley Crouch – liner notes ^[1]

Charts

In 1988, Live at Blues Alley reached number two on Billboard 's Top Jazz Albums chart.

Chart (1988)	Peak position
US Top Jazz Albums ( Billboard ) [4] [5]	2

See also

• Jazz portal

• List of 1930s jazz standards
• List of post-1950 jazz standards
• Wynton Marsalis discography

References

1. Yanow, Scott. "Live at Blues Alley". Allmusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved December 20, 2011.
2. "Live at Blues Alley". Wynton Marsalis Enterprises. Retrieved December 21, 2011.
3. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 953. ISBN   978-0-141-03401-0.
4. "Wynton Marsalis Chart History (Traditional Jazz Albums)". Billboard . August 6, 1988. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
5. "Top Jazz Albums for Week Ending August 6, 1988" (PDF). Billboard . Vol. 100, no. 32. August 6, 1988. p. 68. Retrieved April 7, 2025.