Jazz music constantly evolves and improves, drawing initial inspiration from harmonic structure and drum rhythms. It is lively and energetic, but can also have slower, mellower pieces within the realm of jazz. Jazz allows for creativity even while a musical piece is being performed.
One of the most well-known jazz musicians is Art Blakey, jazz drummer and bandleader. In the 1950s he formed the Jazz Messengers and the group played together, beautifully, for more than 30 years. He was well-respected for this music, insight, and passion, saying, “To pass through life and miss this music is to miss out on one of the best things about living.”
Art Blakey began his musical journey in the church, initially playing the piano but eventually moving on to the drums. He played along with other greats such as Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. These gentlemen have a lot in common – their love of jazz, their love of showmanship, and their masterful skill in the musical field. They have something else in common too – each one has a limited edition Oris watch dedicated to them.
The Oris Art Blakey Limited Edition (Ref. No. 01 733 7762 4081) is a clean, classic watch. The case is a multi-piece stainless steel design, partnered with a pristine white dial. This is a classic three-hander, for the hours, minutes, and seconds, and the watch has a 38-hour power reserve. The watch comes with a brown leather strap with a stainless steel folding clasp. The Oris caliber 733 powers this watch, and beats at 28,800 oscillations per hour. The watch is available in a limited edition of 1,000 pieces. All these points make this a very classic elegant watch.
But, just as jazz is more than just notes and symbols, this Oris Art Blakey Limited Edition is more than just the sum of its parts. Look closely at the dial. Aside from the silver white opaline finish, you’ll see markers. Not hour markers though, because the indexes are not found at the conventional spots. This dial is a recreation of the snare drum, with its eight claws that keep the drumhead in place. Such an inspired way to bring the jazz world into this watch.
But it doesn’t stop there. There is another homage to jazz here once you look at the caseback. The caseback is in stainless steel but has an inlay with special engravings to mimic a cymbal. Yes, another musical instrument used in jazz music.
Whether you are a jazz lover or not, the design elements on this Oris Art Blakey Limited Edition make the timepiece is a logical choice for everyday wear. And if you are an Art Blakey fan, then this choice is an inspired one. Play on!
