85 years ago on January 6, 1939, a German-Jewish immigrant and passionate Jazz fan named Alfred Lion produced his first recording session in New York City founding what would go on to become the most iconic and longest-running Jazz label in the world. For 85 years Blue Note Records has represented The Finest In Jazz, tracing the entire history of the music from Hot Jazz, Boogie Woogie, and Swing, through Bebop, Hard Bop, Post-Bop, Soul Jazz, Avant-Garde, and Fusion, and—after being relaunched by Bruce Lundvall in 1984—has remained the leading label dedicated to documenting today’s vibrant and creatively thriving Jazz scene under the leadership of current President Don Was, who took the helm in 2012.
Marking the 85th Anniversary of Blue Note Records, July through November will see the release of a limited series of coloured vinyl, available exclusively to brick and mortar Indie stores. These opaque blue 180g all-analog vinyl reissues in standard packaging, with OBI strip are mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes. The run of ten titles presents some of the most iconic Blue Note masterpieces by Jazz legends Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, Dexter Gordon, and Cannonball Adderley.
Guitarist Kenny Burrell debuted on Blue Note Records in 1956 and over the following seven years made a series of excellent albums for the label that culminated with his masterwork Midnight Blue. Recorded in 1963, the album waded deep into the blues, conjuring an alluring late-night vibe with a profoundly soulful cast including tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, bassist Major Holley, Jr., drummer Bill English, and Ray Barretto on congas.
Burrell originals including “Chitlins con Carne,” “Midnight Blue,” “Saturday Night Blues,” and the stunning solo guitar piece “Soul Lament” set the tone for this timeless classic adorned by one of the all-time great Reid Miles cover designs.
