Change A Pace (1980). After a flurry of recording activity, Duke Jordan had few opportunities to record as a leader for most of the 1960s. That changed in the following decade with the beginning of his long, fruitful relationship with the Danish label Steeplechase. By the time of this 1979, the pianist had moved to Denmark; he is joined by the great Danish bass virtuoso Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and drummer Billy Hart, playing nine originals by the leader. The loping ballad "I Thought You'd Call Today" merits a bittersweet lyric to go with it, while "Double Scotch" sounds like the kind of jaunty tune that could have been conceived by Billy Strayhorn in the '40s. "Diamond Stud" is a breezy number with a few twists, with great solos all around. While none of Duke Jordan's compositions on this date ever became as well known as his "Jordu," "Flight to Jordan," or "No Problem," this session is warmly recommended…
The first of 100 tunes in this collection is a 1937 recording of tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins and guitarist Django Reinhardt playing Out Of Nowhere. It was recorded two years before Blue Note Records was founded. The taping was done for EMI’s Capitol label’s French division. This is an ominous hint as to the content of the 10-disc “100 Best of Blue Note” box set, which at first glance appears to have all the trimmings of a slick 21st century collection.
Stunning 100 CD set containing a plethora of classic Bebop Jazz. Bebop marked the beginning of Modern Jazz, a musical and technical revolution and the first example of Jazz as an art. New harmonic structures coupled with improvising at a fast tempo together with hip outfits.
The soaring spirit of Blue Note Records – served up here with a really special twist to fit the mode of the Free Soul series! The package is overflowing with goodness – four hours' worth of listening, with a special focus on two periods of the label – that great late 60s/early 70s stretch when they were trying out so many new ideas and rhythms, including elements borrowed from soul, Latin, fusion, and Brazilian modes – and the more recent stretch that has seen Blue Note re-emerge as one of the most forward-thinking labels in jazz!