Written by The Legacy Of Legendary Jazz Label Will Be Honoured With Several New Vinyl Series, A Documentary Film, Special Global Live Events And More.
80 years ago on January 6th 1939, a German immigrant and passionate Jazz fan Alfred Lion produced his first recording session in New York City with two boogie-woogie pianists, founding what would become the most respected and longest-running jazz label in the world. Blue Note Records has gone on to represent The Finest In Jazz, tracing the entire history of the music from hot jazz, boogie-woogie, and swing, through bebop, hard bop, post-bop, soul jazz, avant-garde, and fusion, and – after being relaunched by Bruce Lundvall in 1984 – has remained the leading label dedicated to documenting today’s vibrant and creatively thriving Jazz scene under the leadership of current President Don Was, who took the helm in 2012.
The artists Blue Note recorded represent the pillars of Jazz history: Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Jimmy Smith, Dexter Gordon, Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Charles Lloyd, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor, as well as future legends including Ambrose Akinmusire, James Francies, Robert Glasper and Joel Ross. Blue Note Records is one of the flagship labels of the Capitol Music Group and Universal Music Group.
Throughout 2019 Blue Note Records will be celebrating the 80th Anniversary with vinyl catalogue reissues, the Blue Note Review boxset subscription series, a documentary film, live events, branded apparel, art prints of classic Blue Note imagery, streaming initiatives and more, which Blue Note will be unveiling throughout the year.
Photo credits: Baxter PR – and (c) info: all rights go to original recording artist/owner/photographer(s).
Last modified: January 21, 2019
