Blue Note Records Announces "Blue Note Review: Volume Three" – TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLEE MORGAN

a definite BN collector's item follows a six year pause—Vol.2 was in 2018

The long-awaited third edition of Blue Note's acclaimed vinyl boxset series, returns November 1st with a celebration of Blue Note legend Lee Morgan. Curated by Blue Note President Don Was, the limited-edition set encapsulates the continuum of the legendary jazz label’s 85-year legacy, showcasing both its storied past and auspicious future. “Tone Poet” Joe Harley supervised vinyl mastering and manufacturing, with vinyl mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio

Included in Blue Note Review: Volume Three – TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLEE MORGAN are:

A new compilation album on 2-LP, 180g 12” vinyl (CD version also included) of current artists from the Blue Note roster and beyond including Joel Ross, Bill Frisell, Derrick Hodge, ARTEMIS, Chris Botti, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, and Keyon Harrold paying tribute to the great Lee Morgan by re-interpreting compositions from the trumpeter’s classic Blue Note albums. The collection culminates with a previously unreleased alternate version of “Morgan the Pirate” from Morgan’s 1964 masterpiece Search for the New Land.
A 10” vinyl release of a never-before-issued jam session that took place at the legendary Chicago club the Gate of Horn, probably in 1959. Discovered by Zev Feldman, the session was led by Philly Joe Jones, and features Lee Morgan, Ira Sullivan, Nicky Hill, Bobby Timmons, and Spanky DeBrest.
An all-analog 180g 12” vinyl reissue of Lee Morgan’s 1967 album Sonic Boom featuring David Newman, Cedar Walton, Ron Carter, and Billy Higgins.
An all-analog 45rpm 7” vinyl reissue of Lee Morgan’s 1966 singles “Sweet Honey Bee” and “Hey Chico” featuringJackie McLean, Hank Mobley, Cedar Walton, Paul Chambers, and Billy Higgins from Morgan’s album Charisma.
A Blue Note 45rpm Record Adaptor featuring Blue Note logo cut outs.
Two 12”x12” lithographs of Lee Morgan by photographer and Blue Note co-founder Francis Wolff.
The zine Out Of The Blue featuring a fascinating collection of pieces edited by Evan Haga including: essays on Lee Morgan by today’s trumpet luminaries such as Wynton Marsalis, Randy Brecker, Ambrose Akinmusire, and more; an essay on the mysterious jam session at Gate of Horn by David Fricke; a look at the intersection of jazz and art by the late, great critic Greg Tate; an essay by Natalie Weiner telling the story of women in jazz criticism; a perspective on the impact of McCoy Tyner on African Music by pianist Nduduzo Makhathini; a collection of insightful photos taken by bassist Marcus Miller; and a comic drawn by Keith Henry Brown about an argument between Art Blakey,Lee Morgan, and Wayne Shorter as recounted by Shorter.

Comments

2024-10-31 01:23:42 AM

Josquin des Prez wrote:

$40 for a really nice "Tone Poet"-style reissue and another $185 for the rest, including fluff and stuff. No thanks. I'll pass on it.
- 2024-10-31 09:20:21 PM
  
  bwb wrote:
  
  I won't debate the value of it, but a bit more than you describe. A double LP of new music covering Morgan tunes, a 10" , and a 7" 45 is a bit more than "fluff and stuff." I have the first 2 so will probably get this one too. I have not opened the first but agree with Come On that the LPs in the second set are quite good.
  
  However, I do find it a bit odd that the "double LP" only has 3 sides of music. Blue Note couldn't find anybody else to record a few songs ??
2024-10-31 06:05:53 PM

Come on wrote:

I ordered it because of wanting the Sonic Boom release and because last time, the mix LP‘s were good music and for the most part well produced. I appreciate the care taken for everything.

But I agree with Josquin, that this is how it shouldn’t been done. A very nice but huge box no one wants to occupy space on the shelves, a previously unratable mix LP and otherwise nothing of real value related to the overall price (fluff and stuff, also due to the fact that the 7” just contains previously released/remastered tracks). What remains as a safe bet for what’s paid is that one AAA LP.

The first box was a mess due to the RonMcMaster work, the second is still available although it was quite good, so if someone wants to have a guess why this concept might not have been a big success so far…this is mine.

Otherwise thanks again for the quality those boxes have generally.