Blue Note 85
Explore 85 years of music history with Blue Note Records, the legendary jazz label
behind icons like John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Norah Jones.
Celebrate this milestone with a curated selection of vinyl, including the
Tone Poet Reissues, Classic Vinyl Reissue Series, and Indie Exclusive Blue Vinyl Series from today’s Blue Note stars.
Timeless sounds reimagined for your collection.
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Dexter Gordon - "Go!" / Capitol Music Group; Blue Note; Jazz; By the time he recorded Go! In 1962, Dexter Gordon had already lived several lifetimes in jazz. He was among the first to adapt the language of bebop to the tenor saxophone in the 1940s, but after a decade in which personal troubles limited his output, he signed with Blue Note in 1961 and began a run of essential albums that marked a rebirth for the tenor giant. Featuring a quartet with Sonny Clark on piano, Butch Warren on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums, Go! #was a showcase of Gordon's limitless creativity on hard-swinging numbers like his great tune "Cheese-Cake," and a sure-footed version of "Love for Sale," as well as his peerless artistry on ballads as evidenced on stunning takes of the standards, "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry" and "Where Are You." Available on 180gram blue vinyl. Limited Edition. Indie Exclusive.
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The Horace Silver Quintet -"Song For My Father (Cantiga Para Meu Pai)" Capitol Music Group; Blue Note; Jazz; A decade into his recording career, pianist Horace Silver made the album that would endure as the crown jewel of a catalog that boasts numerous hard-bop classics. Song For My Father captured the transition of his quintet with two tracks taken from an October 1963 session with Blue Mitchell, Junior Cook, Gene Taylor, and Roy Brooks. A year later, Silver entered Val Gelder Studio again with a new band, featuring Carmell Jones, Joe Henderson, Teddy Smith and Roger Humphries for a session that yielded four more cuts, including what would become his signature tune, "Song for My Father," a dedication to his father that was inspired by both his Cape Verdean heritage and the music Silver had heard on a recent trip to Brazil. Available on 180g blue vinyl. Limited Edition. Indie Exclusive
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Grant Green - "Idle Moments" [Blue LP] Time and troubles seem to melt away during the fifteen enrapturing minutes of "Idle Moments," the opening track of Grant Green's sublime 1963 album of the same name. As the piece unhurriedly unfurls, all the unique colors of the ensemble present themselves with Green's soulful guitar joined by Duke Pearson's elegant piano, Bobby Hutcherson's crystalline vibraphone, Bob Cranshaw's reassuring upright bass, Al Harewood's subtle drums and Joe Henderson's magnificent tenor saxophone. The pace quickens for the rest of this tremendous set, including the nimble Green original "Jean de Fleur," a bluesy take on John Lewis' MJQ standard "Django," and a driving performance of Pearson's original, "Nomad." Indie Exclusive Blue 180gram LP. Limited Edition.
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Herbie Hancock -"Maiden Voyage" [Blue LP] Even by the high-water marks set by Herbie Hancock's tremendous 1960s output for Blue Note, 1965's Maiden Voyage remains one of the pinnacle artistic achievements of the great pianist's career. Hancock is joined by his Miles David Quintet bandmates, Ron Carter (bass), Tony Williams (drums), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet) and George Coleman (tenor saxophone). The quintet embarks on an oceanic exploration of five original Hancock compositions, several of which have since become enduring standards of the jazz lexicon, including "Eye of the Hurricane," "Dolphin Dance" and the title track. Indie Exclusive 180gram Blue LP. Limited Edition.
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Lonnie Smith -"Drives (Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series)" Lonnie Smith's 1970 album, Drives, was a showcase of the organist's sense of adventure and indomitable groove. With Dave Hubbard on tenor sax, Ronnie Cuber on bari sax, Larry McGee on guitar and Joe Dukes on drums, Smith delivers funky takes on hits "Twenty-Five Miles" and "Spinning Wheel," plus a fleet version of Miles Davis' "Seven Steps to Heaven." This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. [180g Heavy Vinyl LP]
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Hank Mobley was inspired by Birth of the Cool on his 1966 album, A Slice of the Top, featuring Duke Pearson's arrangements for an octet that added euphonium and tuba to a group with James Spaulding (alto sax), Lee Morgan (trumpet), McCoy Tyner (piano), Bob Cranshaw (bass) and Billy Higgins (drums). This Blue Note Tone Poet Series stereo edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. After appearing on Blue Note albums by Ike Quebec, Hammond B3 organist Freddie Roach made his own run of soul jazz classics for the label including the standout 1963 date Good Move. Featuring Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Hank Mobley on tenor saxophone, Eddie Wright on guitar, and Clarence Johnston on drums. This Blue Note Tone Poet Series stereo edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.
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Duke Pearson's great 1964 album Wahoo! Was a perfect encapsulation of his talents as a pianist, composer and bandleader. Writing for a sextet featuring Donald Byrd (trumpet), James Spaulding (alto sax), Joe Henderson (tenor sax), Bob Cranshaw (bass) and Mickey Roker (drums), Pearson presents evocative originals including "Amanda," "Bedouin" and "ESP." This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series stereo edition is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Suave saxophone master Dexter Gordon had been living in Europe for several years when he returned to make his final Blue Note album, Gettin' Around, in 1965. This sublime set features a unique instrumentation with Dexter's tenor, the lone horn holding the spotlight, with nuanced accompaniment by Bobby Hutcherson, Barry Harris, Bob Cranshaw and Billy Higgins. This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series stereo edition is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes.
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Vinyl LP pressing housed in gatefold tip-on jacket. Under-recognized tenor Clifford Jordan blew in from Chicago with a trio of excellent Blue Note sessions in 1957, including this self-titled release featuring a septet with Lee Morgan (trumpet), Curtis Fuller (trombone), John Jenkins (alto sax), Ray Bryant (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Art Taylor (drums). This Blue Note Tone Poet Series mono edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI.
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. 1965's Dialogue was the debut by vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, who had already proven himself a versatile sideman on albums from Idle Moments to Out To Lunch. Dialogue showcased his more adventurous leanings with a sextet featuring Freddie Hubbard, Sam Rivers, Andrew Hill, Richard Davis and Joe Chambers. This Blue Note Tone Poet Series stereo edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.
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Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
Night In Tunisia (Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series)
Vinyl:
$27.98
UNAVAILABLE
Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. One of the great line-ups of Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers coalesced when saxophonist Wayne Shorter joined trumpeter Lee Morgan, pianist Bobby Timmons and bassist Jymie Merritt, as heard on the 1960 album, A Night In Tunisia. Opening with a fiery version of Dizzy Gillespie's famous piece, the rest of the set showcased new bandmember originals. This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes.
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Donald Byrd was off to the races after joining Blue Note in 1958 and had fully hit his hard bop stride by 1961 with his excellent album, Royal Flush. Joining the trumpeter was a state-of-the-art rhythm section, featuring Herbie Hancock on piano, Butch Warren on bass and Billy Higgins on drums, plus Byrd's frequent collaborator Pepper Adams on bari sax. This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes.
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Vinyl LP pressing. Tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley was at the peak of his powers throughout the early 1960s as he produced a staggering run of hard bop classics including Soul Station, Roll Call, Workout, No Room For Squares, and The Turnaround. Recorded in 1961, Workout was an energetic quintet outing featuring Mobley with guitarist Grant Green, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. The spirited five-song set consisted of four dynamic Mobley originals-"Workout," "Uh Huh," "Smokin'," and "Greasin' Easy"-that proved to be ideal vehicles inspiring vigorous improvisations from each of the soloists. The lone standard "The Best Things In Life Are Free"-taken from the musical Good News-was a showcase for Mobley's more lyrical side.
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Memphis-born trumpeter Booker Little was a bright light of the jazz world who died tragically young at age 23. A prodigiously talented hornman as well as a composer, Little first came to prominence as a member of Max Roach’s band which he joined in 1956 after the death of Clifford Brown, another trumpet great gone far too soon. Little only made a handful of albums as a leader during his brief career including his astounding debut Booker Little 4 & Max Roach recorded in 1958 for United Artists when he was just 20 years old. The full breadth of Little’s artistry leaps out of the grooves with his brilliant tone, astonishing technique, and inventive lines matched by Roach’s fiery drums throughout this engaging set that also featured George Coleman on tenor saxophone, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Art Davis on bass. The album opens with Miles Davis’ “Milestones” and includes the standards “Sweet and Lovely” and a stunning version of “Moonlight Becomes You,” but the album’s centerpiece is the trio of Little originals: “Rounder’s Mood,” “Dungeon Waltz,” and “Jewel’s Tempo.”
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Drawn from two sessions recorded in December 1969 and December 1970, and not first released until 1995, Kofi found Donald Byrd in the early stages of his transformation from top-notch hard bop trumpeter to fusion pioneer. Byrd had already begun to move away from a pure hard bop sound with his album Fancy Free in the Spring of 1969, and the two Kofi sessions straddled the recording of his adventurous fusion album Electric Byrd. The first Kofi session subtly explored a new realm of sounds on Byrd’s originals “Kofi” and “Fufu” with producer Duke Pearson’s electric piano shimmering underneath textured arrangements featuring Lew Tabackin on flute and tenor saxophone, Frank Foster on tenor saxophone, William Campbell on trombone, Ron Carter on acoustic bass, Bob Cranshaw on electric bass, and Airto Moreira on drums. The following 1970 session produced two more vibey Byrd originals—“Perpetual Love” and “Elmina”—adding Wally Richardson on guitar and Mickey Roker on drums with Moreira playing percussion along with Dom Um Romăo.