Top 12: Blue Note

Jazz label Blue Note Records notes the 75-year anniversary of the re-release on the vinyl one hundred albums from archives. “Initially, the idea was to reissue 75 albums-to the 75th anniversary. But it was completely impossible to select so few records. Therefore, they expanded the list to a hundred, ”explains the president of the company Don UOZ. From March 2014 to October 2015 Blue NOT will produce 5 albums monthly.

The reprint of the classic records is a predictable move, nevertheless, the choice of the leadership of the label is argued and can become the subject of criticism. President of the company Don UOZ does not hide that he is subjective and reflecting the whole glorious history of Blue NOTE does not claim. In the label catalog - more than a thousand publications, or, expressed in professional slang, "positions". Stylistic core- hard-form of the 1950-60s . With approaches to Kul-jazz , avant-garde, Bosanov, and in the 90s and zero-in Aisid-jazz ( US 3 , Eric Truffase, Madlib ), postbop (Greg Osbi, Jason Moran) and Jam-Bendy ( Soulive , Medeski , Martin & Wood ). Nevertheless, it is a big event, the Considerative and Audiophilian. If only because on the mains (and Blue Note now works under the roof of Universal Music ) there was no such impressive publication of jazz on Vinil, probably twenty years!

Blue Note Records is a unique organization. Firstly, this is the oldest jazz label in the world. In 1939 it was founded by Alfred Lyon, an emigrant from Germany. In the same year, the label released his first hit: Summertime Clarinetist / Sopsophonist Sydney Beshe. Classic Jazz Beshe is a mainstream, “hot” jazz , but blue Note is valued mainly for another.

Blue Note can now be called a hipster label.

Secondly, style and quality. Among our and Western jazz-fenes, the opinion is that at the turn of the 50-60s, the label did not have passing or weak albums at all. Anyone can be “taken” with closed eyes. But it is better with open ones, since separate value is the design of records (in reprints they promise to recreate it entirely and completely, as well as the analog sound of the very first releases).

The vulgar word “hipster” is actually jazz slang (as the battles called cool jazmens like Charlie Parker or Telonius Monka). Blue Note can now be called a hipster label. Musical trends, the quality of the game and sound - this is itself, but also design, packaging, photos for Blue Note has always been important. The covers of albums (a couple of three drew Andy Warhol) make up a gallery of cool jazz design. In the preface to the rare book “ The Cover Art of Blue Note Records » Pianist Horace Silver, who collaborated with the company for many years, writes:“ Blue Note Records were pedantic in everything: they printed records on the highest quality vinyl, they paid musicians for rehearsals ... In those years, the musicians tried their best to record good material, but as soon as the recording was finished, they gave it to Alfred Lyona and did not interfere anymore. And I asked Alfred to allow me to participate in the preparation of the material for the release. He did not object. Together we selected photos and texts for the booklet ... Most of the musicians never want to engage in such a “nonsense”, but for me this is an excellent lesson: all that I know about how to publish albums, Alfred taught me everything. ”

Colta.ru compiled its list of 12 classic Blue albums NOTE that you just need to listen. Just for pleasure. In any form.

1.

Cannonball Adderley - “Somethin 'Else” (1958)

Why Choose . The list of 100 BN reprints begins with this album. Pure coincidence: albums are located in alphabetical order. But here, as they say, chance is the language of God: it is this album that will be called the best in the label catalog and the most beloved percent of 90 students. This is a masterpiece for melodies, improvisations and composition (Miles Davis, Hank Jones, Art Blakey). In our opinion, “ somethin ' else ” is no worse than the universally recognized best jazz album of all time, the bestseller “ Kind of Blue » Milesa Davis.

2.

Herbie Hancock - "Empyrean Isles" (1964)

Why Choose . For proximity to the people. Seriously: Aisid-jazz in the 1990s began with this album. The US 3 group has elaborated the title theme for its hit “ Cantaloop : Flip Fantasia " . The original is no worse, believe me. If you like it, take also “Maiden Voyage” , “Takin 'Off” and “Speak Like a Child” . Herby Hankok recorded not many albums for Blue NOTE under his own name (at a few performed a sidena), but all are masterpieces.

3.

Grant Green - "Idle Moments" (1964)

Why chose. Because the guitarist Grant Green is one of the main artists of the label. Like Horaz Silver or Lee Morgan - a “corporate” client. Green recorded a lot of albums for the label. They say that he worked so hard due to the abundance of children at home and pernicious addiction to the green snake. Be that as it may, " Idle Moments ” is considered a masterpiece by professionals, guitarists, and normal people. And the title thing of the authorship of the pianist Duke Pirson is one of the most recognizable guitar topics.

4.

Andrew Hill-“Passing Ships” (recorded in 1969, released in 2003)

Why chose. The thirteenth album of the unique pianist and composer-innovator Andrew Hill (this is composed for large composition) was recorded in 1969. For various reasons, it was published only in 2003, just a few years before the death of the musician. The title play with a melody for a flute is just a hit in essence. It is not clear how such beauty could be hidden in the archive for decades!

5.

John Coltrane - "Blue Train" (1957)

Why Choose . Because in any jazz review there should be John Coltrain. Obligently say, a trang under his name for Blue Note recorded only this album. On several other records, it is present as a sidena, but in general a landmark artist is not a label.

6.

Sonny Clark - "Sonny's Crib" (1958)

Why Choose . Because just on this plate, the TRANI-Sidman is in all its glory. And because it is the album of the pianist Sonny Clark - an important figure for the label and for jazz in general. One of the fans of the pianist is John Zorn.

7.

Lee Morgan - "Sidewinder" (1964)

Why Choose . Because this is one of the most successful and famous albums of the label. And the trumpeter Lee Morgan who recorded for Blue NOTE A lot of records as a soloist and as a sidena-a musician who is associated with a label and in general a hard-beam.

8.

Wayne Shorter - "Night Dreamer" (1964)

Why chose. On chronology. " Night Dreamer ” - the fourth in the discography of the outstanding tenor and sopra-saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter and the first for Blue Note . It is the “Blunous” records, as well as work in the quarter of Miles Davis and Weather Group Report , brought the Schormer the glory and, in the end, the status of a living classic. Among other things, this is a very beautiful album with a psychedelic atmosphere and modern sound.

9.

Hank Mobley - "Soul Station" (1960)

Why Choose . Yes, just like that, honestly. I like it yourself. Peppy music, almost dancing melodies ... The label will reproduce three more unlucky albums of this tenor-saxophonist. And this is completely fair: Hank Mobe is an underestimated, unresponsious and left over the world. By the sound of the mob-something between Stan Getz and John Coltrane. Although he lacks the sugar of the first and the pressure of the second, but still - a very original and valuable musician. Whose albums, by the way, Blue Note did not so willingly reprint.

10.

Horace Silver - "Song for My Father" (1965)

Why chose. The title thing is a standard, a classic, time -tested. And the disk of the surprisingly lyrical pianist of Khoras Silver must certainly be in any jazz collection.

11.

Ornette Coleman - "New York Is Now!" (1986)

Why chose. Because this is the rare case of the vanguard with a human face. The alt-saxophonist, the inventor of Free Jazz and the harmonica, Ornett Coleman and his quartet, gave a mile of a slaughter concert, which made up this album. The plans of the label of the label are also featured by the famous concert of the Quartet Cowlman in Stockholm (and for some reason only the first part of the double), but we will not recommend it to beginners. Since this is the same avant -garde "tin" that scares many.

12.

DEXTER GORDON - "OUR Man in Paris" (1963)

Why chose. Dexter Gordon is one of the main and most popular label artists. In addition, he is a kind of movie star: he played almost himself in Bertrand Tavernier's film “Around midnight” (1986). It is “ OUR Man in Paris ” is one of the most famous albums of the tenor saxophonist, the influence of which was experienced by John Coltrain.