Blue Note Records Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissues. Joe Harley co-founder of the acclaimed Music Matters Jazz audiophile vinyl label is the producer of this new series, handpicked titles mastered from the original master tapes on 180g Vinyl in deluxe covers. Mastering is done by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and vinyl is pressed at Record Technology Incorporated, RTI in the USA.

• Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series
• Blue Note 80th Anniversary 
• All Analog Mastering
• Cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
• Mastered From Original Analog Master Tapes
• Reissue supervised by Joe Harley (Music Matters)
• 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl Pressed at RTI USA
• Deluxe Gatefold Cover

The Blue Note Tone Poet Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was’ admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley (from Music Matters), a.k.a. the “Tone Poet,” on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

Extreme attention to detail has been paid to getting these right in every conceivable way, from the jacket graphics and printing quality to superior LP mastering (direct from the master tapes) by Kevin Gray to superb 180-gram audiophile LP pressings by Record Technology Inc. Every aspect of these Blue Note/Tone Poet releases is done to the highest possible standard. It means that you will never find a superior version. This is it!

"Per Don Was's direction, everything about this reissue series closely mirrors the Music Matters releases that so impressed Was..." - Michael Fremer, Analogplanet

Trumpeter Donald Byrd and baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams had a formidable partnership throughout the early 1960s, making a series of highly regarded hard bop albums. Yet somehow this masterful quintet session from April 1961 (which also features Herbie Hancock, sounding exceptionally fine on his very first Blue Note recording session) remained unreleased for nearly 20 years. Of particular note are Herbie’s playing on “Great God” and the sophisticated excellence the entire ensemble brings.

"Not released until 1979, this excellent quintet session features the always formidable team of trumpeter Donald Byrd and baritonist Pepper Adams. The accompanying rhythm section includes pianist Herbie Hancock shortly before he joined Miles Davis. The repertoire consists of six likable tunes including an uptempo 'I'm an Old Cowhand,' 'That's All,' 'Sophisticated Lady,' two Byrd originals and Duke Pearson's 'Chant.' This is superior hard bop from the early '60s." — AllMusic

Recorded in 1961 but not released until 1979, the varied Chant is a fine representation of top trumpeter Donald Byrd's style and of the partnership of five years that he shared with baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams. Throughout these performances, Byrd's work is especially lyrical. On "I'm An Old Cowhand" and "That's All," he builds whole choruses around the melody in theme and variation style. Just ten years later, Byrd and Herbie Hancock (who appears here on one of his first ever recording dates) were separately funking up the commercial market and redefining the sound of R&B. This music remains fresh and vital well over a half a century later!

Musicians:

Donald Byrd, trumpet
Pepper Adams, baritone saxophone
Herbie Hancock, piano
Doug Watkins, bass
Teddy Robinson, drums

Track Listing:

Side A
1. I'm An Old Cowhand
2. You're Next
3. Chant

Side B
1. That's All
2. Great God
3. Sophisticated Lady