News

Blue Note Records Announces New 2021-2022 Tone Poet Reissue Series Schedule

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 2, 2021

Blue Note Records announces the 2021 Tone Poet Audiophile Reissue Series release schedule. Produced by Joe Harley, these are all-analog (where original recording was to analog tape), 180g audiophile vinyl reissues mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio from the original master tapes. RTI presses in Camarillo, California (where no one these days is relaxing) and packaged in deluxe Stoughton Printing “old style” Gatefold Tip-On jackets.

The series commences with March 12’s release of Charles Lloyd & The Marvels’ new album Tone Poem (a high-resolution digital recording) followed on May 7th with tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon’s , One Flight Upand a first-ever vinyl release of pianist Andrew Hill’s brilliant 1969 album Passing Ships, which was rediscovered in the vaults by producer Michael Cuscuna and first released in 2003. June 4th sees the release of Katanga! a Pacific Jazz catalog rarity by saxophonist Curtis Amy and trumpeter Dupree Bolton (it will also be released for the first time digitally). The vinyl Tone Poet version of Katanga includes a new Thomas Conrad essay detailing the story behind the album.

March 12, 2021

• Charles Lloyd & The Marvels – Tone Poem (Blue Note, 2021) May 7, 2021

• Dexter Gordon – One Flight Up (Blue Note, 1964)
• Andrew Hill – Passing Ships (Blue Note, 1969)

June 4, 2021

• Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – The Witch Doctor (Blue Note, 1961)
• Curtis Amy & Dupree Bolton – Katanga! (Pacific Jazz, 1963)

July 9, 2021

• Sonny Clark –My Conception (Blue Note, 1959)
• McCoy Tyner – Expansions (Blue Note, 1968)

August 6, 2021

• Lee Konitz & Gerry Mulligan – Lee Konitz Plays With The Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Pacific Jazz, 1953)
• Wayne Shorter – The All Seeing Eye (Blue Note, 1965)

September 10, 2021

• Joe Pass – For Django (Pacific Jazz, 1964)
• Stanley Turrentine – Rough ‘N Tumble (Blue Note, 1966)

October 8, 2021

• Sonny Red – Out of the Blue (Blue Note, 1959-60)
• Grant Green – The Latin Bit (Blue Note, 1962)

November 5, 2021

• Hank Mobley – Curtain Call (Blue Note, 1957)
• Jackie McLean – Tippin’ The Scales (Blue Note, 1962)

December 3, 2021

• Gerald Wilson – Moment of Truth (Pacific Jazz, 1962)
• Freddie Hubbard – Breaking Point! (Blue Note, 1964)

January 7, 2022

• Kenny Burrell – Kenny Burrell (Blue Note, 1956)
• Grant Green – Feelin’ The Spirit (Blue Note, 1962)

February 4, 2022

• Harold Vick – Steppin’ Out (Blue Note, 1963)
• Bobby Hutcherson – Stick Up! (Blue Note, 1966)

March 4, 2022

• Chet Baker & Art Pepper – Picture of Heath (Pacific Jazz, 1956)
• Blue Mitchell – Bring It Home To Me (Blue Note, 1966)

April 1, 2022

• Donald Byrd – At The Half Note Cafe, Vol. 1 (Blue Note, 1960)
• ScoLoHoFo (Scofield-Lovano-Holland-Foster) – Oh! (Blue Note, 2002)

Watch a Video Abouot the Tone Poet Series

COMMENTS
poetryonplastic's picture
Submitted by poetryonplastic on Tue, 2021-02-02 07:27

Great that they are doing All Seeing Eye, that's one that has been due for a reissue for quite some time.

Spindle Spinner's picture
Submitted by Spindle Spinner on Tue, 2021-02-02 13:29

I'd pick two copies of "Passing Ships". Unknown Andrew Hill? Went straight to Qobuz to check it out, what a beautiful record!

Montpier's picture
Submitted by Montpier on Tue, 2021-02-02 13:43

Welcome news and really fantastic to see more off-the-beaten track titles being reissued instead of the same old warhorses.

Glad MF spotlighted the great Andrew Hill's Passing Ships. Agree with above post on Shorter's All Seeing Eye, but I'd still like to see maybe Odyssey of Iska or Moto Grosso Feio which are admittedly uneven but personal favorites.

For me, the hidden gem is Harold Vick's Steppin' Out that I don't believe has been previously reissued on vinyl (except perhaps Japan?)

The Joe Pass title is also a highlight. Hope to see more drawn from Pacific Jazz catalog -- many of which frankly are better balanced and sound more natural than RVG's engineering IMO. (Anyone know the provenance/condition of their master tape library?)

But with the continuation of Tone Poet has Harley abandoned the Music Matters series?

Grant M's picture
Submitted by Grant M on Tue, 2021-02-02 15:16

That's going to be a great one!

I don't think people really know the status of Music Matters licence with Blue Note. They haven't cut anything new for about 2 years, the last new titles on 33 rpm were the first batch of SRX that came out in 2019. The 2020 SRX titles were represses of existing titles that came out on standard vinyl. The last standard vinyl Music Matters released was way back in 2017. At this point i think they're just repressing whatever they have stampers for that haven't hit their limited edition run of 3,500 units for 33rpm, or 2,500 for 45 rpm. I'm pretty sure that's the situation.

Grant M's picture
Submitted by Grant M on Tue, 2021-02-02 15:17

That's going to be a great one!

I don't think people really know the status of Music Matters licence with Blue Note. They haven't cut anything new for about 2 years, the last new titles on 33 rpm were the first batch of SRX that came out in 2019. The 2020 SRX titles were represses of existing titles that came out on standard vinyl. The last standard vinyl Music Matters released was way back in 2017. At this point i think they're just repressing whatever they have stampers for that haven't hit their limited edition run of 3,500 units for 33rpm, or 2,500 for 45 rpm. I'm pretty sure that's the situation.

Spindle Spinner's picture
Submitted by Spindle Spinner on Tue, 2021-02-02 14:24

Bobby Hutcherson - "Head On" as a 2xLP with all the super groovy extra tracks that are not on the original LP.

xtcfan80's picture
Submitted by xtcfan80 on Tue, 2021-02-02 16:38

Yes...great titles ...Love the Joe Pass title. GREAT "Relaxing at Camarillo" reference. For new or non-jazz fans, look it up!

xtcfan80's picture
Submitted by xtcfan80 on Tue, 2021-02-02 16:41

It appears that Music Matters is dead or at least dormant. No new titles for some time now.

dial's picture
Submitted by dial on Wed, 2021-02-03 01:58

The costs : a little less than 39 to 45$ each single disc or so, doubles can go for 21 (Lonnie Smith Live At Club Mozambique) to 68 (Charles Lloyd and The Marvels Tone Poem).

Russo7516's picture
Submitted by Russo7516 on Sat, 2021-02-06 04:01

I really am enjoying these Tone Poet re issues. Even the prices on theses Lp are on point. If wanted to buy used 1 pressings pressing on these you would be set up a few bucks for sure . Thanks again Don Was for thinking about the music fan .

pghmusiclover's picture
Submitted by pghmusiclover on Thu, 2021-02-11 02:24

...not a single vocal release scheduled!

I was hoping for some Lena Horne, Dianne Reeves or Cassandra Wilson (for starters)...

Sjeb's picture
Submitted by Sjeb on Wed, 2021-03-03 20:29

I have bought a bunch of the Tone Poet and other recent Blue Note Releases. The records are wonderful. However buy directly from them at your own risk and if you love frustration. I placed three big orders in October and January. The first shipped extremely late and only arrived when then broke it into two shipments after I complained bitterly. The second also shipped late and same thing only started arriving when I complained and they broke it up. The third also was going to be delayed by months (even though just about a week before supposed shipping they said it was on time while third party websites were reporting delays) and I just gave up and cancelled it. The worst part is they do not communicate that they are having issues and force customers to chase them through a ridiculous usually 2 business day minimum email turn around system. They do not have a phone number (SERIOUSLY, AND NOTE THIS IS UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP). To be fair they did replace two damaged records promptly. Nevertheless, I will never order from directly again and nor should anyone else. Use Music Direct, Acoustic Sounds, or even Amazon, etc. Maybe UMG cares only about them.

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