Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series
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Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
The Big Beat [Blue Note Classic Series LP]
Vinyl:
$27.98
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Art Blakey's 1960 hard bop classic, The Big Beat, introduced one of the greatest line-ups of the Jazz Messengers with the legendary drummer joined by Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Timmons, and Jymie Merritt. 3 of the 6 tunes were composed by Shorter, but the album is best-known for an unforgettable version of Timmons' enduring hit "Dat Dere." Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Optimal.
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Flutist Bobbi Humphrey debuted on Blue Note in 1971 and released 6 albums with them capped by Fancy Dancer in 1975, his 3rd collaboration with producer Larry Mizell. It proved to be a winning combination once again with Humphrey's alluring flute dancing through a set featuring standout Mizell compositions like "Uno Esta," and "You Make Me Feel So Good." Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Optimal.
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Donald Byrd's 1975 album, Places and Spaces, featuring the hits "Wind Parade" and "Dominoes," was the culmination of his fusion period. It was his 5th consecutive album produced by the visionary Larry Mizell, and the second to last session Byrd would cut for Blue Note, the label he had been with since 1958. Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Optimal.
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. On his first Blue Note date since relinquishing the Jazz Messengers moniker to Art Blakey, Horace Silver struck gold with the 1956 album, 6 Pieces of Silver, a sterling set of hard bop that introduced his indelible composition "Seor Blues." The pianist was joined by an ace quintet featuring Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Doug Watkins, and Louis Hayes. Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Optimal.
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Recorded in 1961, Ready for Freddie was trumpeter Freddie Hubbard's fourth album for Blue Note Records. Featuring a unique sextet line-up with Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone, Bernard McKinney on euphonium, McCoy Tyner on piano, Art Davis on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums, the album stands as one of the finest of Hubbard's career. This Blue Note Classic Vinyl 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. Pianist Duke Pearson recorded his Christmas album Merry Ole Soul in 1969 with Bob Cranshaw on bass and Mickey Roker on drums, as well as percussionist Airto Moreira on several tracks. The only Christmas album recorded during Blue Note's classic era, the set includes holiday favorites including "Sleigh Ride," "Jingle Bells," "Silent Night," and more.
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Vinyl LP pressing. In February 1964, Eric Dolphy assembled a quintet of modern jazz visionaries with Freddie Hubbard - trumpet, Bobby Hutcherson - vibraphone, Richard Davis - bass, & Tony Williams - drums, & headed into Rudy Van Gelder's studio to record what would stand as his masterwork: Out to Lunch! Dolphy possesses the revolutionary spirit of the avant-garde while keeping a foot firmly planted in the feeling of swing, perfectly captured from the opening Monk tribute "Hat and Beard" to "Straight Up and Down."
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1965's Maiden Voyage remains one of the pinnacle artistic achievements of the great pianist's career. Hancock is joined by Miles Davis Quintet bandmates Ron Carter on bass & Tony Williams on drums, along with Freddie Hubbard on trumpet & George Coleman on tenor saxophone. The quintet embarks on an oceanic exploration of 5 original Hancock compositions, several of which have since become enduring standards of the jazz lexicon including the title track, "Eye of the Hurricane," & "Dolphin Dance."
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Time and troubles seem to melt away during the 15 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 lastly Joe Henderson's magnificent tenor saxophone. The pace quickens for the rest of this set including the Green original "Jean de Fleur," a bluesy take on John Lewis' MJQ standard "Django," and Pearson's original "Nomad."
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Guitarist Kenny Burrell debuted on Blue Note Records in 1956 and over the following 7 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.
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. 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 "Cheese Cake" and "Love for Sale," as well as his peerless artistry on ballads as evidenced on "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry" and "Where Are You." This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on vinyl at Optimal.
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Jimmy Smith was a self-taught pianist who helped popularize the Hammond B3 organ with a revolutionary style that caught the ear of Alfred Lion at Blue Note who later dubbed him The Incredible Jimmy Smith. Back At The Chicken Shack was recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in 1960 with Stanley Turrentine on tenor saxophone, Kenny Burrell on guitar, and Donald Bailey on drums.
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Sonny Clark was the quintessential hard bop pianist. Possessed of a lyrical flow and inventive melodic ideas, he had a deeply rooted feeling for the blues. It was in 1958 that Clark arrived at his masterwork, Cool Struttin', recorded with a quintet featuring Art Farmer, Jackie McLean, Paul Chambers, and 'Philly' Joe Jones. The album has only grown in stature since his premature death at age 31 in 1963. Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is all-analog, mastered from the original tapes.
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. 1958's Moanin' - featuring the great drummer w/ trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist Benny Golson, pianist Bobby Timmons, & bassist Jymie Merritt - was the perfect crystallization of the band's bluesy, soulful sound, & it still stands today as perhaps the most quintessential hard bop recording of all-time. The album also introduced several indelible Golson compositions that would become standards of the jazz songbook including "Along Came Betty" & "Blues March."
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. On February 7, 1960, tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley with pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Art Blakey, laid down what would become his masterpiece: Soul Station. The crystalline six-song set was a showcase for Mobley's lyrical flow from the breezy opening take on Irving Berlin's "Remember" through bluesy originals like "Dig Dis", & the swinging up-tempo number "Split Feelin's." Soul Station endures as a jazz classic for the ages.
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When Lee Morgan recorded his album Caramba, he was only months away from his 30th birthday, making the fact that this was his 23rd Blue Note recording even more astounding. A full-fledged master, his technical prowess on the horn matched by the emotional depth of his playing, and a composer who could conjure different moods and styles with his writing. Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Optimal.
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Legendary trumpeter Miles Davis' unmistakable rasp at the end of "One for Daddy-O," makes it clear he wasn't just playing the role of sideman on Somethin' Else, the album by Cannonball Adderley. The depth of their musical camaraderie lifts this session up throughout, from the breathtaking performance of "Autumn Leaves" to the thrilling title track. Hank Jones/Sam Jones/Art Blakey round out the quintet.
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Song For My Father is pianist Horace Silver's crowning jewel in a catalog filled with hard bop classics. Captures 2 tracks from a session w/ previous quintet (Blue Mitchell/Junior Cook/Gene Taylor/Roy Brooks) and 4 more cuts yielded from a session w/ new band (Carmell Jones/ Joe Henderson/Teddy Smith/Roger Humphries). His signature tune is a dedication to his father inspired partly by his Cape Verdean heritage. The Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series is 180g all-analog, mastered from original tapes.
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. 1964 was momentous for saxophonist Wayne Shorter, starting the year in Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers before making his own debut (Night Dreamer/JuJu). He joined the Miles Davis Quintet that summer, cementing a seminal lineup in jazz history. On Christmas Eve, the transcendent Speak No Evil was created by Shorter/Freddie Hubbard/Herbie Hancock/Ron Carter/Elvin Jones. Features the sublime ballad "Infant Eyes". The Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series is 180g all-analog, mastered from original tapes.
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Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. In 1967, pianist McCoy Tyner was ready for a new start, leaving seminal John Coltrane Quartet and Impulse! Records two years prior. His Blue Note debut, The Real McCoy, firmly established him as a creative force. Featuring a world class quartet with Joe Henderson (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums), the album presented "Passion Dance," "Search for Peace," and "Blues on the Corner." This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is all-analog, mastered from the original tapes.