By: Tracking Angle

November 10th, 2025

Category:

News

"Tone Poet" 2026 Titles Announced by Blue Note

Joe Harley produced deluxe All-Analog 180g Vinyl reissue series mastered by Kevin Gray directly from the analog master tapes

Blue Note Records has announced the 2026 line-up for the Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series. The acclaimed series is produced by the “Tone Poet” Joe Harley and presents definitive audiophile quality vinyl reissues that are mastered all-analog directly from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray of Cohearent Audio, pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and packaged in deluxe tip-on jackets.

The Tone Poet Society subscription service also continues into its second year offering members four tiers with monthly, 3-month, 6-month, or annual subscriptions with increasing savings and benefits. All members receive two Tone Poet titles per month from the Blue Note Store with perks including access to exclusive limited-edition releases, behind-the-scenes content, free shipping prior to retail release, and more. Full details are available at TonePoetSociety.com.

The 2026 titles were once again handpicked by Harley and include acknowledged treasures of the Blue Note catalog as well as underrated classics, modern era standouts, and albums from other labels under the Blue Note umbrella including Pacific Jazz and Jazz: West. Newly announced titles begin January 9 with the release of Hank Mobley’s 1957 sextet album Hank and Tyrone Washington’s little-known 1967 jewel Natural Essence, as well as the quarterly Tone Poet Society Exclusive Blue Mitchell Boss Horn (1966), all of which are available for pre-order now on the Blue Note Store. Boss Horn is limited to 1,000 individually numbered copies, adorned with a Tone Poet Society Exclusive gold foil stamp, and comes with a lithographic print of a photo by Francis Wolff.

“During the 2026 season of Tone Poet we’ll revisit rare gems, bold under-appreciated dates, and, of course, beloved titles from the Blue Note catalog that fans have been patiently waiting for like Jimmy Smith’s The Sermon and Sonny Rollins’ Vol. 2, among many others” says Harley. “Stay tuned for several carefully curated surprises that are sure to delight as well. Tone Poet 2026 is designed to deepen your listening experience and celebrate the full breadth of the jazz legacy we all treasure.”

Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series – 2026 Release Schedule:

Q1 TONE POET SOCIETY EXCLUSIVE

Blue Mitchell – Boss Horn (Blue Note, 1966)

January 9, 2026

Hank Mobley – Hank (Blue Note, 1957)

Tyrone Washington – Natural Essence (Blue Note, 1967)

February 6, 2026

Lee Morgan – City Lights (Blue Note, 1957)

Bennie Green – Back On The Scene (Blue Note, 1958)

March 6, 2026

Lawrence Marable – Tenorman (Jazz: West, 1956)

Andrew Hill – Compulsion!!!!! (Blue Note, 1965)

Q2 TONE POET SOCIETY EXCLUSIVE – TBA

April 3, 2026

Fred Jackson – Hootin’ ‘N Tootin’ (Blue Note, 1962)

Larry Young – Mothership (Blue Note, 1969)

May 1, 2026

Dexter Gordon – Dexter Calling… (Blue Note, 1961)

McCoy Tyner – Asante (Blue Note, 1970)

June 5, 2026

Curtis Amy – Tippin’ On Through (Pacific Jazz, 1962)

Bobby Hutcherson – Components (Blue Note, 1965)

Q3 TONE POET SOCIETY EXCLUSIVE – TBA

July 3, 2026

Big John Patton – Got A Good Thing Goin’ (Blue Note, 1966)

Michel Petrucciani/Jim Hall/Wayne Shorter – Power of Three (Blue Note, 1986)

August 7, 2026

Jackie McLean – Vertigo (Blue Note, 1959-63)

Ike Quebec – Bossa Nova Soul Samba (Blue Note, 1962)

September 4, 2026

Sonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Vol. 2 (Blue Note, 1957)

Sam Rivers – Dimensions & Extensions (Blue Note, 1967)

Q4 TONE POET SOCIETY EXCLUSIVE – TBA

October 2, 2026

Freddie Hubbard – Hub Cap (Blue Note, 1961)

Booker Ervin – Structurally Sound (Pacific Jazz, 1966)

November 6, 2026

Jimmy Smith – The Sermon! (Blue Note, 1957-58)

Hank Mobley – Dippin’ (Blue Note, 1965)

December 4, 2026

Curtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Vol. 3 (Blue Note, 1957)

Lee Morgan – The Sixth Sense (Blue Note, 1967)

Comments

2025-11-10 02:06:59 PM

Michael Weintraub wrote:

Some interesting stuff there to be sure. I've been hoping for a reissue of Grant Green's Matador. Seems like a perfect candidate. Looks like I'll have to wait until at least '27.
- 2025-11-10 05:14:09 PM
  
  bwb wrote:
  
  "Matador" was reissued in the Music Matters 45 rpm series. To date, some of those titles have been issued as part of the BN Classic series, but none in the Tone Poets so I would not expect it will be.
- 2025-11-10 07:01:08 PM
  
  Josquin des Prez wrote:
  
  Nothing in the Music Matters Jazz catalog will be reissued again as a Tone Poet. Joe Harley is on record that he's already done them (for MMJ) and doesn't want to do them again as Tone Poets, and he's adamant about that. The Blue Note Classics series is covering a lot of what was in the MMJ catalog, so that would be your best chance for Matador, etc.
  - 2025-11-11 01:04:45 PM
    
    Michael Weintraub wrote:
    
    Thanks to both of you for the info. I may be wrong, but the Blue Note Classics don't include any albums that weren't released around the time they were recorded, i.e. none of the vault discoveries that started coming out in the late 70's or so (of which Matador is one). So looks like the only way I'll ever get Matador on vinyl is to shell out for a Music Matters or a Japanese press, all of which start around $100 on Discogs and go way up from there. At least I know now not to wait around.
    - 2025-11-13 06:19:34 PM
      
      Come on wrote:
      
      For SQ reasons you should take the MM, it’s (as always) better than the Japanese (I had both and kept the MM).
      - 2025-11-14 11:10:42 AM
        
        bwb wrote:
        
        MM released a 33 and a 45 version of Matador. I have the 45 but some opine that the 33 versions are better. I have a complete set of the 45 versions but sometimes wish I had the 33 set for continuity of the 2 sides vs. 4.
        
        I know the 45 set has more titles than 33, and not all 33 were offered as 45 , not to mention the SRX versions I have never heard., further complicating the situation
        
        do you have any experience with the different versions, 33 vs. 45 vs. SRX?
        
        2025-11-14 01:47:13 PM
        
        Come on wrote:
        
        Yes I have (but not for the Matador specifically).
        
        There were different phases of the MM45 releases. Phases of KG+SH mastering and just KG Mastering (he changed EQ then). Phases pre/past KG's cable upgrade and the MM33 were even past his console upgrade. Depending on the phase the MM45 was produced (not published), sound quality of the MM33 betters them more ... or less (or depending on listeners taste is just "different"). I say it's better, but some might prefer the different EQ of the MM45 on their setup.
        
        MM33 titles are always pure KG masterings and were produced after cable and console upgrades and therefore are considered better sounding (than any of the same albums within the earlier MM45 titles) by most I guess.
        
        The MM45 Matador was in an early phase of pre cable and console upgrades and still mastered by KG+SH, so the MM33 will definitely sound better for most (but still really good sounding without direct comparison). The difference between the later MM45s and the MM33s is smaller or hardly recognizable.
        
        Of the SRX I so far just have a favorite of mine, the "Introducing Johnny Griffin" and it's fantastic. The quieter vinyl offers better fine dynamics and resolution, an icing on the cake. Clearly noticable on a revealing setup, but not worth spending hundreds I'd say.
        
        2025-11-14 01:51:31 PM
        
        Come on wrote:
        
        Forgot to say...there are a few MM45 where the recording benefits more from the 45RPM (due to dynamics or loud trumpet levels) than it "suffers" from the less improved mastering chain, but that depends.
2025-11-10 02:18:52 PM

Come on wrote:

Curtis Fuller Vol. 3 FINALLY!!!!! Great!!!
2025-11-13 08:56:05 AM

Scotty wrote:

Here is some info around titles being in mono. "City Lights", will be in stereo as the mono tapes were not usable. Curtis Fuller Vol. 3, will also be stereo. They had both the mono and stereo tapes, but preferred the stereo better. Tenorman, Hank, Sonny Rollins, and the Bennie Green will be mono. Regarding the comment around "Matador" becoming a BNC...I'd say that has a great chance to happen as they recently released "Solid", which was recorded in 1964 and not released until 1979. Michael Weintraub, hope that helps with your comment there. "Matador" is such a fantastic record!
- 2025-11-13 01:49:18 PM
  
  Come on wrote:
  
  So far I have the Fuller japanese Toshiba stereo and the King mono (which sounds a bit better), but I'm sure the new one will certainly beat both.
  - 2025-11-14 09:23:22 AM
    
    Scotty wrote:
    
    Come on wrote, look forward tour thoughts after you get it. Big Fuller fan as well.
    
    Michael Fremer, I hope you see this post. Could you folks please do a review of the new Tone Poet of In The Wee Small Hours? Got my copy yesterday from my local store and let's just say, Frank is live and in the room singing. Some of the best and most alive vocals I have ever heard from a vinyl record. I have an original in excellent shape, and this new version smokes it!