Mccoy Tyner – Extensions – Blue Note (Tone Poet) 180g Vinyl
McCoy Tyner looked towards Africa on his stunning 1970 album Extensions, a far-reaching exploration of Black identity that marked the masterful pianist’s fifth recording for Blue Note Records. After leaving John Coltrane’s band Tyner had moved from Impulse to Blue Note and made his enduring post-bop classic The Real McCoy in 1967. In the following years Tyner steadily expanded his musical scope: writing for a 9-piece ensemble on Tender Moments, exploring the textures of a piano-vibes led quartet with Bobby Hutcherson on Time for Tyner, and pushing at the boundaries of mainstream jazz on Expansions.
Miles Davis – Volume 1 (1952–53) (Classic Vinyl Series) – Blue Note 180 Gram Vinyl Record
Legendary trumpeter Miles Davis was still near the start of his storied career when he cut the three sessions that comprise his Blue Note recordings in 1952, 1953, and 1954. In 1955, Blue Note compiled the tracks into two 12” LPs as part of the 1500 series. The music presents all the hallmarks of his early style from blazing bebop to beautiful ballads.
This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is mono, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original masters, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.
Robert Glasper – In My Element – Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series 180g 2LP Vinyl
Robert Glasper’s 2005 Blue Note debut Canvas signaled the arrival of a singular new voice in jazz and his 2007 follow-up In My Element solidified his status as a rising star who was taking the music someplace new. Featuring bassist Vicente Archer & drummer Damion Reid, the album expanded the possibilities of where a modern jazz piano trio might go by delving further into his hip-hop & gospel roots.
This 2-LP Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition was mastered by Kevin Gray and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.
Scolohofo – Oh! (Tone Poet Series) Blue Note 180G 2LP Vinyl
ScoLoHoFo — the supergroup made up of guitarist John Scofield, saxophonist Joe Lovano, bassist Dave Holland, and drummer Al Foster — first played together as a band in 1999, but the musicians’ associations stretched back decades. Scofield, Holland, and Foster were all alumni of Miles Davis’ groups and they appeared together on Joe Henderson’s 1993 Miles tribute So Near, So Far. Scofield’s acclaimed early-90s quartet featured Lovano as heard on a series of excellent Blue Note albums including Time On My Hands and Meant To Be.
Sonny Rollins – A Night At The Village Vanguard: The Complete Masters – Blue Note Tone Poet Series 180g Vinyl
The Saxophone Colossus Sonny Rollins had already recorded three Blue Note studio dates for Alfred Lion—Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rollins, Vol. 2, and Newk’s Time—by the time he walked down the stairs of the Village Vanguard on November 3, 1957 to record his first-ever live album, as well as the first-ever live album to be recorded at the iconic New York City jazz club: A Night at the Village Vanguard. Rollins’ tour-de-force live trio album was predominantly captured at the evening set featuring Wilbur Ware on bass and Elvin Jones on drums with two pieces coming from the afternoon set featuring Donald Bailey on bass and Pete La Roca on drums.
The Fabulous Fats Navarro Vol. 1 Tone Poet Classic Vinyl Series
The prodigiously talented trumpeter Fats Navarro was a bebop innovator whose career was cut tragically short when he died in 1950 at age 26. As part of the 1500 series Blue Note later compiled this 12” LP with selections from various dates Fats had featured on from 1947–49 with the Tadd Dameron Sextet, Bud Powell Quintet, and the McGhee-Navarro Boptet.
This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is mono, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original masters, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.
Wayne Shorter – Schizophrenia – Blue Note (Tone Poet) 180g Vinyl
On 1967's Schizophrenia Shorter arrived at the pinnacle of post-bop and gazed out at the horizons around him. A current of the avant-garde already coursed through his music and the next time he would enter the studio for Blue Note would be for his 1969 fusion exploration Super Nova. But in this moment, he produced one of his most complete and stylistically diverse artistic statements with a sextet of like-minded musical adventurers, including James Spaulding on alto saxophone and flute, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums. The six-song set of original compositions includes several of Shorter's most enduring themes including the unforgettable groove of "Tom Thumb," the evocative "Go," and the beautiful ballad "Miyako," as well as Spaulding's churning piece "Kryptonite."
Wayne Shorter – Odyssey of Iska (Blue Note Tone Poet Series) 180g Vinyl
Wayne Shorter’s mesmerizing 1970 album Odyssey of Iska was the last release of the saxophonist’s early Blue Note period.
The album was a tribute to his daughter Iska which found Shorter continuing his own unique explorations into fusion having just left Miles Davis to form his band Weather Report.
This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl 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 tip-on jacket.
