At the Jazz Corner of the World is a critically-acclaimed two-volume live album by American jazz drummer Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, released in 1959 on the Blue Note label. The album was originally issued on 12-inch LPs in two volumes (BLP 4015 and 4016) and later re-released as a two-CD double album.
Recorded on April 15, 1959 at the legendary New York jazz club Birdland, the performance features four songs that had also been recorded in-studio just five weeks earlier for Just Coolin’, an album that was subsequently shelved in favor of releasing At the Jazz Corner of the World. Just Coolin’ remained unreleased until July 2020, when it was put out by Blue Note as part of an extended celebration of Blakey’s Centennial.
Reception
The Allmusic review by Michael G. Nastos awarded the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, stating: "this band was as definitive a modern jazz ensemble as there ever was, and the immaculately chosen repertoire elevates this to one of the greatest live jazz sessions ever, and belongs on the shelf of all serious jazz listeners."