CD-Charts Position 1
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Somethin' Else: Remastered

by: Cannonball Adderley

Release Date April 05, 1999
Somethin' Else: Remastered

Quite by chance I caught just three or four bars of the theme of "Autumn Leaves" on the radio. It was so obviously Miles, and at his very best. I immediately decided, on the basis of that brief snatch of melody, to try to get the CD. But it was not easy to run it down as, of course, the band was under the (nominal) leadership of Cannonball Adderley.

This is a wonderful CD with all players on top form and I heartily endorse what other reviewers have said. It is worth its modest price just for that exposition of the beautiful "Autumn Leaves" theme!

CD-Charts Position 2
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Maiden Voyage: Remastered

by: Herbie Hancock

Release Date June 14, 1999
Like the sea itself, Maiden Voyage is vast and epic- flirting with adventure and myth. It is Herbie Hancock's tour de force- what the wonderous Speak No Evil was to his Blue Note peer, Wayne Shorter- ie. representing the composer/pianist at his imaginitive peak. We can only imagine what kind of zone Freddie Hubbard, George Coleman, Ron Carter and Tony Williams must have been during the recording of this masterpiece- so wonderfully coherent yet brimming with subtle musical conflict. And Hancock's playing is simply majestic.

The opening track is stunningly simple- you might feel a little uninspired by the low-key opening, but then, all of a sudden, it all opens out beautifully during the trumpet solo. This short flourish embodies the ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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The Sidewinder: Remastered

by: Lee Morgan

Release Date June 14, 1999
"The Sidewinder," is probably Jazz's,"Smells like Teen Spirit." It's undeniably brilliant but it's been so over-exposed, covered and plagiarised down the years that it's genius is no longer instantly apparent. The extended blues track became something of an anchorism for Blue Note, it's a shame because there is some truly wonderful playing on this track, Morgans's ranging trumpet and another set defining performance by Joe Henderson on sax. I prefer to analyse the title track in conjunction with the other brilliant peices of music on this record. You have the hypnotic "Totem Pole," and it's alternate version which somehow manages to be even better. It merges beautifully into the funky,"Gary's Notebook." Higgin's drumwork constantly helps Morgan and Henderson ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Speak No Evil: Remastered

by: Wayne Shorter

Release Date May 03, 1999
This album is proof that the criticisms of Wayne Shorter being just another Rollins-Coltrane imitator were indeed fatuous. Shorter, who has always incorporated a stronger element of the blues to his playing than Coltrane did in the mid-sixties, mixes this with some masterful composition and improvisation. Couple this with some astounding support from the polyrhythmic Elvin Jones, a (sometimes over) brassy and exuberant Freddie Hubbard, with the mercurial Herbie Hancock and journeyman Ron Carter.

The compositions themselves are wondrous, opening with "Witch Hunt", an interesting piece with a separate intro that moves straight into the main theme. It is a haunting blues with great solos from Shorter and Hubbard, driven along by Jones' fiery beat. "Fee ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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Midnight Blue: Remastered

by: Kenny Burrell

Release Date April 05, 1999
Hynotic, subtle and the same time wonderfully soulful this record surely sits within the top five of all time Blue Note releases. It's the ultimate late night session. The consistently wonderfully Kenny Burrell who makes the difficult sound effortlessly simple gives a masterclass in Jazz guitar playing with an endlesss tapestry of smooth licks that melt into the instinctive groove of Stanley Turrentine's sax. It's a partnership made in heaven, they work so languidly off each other on, "Mule" The way Burrell brings in the track on,"Soul lament," with his emotive twanging are classic bars of music. I am also particularly fond of the waltz tempo on,"Wavy Gravy."
This record is wonderfully focussed, Burrell's musical philosophy is stamped all over the music. The rhythm ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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Go: Remastered

by: Dexter Gordon

Release Date May 03, 1999
This is a cracking album and I totally agree with the other reviewer as this is a disc that is frequently in my CD player.
Although my preference would be for the other Blue Note recorded in Paris with Kenny Clarke and Bud Powell, this is a hugely enjoyable set, Dexter playing with his customary wry sense of humour and backed by a hard-hitting rythmn section. Like many other discs of the era on the Blue Note label, the recording quality is good and the standard of material is very high. No duff tracks on this one.
Dexter's style of playing with his huge, impressive tone was unique - owing something to the more Romantic players of the generation of Coleman Hawkins but taking on the harmonies and rythmns of Be-bop. This is a good introduction to one of the kings of the ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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Song for My Father: Remastered

by: Horace Silver Quintet

Release Date June 14, 1999
It's the simpleness of his warm, infectious grooves that makes Horace Silver's music so enduring. The Bossa Nova infused title track is a typical example of his ability to pen catchy rhythms, "Song for my father," is notable for Joe Henderson's blazing solo and it remains one of those Blue Note signature tunes. Each track starts with a bass note and a single piano chord before gently building into a tumultuous ebb and flow. "Calcutta Cutie," has a slighly eerie, claustrophobic feel to it and it combines well with the snaking,"Que Pasa." The liner notes on this re-issued version give an interesting insight into the rag bag of musicians that Silver used in laying down the tracks. The rather lengthy recording time and the two quintets involved can only add to the record's allure ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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Blue Train: Rudy Van Gelder Remaster

by: John Coltrane

Release Date August 18, 2003
With BLUE TRAIN, John Coltrane not only firmly established his own voice on the tenor saxophone, but also proved his abilities as a bandleader and composer. The musicians on BLUE TRAIN, hand-picked by Coltrane himself, play superbly not only as individuals, which is to be expected of players of such high caliber, but also as a cohesive unit--a rare occurence in an era where "all-star" bands would come together for one session, then disband just as quickly.Coltrane burns through the opening blues, igniting the rhythm section with rapid flurries of notes and reaffirming his absolute mastery of both sound and medium. At this stage of his career, Trane was still occupied with blowing over increasingly challenging chord changes. His ideas flow, flawlessly executed, logically developed and easily ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Mingus Ah Um

by: Charles Mingus

Release Date February 08, 1999
This is a rarity - a Mingus album with no duff tracks at all - everything is spot-on.The eclecticism of the music and its execution are breathtaking - if you need music to wake you up, try Boogie Stop Shuffle (so that's where they got the Mission Impossible theme from!).The gentler side of Mingus emerges beautifully on the slower tracks such as Pork Pie Hat.As for the recording - how did they manage such stunning sound? OK,it's remastered, but compare it to Monk CDs from the same time and it leaves them behind - vibrant,balanced,clear and dynamic - a must-buy!

CD-Charts Position 10
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Cool Struttin': Remastered

by: Sonny Clark

Release Date June 14, 1999
Sonny Clark is something of a neglected figure these days. However, he should be immortalised for making this one record alone, if not also for his inluence upon Bill Evans, whose "NYC's No Lark" is dedicated to the pianist-composer. "Cool Struttin'" is one of my absolute favourite Blue Notes and features a rare appearance on the label by Art Farmer on trumpet. Needless -to-say, his playing is as exemplorary as ever. Full marks to Mr. McLean on alto too.
This is classic fifties hard bop, music caught between the pioneer playing of Bird and the 60's revolutions of Mile and 'Trane. It displays an innocence and freshness typical of the era and Clark's writing is instantly memorable. This has been one of my most played records in my collection for years.
The rythmn team of Clark, Paul ... Read More: