Blue Note 101

Albert Ammons & Meade Lux Lewis - The Complete Blue Note Recordings (1989) {2CD Set, Mosaic MD2-103 rec 1935-1944}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks) +CUE+LOG -> 396 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 331 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 30 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1935-44, 1989 Blue Note / Mosaic | MD2-103
Jazz / Blues / Boogie-Woogie / Piano Blues

Mosaic's Complete Blue Note Recordings contains all of the recordings Meade Lux Lewis made for the label between 1935 and 1944, making it the definitive statement on the influential boogie-woogie pianist. This magnificent three-LP box set was issued as part of the first release by the Mosaic label. The out of print collection has all of the music recorded during Blue Note"s first session (nine piano solos by Albert Ammons, eight including a five-part "The Blues" by Meade Lux Lewis, and a pair of Ammons-Lewis duets) plus Lewis" 1935 version of "Honky Tonk Train Blues" and his complete sessions of October 4, 1940, April 9, 1941 (four songs on harpsichord), and August 22, 1944.

Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage (1965) {Blue Note Japan TOCJ-4195 rel 1995}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 225 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 101 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 111 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1965, 1995 Blue Note / Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCJ-4195
Jazz / Hard Bop / Modal Jazz / Piano

Probably the best in Herbie Hancock's series of fine Blue Note albums from the 60s, Maiden Voyage finds him in what is basically the Miles Davis band of the time, with Miles replaced by the young Freddie Hubbard. Hancock has always been a fine composer, but Maiden Voyage contains two classic compositions in particular - the beautiful `Dolphin Dance', and the atmospheric and popular title track. Saxophonist George Coleman, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams play as well throughout as they have ever played, and the whole record is marked with a timeless freshness and sense of creative tension.

Kenny Clarke & Francy Boland - The Golden Eight (1961) {Blue Note RVG 24bit Japan TOCJ-9544 rel 2003}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 307 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 101 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 22 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1961, 2003 Blue Note / Toshiba-EMI Japan | RVG Mini LP | TOCJ-9544
Jazz / Bop / Progressive Jazz

Reissue of the album recorded with Dusko Goykovich, et al. 24bit digitally remastered. Cardboard sleeve (mini LP). This is one of the rarest of all Blue Note albums, and one that is a must for record collectors. The Francy Boland/Kenny Clarke big band was one of the most exciting orchestras of the 1960s and ‘70s. Much less known but also brilliant was a unique octet co-led by Boland and Clarke just prior to the big band.

George Lewis - The Complete Blue Note Recordings Of George Lewis (1990) {3CD Set Mosaic MD3-132}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 869 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 501 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 144 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1990 Mosaic Records | MD3-132
Jazz / Early Jazz / Swing / Clarinet

A centerpiece for the dedicated New Orleans collector, this begins with Lewis' "Climax Rag" session in 1943 and ranges through a variety of studio and concert performances ending 12 years later – definitely some of the clarinetist's best work (1943-1944, 1954-1955).

Eric Dolphy - Other Aspects (1960) {Blue Note CDP 7 48041 2 rel 1987}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 191 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 101 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 22 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960-62, 1987 Manhattan Records / Blue Note | CDP 7 48041 2
Jazz / Post-Bop / Flute / Saxophone

Other Aspects is unlike any other title in Eric Dolphy's catalog. The startling 15-minute composition "Jim Crow," recorded in 1962 with an unidentified rhythm section and operatic singer, shows his embracing of 20th century classical composition. Strong Indian influence is heard on 1960's "Improvisations and Tukras," featuring Dolphy's flute mixed with tabla and tamboura. The final three pieces were also recorded in 1960: "Inner Flight 1 and 2" are solo flute pieces, while "Dolphy'n" is a collaboration with bassist Ron Carter featuring Dolphy on alto. This music remained in the private collection of Dolphy's friend Hale Smith until the recordings were handed over to Blue Note in 1985. While Other Aspects is fascinating, and in its own way essential, it should be one of the final discs obtained for your Dolphy library.

Billy Eckstine - Once More With Feeling (1960) {Roulette Jazz-Blue Note 7243 5 81862 2 2 rel 2003}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 245 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 101 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 5 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960, 2003 Roulette Jazz / Blue Note / EMI | 7243 5 81862 2 2
Jazz / Vocal Jazz / Oldies / Standards / Traditional Pop / Trumpet

Billy Eckstine was looking back more than forward by 1960, and his second record for Roulette featured two remakes of familiar hits he'd enjoyed almost 20 years earlier. He also covered two average themes from forgottable movies, the first being the title song (from a Yul Brynner vehicle), the second being "Secret Love" (from a Doris Day film). It may read like a desultory date, and indeed it would have been if not for the presence of a solid jazz band and the surprisingly sympathetic arrangements of big-brass auteur Billy May.

This is one of the best post-stroke Oscar Peterson sessions in the catalog, thanks in great part to the distinguished company he keeps (Ray Brown and Milt Jackson) and the stimulating atmosphere of the live setting (New York's Blue Note club). Right from the first track, "Ja-Da," you can tell that this is going to be a fun session, as the slippery, swinging, totally interlocked, totally assured way in which these vets react to each other kicks in immediately. Peterson's right hand is fleet, feathery in touch, and bluesy in feel; the left providing just enough punctuation, and at 75, Jackson's bluesy eloquence had not diminished in the least. Ray Brown's time and placement of notes is, as usual, impeccable, and the very talented drummer in his group at the time, Karriem Riggins, provides a swinging kick for the quartet. In the spirit of democracy, each star gets a solo number - Peterson plays his ballad "When Summer Comes"…

On his third date for Blue Note within a year, Wayne Shorter changed the bands that played on both Night Dreamer and Juju and came up with not only another winner, but also managed to give critics and jazz fans a different look at him as a saxophonist…

McCoy Tyner - Guitars (2008) {CD+DVD Set, Half Note HN 4537}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 423 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 177 Mb
DVD9 -> 6.21 Gb | All Regions | NTSC 4:3 | Dolby AC3, 2 ch | ~ 55 min | ISO Image
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 72 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2008 Half Note / McCoy Tyner Music | HN 4537
Jazz / Post Bop / Piano / Guitar

''I've never done anything like this before'' McCoy Tyner recently said of his second album on McCoy Tyner Music/Half Note Records, a CD/DVD titled GUITARS. Along with a trio of Ron Carter and Jack DeJohnette, Tyner invited guitarists Bill Frisell, Derek Trucks, John Scofield, Marc Ribot, and banjoist Bela Fleck for the studio recording and DVD shoot, scheduled for a September 23 release. ''It was great, and each guy had his own concept and own sound which is very, very important on any instrument, '' said Tyner, ''You know, I look for that, the individual sound and concept.''