First Flight to Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings

Recorded live at the Hibiya Public Hall in Tokyo at the end of Blakey’s first ever tour of Japan, the audience’s enthusiasm clearly had a bearing on the animation and intensity of the soloists…... — Jazzwise, November 2021, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 10th Nov 2021
Catalogue No: 3595286
Label: Blue Note

Jazzwise

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Side 1

Now's the Time - Take 1

Side 2

Moanin'

Blues March

The Theme

Side 3

Dat Dere

'Round Midnight

Side 4

Now's the Time - Version 2

A Night in Tunisia

The Theme - Version 2

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First Flight to Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings is a thrilling previously unreleased live recording of Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers captured at Hibiya Public Hall in Tokyo on January 14, 1961 during the band’s first-ever tour of Japan. The Jazz Messengers were among the first modern jazz groups to tour the country, and adoring Japanese audiences were enthralled by one of the band’s all-time great line-ups featuring the legendary drummer with Lee Morgan on trumpet, Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone, Bobby Timmons on piano, and Jymie Merritt on bass. The concert featured soaring performances of well-known jazz staples including Charlie Parker’s “Now’s the Time,” Thelonious Monk’s “’Round About Midnight,” and Jazz Messenger hits including “Blues March,” “Dat Dere,” and “Moanin’.”

First Flight to Tokyo was co-produced by Zev Feldman and David Weiss and will be released in deluxe 2-LP vinyl and 2-CD editions, both of which come with elaborate booklets featuring rare photos by Japanese photographers Shunji Okura and Hozumi Nakadaira; an historical essay by acclaimed jazz critic Bob Blumenthal; plus new interviews with Wayne Shorter in conversation with Blue Note president Don Was, celebrated saxophonist Lou Donaldson, Japanese jazz star Sadao Watanabe, renowned Japanese music critic Reiko Yukawa, Blakey’s son Takashi Blakey, and a trio of drum greats: Louis Hayes, Billy Hart and Cindy Blackman Santana.

Reviews

November 2021

Recorded live at the Hibiya Public Hall in Tokyo at the end of Blakey’s first ever tour of Japan, the audience’s enthusiasm clearly had a bearing on the animation and intensity of the soloists… This well-produced and beautifully-packaged find from the archives comes with a copiously illustrated and annotated booklet, with fresh interviews with Lou Donaldson, Wayne Shorter, Sadao Watanabe, Blakey’s son and drummers Billy Hart, Louis Hayes and Cindy Blackman Santana.

First Flight to Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings

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First Flight to Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings

2 Vinyl Records

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