Lou Donaldson, The Natural Soul, 1963 on Blue Note

Another album from the excellent Story of Blue Note Records VMP Anthology, this came five years after Blues Walk, and features Grant Green, John Patton, Ben Dixon, and Tommy Turrentine (brother of Stanley).

Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in his Englewood Cliffs NJ studio and produced by Alfred Lion.

My copy is part of the 2024 reissue of the 2019 Vinyl Me Please Anthology.

Dexter Gordon, Dexter Calling, 1962 on Blue Note

Released in mono in 1961 and in stereo in 1962, this was Gordon’s second album on Blue Note, following quickly after Doin’ Allright and five years after Daddy Plays the Horn.

Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at his studio in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Gordon is joined by Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, and Kenny Drew. Liner notes by Leonard Feather, produced by Alfred Lion.

My copy is from the VMP Anthology The Story of Blue Note Records, which was first issued in 2019 and then reissued in 2024 – my copy is from that second edition.

It's Time! is an album recorded by a group led by American saxophonist Jackie McLean recorded in 1964 and released on the Blue Note label.

It's Time! Review by Thom Jurek

...The music was written entirely by either Tolliver or McLean and walks the line between modal post-bop and free jazz. It came hot on the heels of McLean's first forays into these waters on 1963's One Step Beyond and Destination Out!. There is more to it than that, of course; chordal improvisation still plays a large part in the music on this fine record. Hancock's solo on the opening "Cancellation" is the most angular thing here, and the tempo is simply breathtaking...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiqwsUus-XU&list=PL6cizs1hAT21J1cZacjqfijKIHlYKzxq9&index=1

#JackieMcLean #BlueNote #CharlesTolliver #HerbieHancock #CecilMcBee #RoyHaynes #ModalJazz #PostBop #Jazz #Music #AlfredLion

Herbie Nichols, The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Volumes 1 & 2, 1955 on Blue Note

This 2021 vinyl release in the Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series was previously issued only in Japan in 1983 in this form. It combines two 1955 10″ releases onto a single LP with a gatefold cover reproducing the covers of the separate volumes.

The band is Herbie Nichols on piano, Al McKibbon on bass, and Art Blakey on drums. Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder, with liner notes by Leonard Feather crediting Blue Note cofounder Alfred Lion with discovering Nichols. Photos by Francis Wolff, his partner in operating Blue Note.

Excellent addition to the series – excited to pick this one up.

#10_ #1950s #1955 #AlMcKibbon #AlfredLion #ArtBlakey #BlueNote #BlueNoteClassicVinylSeries #FrancisWolff #HerbieNichols #jazz #LeonardFeather #Reissue #RudyVanGelder #vinyl #vinylcollection