Blue Note Works 1500 series Vol.1531-1540

 

Blue Note Records is an American jazz record label, owned by Universal Music Group and currently operates in conjunction with Decca Records. Established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis, it derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. Originally dedicated to recording traditional jazz and small group swing, from 1947 the label began to switch its attention to modern jazz. While the original company did not itself record many of the pioneers of bebop, significant exceptions are Thelonious Monk, Fats Navarro and Bud Powell.

Many great jazz musicians recorded for Blue Note, but the man responsible for the quality of label’s recordings – their high dynamic and tonal range and lifelike presence – was sound engineer, Rudy Van Gelder. It was his recording equipment, choice and placement of microphones, the work at the mixing desk, the selection and rejection of takes, and the active supervision of the whole recording process from monitoring the dials through to cutting of the master lacquer, that created the “Blue Note sound”.

Van Gelder always sought to be at the forefront of recording technology – the Scully lathe he used for cutting lacquer masters was the first to feature variable pitch/depth control to optimise groove-width and loudness. He deployed the newest Neumann/ Telefunken U-47 condenser microphone, which he had specially modified for use very close to instruments. His recordings were made on the latest Ampex tape recorders.

Blue Note made the switch to 12" LPs late in 1955. The Modern Jazz Series continued with the following 12" LPs. Many of these were issued in both monaural versions (BLP series) and stereo versions (BST 81500 series), sometimes in electronically rechanneled stereo. In certain cases, the stereo versions of recordings from 1957 onwards only appeared many years later. Beginning in 1956 with BLP 1509, Reid Miles designed most of the Blue Note LP covers. The 1500 series has been systematically reissued by Toshiba-EMI in Japan ("Blue Note Works 1500" series, 20-bit 88.2 kHz CDs); the catalog numbers are TOCJ-1501, etc.


BN.1531- Fats Navarro- 1953- The Fabulous Fats Navarro Vol.1
BN.1532- Fats Navarro- 1953- The Fabulous Fats Navarro Vol.2
BN.1533- Johnny Griffin- 1956- Introducing Johnny Griffin {RVG Remaster}
BN.1534- Paul Chambers- 1956- Whims Of Chambers
BN.1535- Kenny Dorham- 1955- Afro-Cuban {RVG Remaster}
BN.1536- J.R. Monterose- 1956- J.R. Monterose {RVG Remaster}
BN.1537- Lou Donaldson- 1954- Quartet Quintet Sextet
BN.1538- Lee Morgan- 1956- Lee Morgan Indeed! {RVG Remaster}
BN.1539- Horace Silver- 1956- Six Pieces Of Silver {RVG Remaster}
BN.1540- Hank Mobley- 1956- With Donald Byrd & Lee Morgan

Fats Navarro - All That Jazz, Vol. 132: Fats Navarro – 100 Percent Bebop (2020/FLAC)

 

Theodore "Fats" Navarro (September 24, 1923 – July 6, 1950) was an American jazz trumpet player. He was a pioneer of the bebop style of jazz improvisation in the 1940s. He had a strong stylistic influence on many other players, including Clifford Brown. 

This Jube compilations is assembled from Fats Navarro albums:

1946 Fat Girl

1947 Boppin' A Riff

1958 Nostalgia

• Fats Navarro - trumpet
• Sonny Stitt - saxophone

Fats Navarro (with Tadd Dameron Sextet, Howard McGhee Sextet, Bud Powell's Modernists) - Fats Navarro Memorial Album (1951/2015/FLAC)

 Along with other bebop sides Navarro did for Capitol and Blue Note, these Savoy cuts are part of the trumpeter's essential recordings. And being mindful of his early demise in 1950, it's amazing to realize that the Memorial album is one of several incredible sessions Navarro was able to produce in just over a two-year period during the late '40s. Teaming up with frequent musical partner Tadd Dameron, Navarro reels off fluid solos on both the outstanding Dameron original 'The Tadd Walk' and a second impressive swinger 'Be Bop Carroll.' The remaining sides from this date feature vocalist Kay Penton, who, while not being terribly exciting, delivers some beguilingly languid lines; the rest of the top-flight group includes altoist Ernie Henry, bassist Curly Russell, and drummer Kenny Clarke. The second Navarro session here includes classics like 'Webb City' and 'Fat Boy,' and features first-tier beboppers like trumpeter Kenny Dorham, altoist Sonny Stitt, pianist Bud Powell, and Clarke again on drums. As a sort of bonus, there are four additional tunes from this same session. Amazingly, though, Navarro is not on board, but the balance is quickly redressed with some high-quality originals and more incredible solo work by Dorham, Stitt, and Powell. A classic bebop session.

Fats Navarro & Tadd Dameron - The Complete Blue Note And Capitol Recordings (2 CD, 1995/FLAC)

 

Many valuable performances from the height of the bop era are included on this double CD. Subtitled "The Complete Blue Note and Capitol Recordings" and comprised of 23 songs and 13 alternate takes, the reissue features the great trumpeter Fats Navarro in peak form with three groups headed by pianist/arranger Tadd Dameron, in trumpet battles with one of his major influences, Howard McGhee, and on a remarkable all-star quintet with pianist Bud Powell and the young tenor Sonny Rollins; among the other sidemen are altoist Ernie Henry; tenors Charlie Rouse, Allen Eager, Wardell Gray, and Dexter Gordon; and vibraphonist Milt Jackson. In addition to such gems as "Our Delight," "Lady Bird," "Double Talk," "Bouncing With Bud," "Dance of the Infidels," and "52nd Street Theme," Fats is heard with the 1948 Benny Goodman septet ("Stealin' Apples") and Dameron leads a group with the 22-year-old Miles Davis. On a whole, this double CD has more than its share of essential music that belongs in all historical jazz collections.