In celebration of the 80th anniversary of Blue Note Records in 2019, the Classic Series presents affordable, high-quality reissues in standard packaging that are mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal Media in Germany. The pressings are all-analog whenever an analog source is available, with Gray cutting directly from the Original Master Tapes.

• Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series
• LP 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl
• Mastered from the Original Master Tapes
• Cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
• Pressed at Optimal Media in Germany

The Classic Vinyl Reissue Series is the continuation of our acclaimed Blue Note 80 Vinyl Reissue Series, which was created in celebration of the 80th anniversary of Blue Note Records in 2019. The series presents affordable, high-quality reissues in standard packaging that are mastered by Kevin Gray of Cohearent Audio and manufactured on 180g vinyl at Optimal Media in Germany. The pressings are all-analog whenever an analog source is available, with Gray mastering directly from the original master tapes. Blue Note Records has recorded the legends of Jazz and has traced the entire evolution of the music from the early days of Boogie Woogie, Hot Jazz and Swing, through the innovations of Bebop, Hard Bop, Post-Bop, Soul Jazz, Avant-Garde, and 70s Fusion, and into the vibrant sounds of Jazz’s many modern-day incarnations. The Classic Vinyl Series is curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman and is broad in its scope. The series reissues the best-known Blue Note classics from the 1950s and 60s, but also goes deeper, exploring the many different eras and styles of the legendary label’s eight-decade history with the aim of telling our story and fully representing the Blue Note motto: The Finest In Jazz Since 1939.

Drummer Tony Williams had a long, fruitful relationship with Blue Note Records starting in the 1960s when he appeared on numerous post-bop classics (Herbie Hancock Maiden Voyage, Eric Dolphy Out to Lunch, Andrew Hill Point of Departure) and made his first 2 albums as a leader: Life Time (1964) and Spring (1965). After Blue Note relaunched in 1984, Williams returned to the label eager to form a new acoustic band as a vehicle to perform his compositions. He headed into the studio in 1985 to record Foreign Intrigue, the first in a remarkable run of 6 brilliant late-career albums. The album featured a set of 7 Williams originals including “Sister Cheryl” and “Takin’ My Time” performed by trumpeter Wallace Roney, alto saxophonist Donald Harrison, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, pianist Mulgrew Miller, and bassist Ron Carter.

This Classic Vinyl Edition was mastered by Kevin Gray and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Musicians:

Wallace Roney - trumpet
Donald Harrison - alto saxophone
Bobby Hutcherson - vibes
Mulgrew Miller - piano
Ron Carter - bass
Tony Williams - drums, electronic drums, drum machine

Track Listing:

A1: Foreign Intrigue
A2: My Michele
A3: Life Of The Party

B1: Takin' My Time
B2: Clearways
B3: Sister Cheryl
B4: Arboretum

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫