Near Blue

Thad Jones - The Complete Blue Note/UA/Roulette Recordings (1997) {3CD Set, Mosaic MD3-172 rec 1956-1960}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 967 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 444 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 116 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1956-60, 1997 Mosaic Records / EMI-Capitol Music | MD3-172
Jazz / Hard Bop / Mainstream Jazz / Trumpet

The Complete Blue Note/UA/Roulette Recordings of Thad Jones is a wonderful limited-edition three-disc box set, containing everything the trumpeter recorded for the labels in the late '50s. Jones was a fantastic hard bop trumpeter, and the set captures him in all of his glory, making it of interest to serious hard bop connoisseurs.

Frank Bolaers & Brice Berard from Paris, as Electroslide, following the recent trends of Parisian fusion like the Gotan Projects’ Argentinean / French electro dub, have produced a modern album of incredible jazz dubs and funk fusions. From the initial piano lines of "Pick Me Up" to the street tough bass lines of "I'm A Cadillac" the album has a certain "savoir-faire" typified by French artists such as St. Germain with his jazzy "Blue Note" blends and Kid Loco with his dubby trip hop. "Near Life Experience", is the second release for Twisted Records sub-label Backroom Beats Recordings and the album, with its selection of smoked beats, smouldering in a Parisian café is a perfect follow up to the initial compilation, "Backroom Beats" with it’s tendency towards modern dubs, trip hop, and other beats & pieces for the chill out room.

Universe in Blue, a collection of undated live club performances by Sun Ra & His Blue Universe Arkestra, was issued in small-run pressings with two different LP covers on Sun Ra's Saturn label in 1972. Until now it has never been officially reissued on LP or CD.

Jackie McLean - Vertigo (1963) {Blue Note Japan BNLT Series TOCJ-50297 rel 2012}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 264 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 95 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 57 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1963, 2012 Blue Note / EMI Music Japan | TOCJ-50297 | 24bit remastering
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Saxophone

This 1980 recording released for the first time – "Formidable" from a 1959 session and five numbers from a 1963 McLean set. While "Formidable" has a strong quintet (with altoist Jackie McLean, trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Walter Davis, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Pete La Roca), the 1963 session has the recording debut of drummer Tony Williams along with strong contributions from Byrd, pianist Herbie Hancock (then also near the beginning of his career), and bassist Butch Warren. The latter unit sticks to group originals by Byrd, Hancock, and McLean, and the music ranges from catchy funk and hard bop to strong hints of the avant-garde.