New Release Round-up,
Jazz Vinyl Round-Up - November 2021
Remasterings and reissues of classic albums from Blue Note, limited colour pressings from 20th Century Masterworks, and some gems from Lester Young and Duke Ellington are among our picks for the best recent jazz vinyl releases. They may even make for that perfect gift for the discerning jazz fan...
Please note: due to industry-wide shortages in raw materials, and high demand at manufacturing plants, when items go out of stock with our suppliers the timelines for re-stocking are currently longer than normal.
Due out mid-way through next month, this collection of two Herbie Nichols 10” records - both originally issued in 1955 - are rereleased as a single 12” LP with both covers featured on the sleeve. Featuring some of Nichols’ most idiosyncratic works like ‘The Third World’ and ‘2300 Skidoo’, you can hear why Blue Note founder Alfred Lion saw some great potential in Nichols, even as he remained in relative obscurity compared to his contemporaries.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
Originally issued in 1953 on Pacific Jazz, as the title suggests this session featured Gerry Mulligan joined by fellow saxophonist Lee Konitz, though one other jazz giant who features on this recording is surprisingly left off the front cover - trumpeter Chet Baker. 'Plays’ is a half-live, half-studio recording work that mostly features standards, as well as one Mulligan original tune. Released on Blue Note’s Tone Poet Audiophile series, this album enjoys an all-analog master tape remastering, with deluxe packaging and 180g vinyl.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
The Big Beat was the album that introduced the world to a classic Jazz Messengers lineup, with Blakey being joined by Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Timmons and Jymie Merritt for this recording; you can hardly ask for a better roster. Part of the Blue Note Classic series, this reissue is a fully analog remastering pressed on 180g vinyl.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
The last Blue Note reissue for this round-up comes to us from flautist Bobbi Humphrey. 1975’s Fancy Dancer was the last of six Blue Note albums produced by Humphrey following his debut on the label in ‘71, with this final instalment being a fun slice of jazz-funk produced in close collaboration with Larry and Fonce Mizell. Also released on Blue Note’s Classic series, Fancy Dancer’s reissue is an all-analog remastering, pressed on 180g vinyl.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
Here’s an interesting one; this new release on Decca consists of reworked versions of Nat King Cole Christmas classics, including 5 new vocal duets featuring John Legend, Calum Scott, Kristen Chenoweth, Gloria Estefan, and Johnny Mathis. Other tracks also feature new orchestral arrangements and recordings to accompany Cole’s original vocals.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
Miles Davis’ folk and flamenco-influenced recording from 1960 enjoys a solid red vinyl repress on 20th Century Masterworks.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
One of the last recordings ever made by both trumpeter Clifford Brown and pianist Richie Powell before their passings that same year, At Basin Street, also enjoys a limited edition blue vinyl repressing. Named after the club the quintet frequented - but not where they recorded this album - this session also features a young Sonny Rollins.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
One of the many Chet Baker vocal albums, It Could Happen to You features more of the eminent trumpeter/singer’s takes on classic jazz standards, this time repressed on solid orange vinyl with 2 bonus tracks, ‘Forgetful’ and ‘My Funny Valentine’.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
This repressing of the Ellington-Mingus-Roach classic collaboration also features a digipak CD tucked inside which includes 8 bonus tracks from the same sessions. Money Jungle features primarily new works by Ellington, but is an historic recording also for his choice of bandmates, both of whom do more than pull their own weight alongside the Duke.
Available Format: Vinyl Record + CD
Joshua Lee - Jazz Content
