Featuring the almightily beloved, filial jazz standard.
Stevie nicked the horn riff for Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing. (Steely Dan and Madlib followed suit.)
The great pianist in between bands in 1963-4, with Joe Henderson and Carmell Jones. Monumental hard bop; a key Blue Note.
‘Classic Vinyl Series.’

Scorcher. Crucial Jackie Mac, with Pete La Roca also on top form.
‘Classic Vinyl Series.’

In the ‘Blue Note Classic Vinyl’ series.

A cor-blimey line-up, and a masterpiece, recorded on the first day of spring in 1964. Dorham, Dolphy, Joe Henderson, Richard Davis, Tony Williams.
‘Classic Vinyl Series.’

The rivetingly lucid, acrobatic expression of raw emotion characteristic of this altoist, fronting the same unit which had recently recorded Sonny Clark’s masterpiece Leapin’ And Lopin’, including Tommy Turrentine, Butch Warren and Billy Higgins.
Supposedly Clark came across the music of the opener knocking around Monk’s apartment. Amongst five JM originals, the title track shows how hard bop was too hip to sit still or look back. Sundu is a tasty Clark blues.

The more expensive new LP is in the all-analogue Blue Note 80 Vinyl series.

Dazzling, foundational jazz-funk from 1973, with Larry Mizell back at the desk (after Black Byrd), featuring killers like Lansana’s Priestess — as sampled by Theo Parrish on his Baby Steps EP — and the title track, with hot flute by Roger Glenn, and a smack of Curtis to its vocal chorus. Superior pressing; gatefold sleeve.

‘Classic Vinyl Series.’

Fresh from his stint for Miles, the saxophonist with Tony Williams, Ron Carter and Jaki Byard in 1964 — meshing the great jazz tradition and the avant-garde in his own path-breaking way.
‘Classic Vinyl Series’.

With the Turrentines. ‘Classic Vinyl Series.’

It’s a must. The bluesy, grooving title track is essential Sonny. With Art Farmer (playing superbly), Jackie McLean, Philly Joe Jones and Paul Chambers.
Blue Note Classic Vinyl series: all-analogue, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes.

Donald Byrd (trumpet), Hank Mobley (tenor sax), Sonny Red (alto sax), McCoy Tyner (piano), Walter Booker (bass), Freddie Waits (drums).
1968, stereo pressing.

Flexing, in 1965, with Blue Mitchell (trumpet), Harold Vick (tenor sax), Grant Green (guitar), John Patton (organ) and Ben Dixon (drums) — not to mention Fat Judy.

Japanese, with insert: GXK 8146.

‘One of the most essential hard bop purchases in the canon. The performances by Duke Pearson — four of his own tunes, five by Byrd, and standards — showcase his improvisational acumen at its height. His soloing on studio records pales in comparison. This was a hot quintet, that not only swung hard, but possessed a deep lyricism and an astonishing sense of timing’ (Allmusic).

With Cannonball Adderley, Duke Jordan and co.
Kicking off with Tribute To Brownie; and extending his tradition of hard bop trumpet-playing.

From 1956, recycling the previous year’s Jazz Messengers, subbing Louis Hayes for Blakey. Apparently Silver wasn’t planning on becoming a bandleader, but the success of Señor Blues propelled him forwards. Hank Mobley and Donald Byrd in full effect.