Tone Poet Audiophile Series
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January 5, 2024
Lou Donaldson – Midnight Creeper (1968)
Funky soul-jazz from the legendary saxophonist. This set features a stellar line-up of Blue Mitchell, Lonnie Smith, George Benson and Idris Muhammad.
Elvin Jones – Poly-Currents (1970)
The revered drummer gets into advanced hard-bop and modal jazz on this session with Wilbur Little on bass, Joe Farrell on saxophone and flutes, and a variety of additional horn players.
February 2, 2024
Blue Mitchell – Down With It! (1965)
Laid-back quintet set from the trumpeter, including a young Chick Corea on piano. One of the purists.
Joe Lovano – Trio Fascination: Edition One (1997)
The saxophonist in his prime on this 1990s trio recording with Dave Holland on bass and Elvin Jones on drums.
March 1, 2024
Jackie McLean – Action (1967)
This quintet session contains some of McLean’s most exciting post-bop recordings, with outstanding contributions from Charles Tolliver, Bobby Hutcherson, Cecil McBee, and Billy Higgins.
Booker Ervin – Tex Book Tenor (recorded 1968, first released 1976)
The last performances the saxophonist, bandleader and composer recorded for Blue Note, playing with Kenny Barron, Woody Shaw, and Billy Higgins.
April 5, 2024
Horace Silver – Silver’s Serenade (1963)
Silver’s final quintet recordings after a stellar five-album run. A collection of swinging, funky hard bop tunes, all written by Silver himself.
Anthony Williams – Life Time (1965)
Strong debut by the 19-year old drum prodigy. Unpredictable avant-jazz with Sam Rivers, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, and Gary Peacock.
April 26, 2024 (new date!)
Sonny Rollins – A Night at the “Village Vanguard” (1958)
Legendary live recording by Rudy Van Gelder showcasing Rollins at his peak, playing in two different trio constellations. A true hard bop classic.
May 3, 2024
Donald Byrd – Byrd’s Eye View (1955)
Early recording by the young trumpeter. Essentially a rebranded Jazz Messengers album with Art Blakey, Doug Watkins, Horace Silver and Hank Mobley.
Bobby Hutcherson – Total Eclipse (1969)
An adventurous, ambitious post-bop session from the vibraphonist, together with sax player Harold Land, Chick Corea, Reggie Johnson and Joe Chambers.
June 7, 2024
Doug Watkins – Watkins At Large (1956)
Originally released on the Transition label, this classic hard bop set sees the 22-year old bassist team up with Arthur Taylor, Kenny Burrell, Duke Jordan, Hank Mobley and Donald Byrd.
Kenny Dorham & Jackie McLean – Inta Somethin’ (1962)
Live album recorded in San Francisco, originally released on Pacific Jazz. A bebop master on the trumpet and a hard bop innovator on the alto sax, both in outstanding form.
July 5, 2024
Wayne Shorter – Odyssey of Iska (1971)
Produced by Duke Pearson, this album features moody, melancholic compositions. Iska is the name of Shorter’s daughter, born in the release year, who would tragically die at age 14 from a seizure.
Donald Byrd – Byrd Blows On Beacon Hill (1957)
Another early Byrd recording, originally released on the Transition label. Here the trumpeter plays hard bop with Ray Santisi, Doug Watkins and Jimmy Zitano.
August 2, 2024
Bobby Hutcherson – Medina (recorded 1969, first released 1980)
Modal post-bop session from the Hutcherson/Harold Land quintet (with Stanley Cowell, Reggie Johnson and Joe Chambers). Sat on Blue Note’s shelves for a good decade.
Lee Morgan – Taru (recorded 1968, first released 1980)
Another one that was released many years after the studio session. Fiery hard bop from Morgan’s sextet, including Bennie Maupin on tenor sax.
September 6, 2024
The Modest Jazz Trio – Good Friday Blues (1960)
Stellar session by guitarist Jim Hall with Red Kelly on bass and Red Mitchell on piano, originally released on Pacific Jazz.
Jackie McLean – Let Freedom Ring (1963)
One of the alto saxophonist’s most innovative works with his quartet, leaning into modal and avant-jazz from a strong bop foundation.
October 4, 2024
Booker Little – Booker Little 4 and Max Roach (1959)
Also known as “The Defiant Ones”, these recordings show the hard bop trumpeter on top of his game.
Donald Byrd – Kofi (recorded 1969/1970, released 1995)
Some of the last 1960s sessions before he ventured into soul-jazz. Beautiful, laid-back set with an all-star line-up including Airto Moreira, Ron Carter, Lew Tabackin and Frank Forster.
November 1, 2024
Clifford Jordan – Cliff Jordan (1957)
Straight hard bop session by the often underrated saxophonist with a strong septet including Lee Morgan.
Bobby Hutcherson – Dialogue (1965)
The vibraphonist’s first album as leader of a sextet including pianist Andrew Hill, who also composed a large chunk of the tunes. Arguably one of Hutcherson’s greatest works.
December 6, 2024
Hank Mobley – A Slice of the Top (recorded 1966, released 1979)
Written during the saxophonist’s incarceration, these tunes were arranged by Duke Pearson and recorded with a larger than usual ensemble, but not released until much later.
Freddie Roach – Good Move! (1963)
On this overlooked set of groovy swinging soul-jazz, the organist is joined by a quartet including Hank Mobley and Blue Mitchell.
Classic Vinyl Series
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May 17, 2024
Stanley Turrentine with The Three Sounds – Blue Hour (1960)
A classic soulful outing consisting of four smoky late-night ballads and one uptempo song, the fiery “Blue Riff”.
Hank Mobley – Workout (1961)
Essential hard bop by the tenor sax man, here playing in a quintet with Grant Green, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones.
June 21, 2024
Aaron Parks – Invisible Cinema (2008)
The pianist and composer’s melodic and mysterious debut for Blue Note features drummer Eric Harland, bassist Matt Penman and guitarist Mike Moreno.
Jason Moran – Ten (2010)
Remarkable set by Moran’s piano trio The Bandwagon which had been playing together for ten years at this point. Improvised, atmospheric music in the post-bop tradition.
July 19, 2024
Thad Jones – The Magnificent Thad Jones (1956)
An absolute pre-big-band classic from the trumpeter, playing in a quintet including tenor man Billy Mitchell and drummer Max Roach.
Clifford Jordan – Cliff Craft (1958)
A laid-back recording from the saxophonist, featuring Art Farmer, Sonny Clark, George Tucker, and Louis Hayes. Swinging bop, played with technical brillance.
August 16, 2024
Wayne Shorter – JuJu (1964)
Shorter employed Coltrane’s rhythm section (Tyner, Workman, Jones) for this innovative session of modal post-bop. All tunes composed by the legendary saxophonist.
Lee Morgan – The Gigolo (recorded 1965, released 1968)
Another classic Morgan hard bop set, featuring Wayne Shorter on saxophone.
September 20, 2024
Jutta Hipp – At The Hickory House, Vol. 1 (1956)
Live trio recording by the elusive German pianist. One of her last recordings before she left music behind for good.
Gene Harris and The Three Sounds – Live at the ‘It Club’ (1970)
Funky, swinging, and groovy. An absolute must-have for lovers of dancefloor soul-jazz.
October 18, 2024
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – A Night In Tunisia (1961)
Classic hard bop session with a horn section made up of a young Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter. Blakey shows off his astonishing drum skills as well.
Donald Byrd – Royal Flush (1962)
The first Blue Note album to feature Herbie Hancock. Two stellar players at the very beginnings of their long-lasting careers.
November 15, 2024
Dexter Gordon – Gettin’ Around (1966)
Recorded during the sax player’s time in Europe, this album features vibesman Bobby Hutcherson and a rhythm section of Barry Harris, Bob Cranshaw and Billy Higgins.
Duke Pearson – Wahoo (1964)
Sophisticated session from the hard bop architect, with a stellar horn section comprised of Donald Byrd, James Spaulding and Joe Henderson.
December 13, 2024
Lonnie Smith – Drives (1970)
Exciting quartet session from the organ master; includes a famous drum break used by A Tribe Called Quest on their 1991 hit “Can I Kick It?”.
Grant Green – Visions (1971)
One of Green’s more commercial recordings, this late album sees the outstanding guitar player diving into show tunes, pop songs and even Mozart.