This fascinating set catches a group of young musicians on the verge of greatness. Donaldson is joined by Donald Byrd, Curtis Fuller, Sonny Clark, Jamil Nasser and Art Taylor. Contains 4 groovin' tracks including Spuntnik, Dewey Square, Strollin' in and Groovin' High. Mastered & Produced by Alan Yoshida & Joe Harley from the Original Rudy Van Gelder Blue Note 2-Track Analog Tapes. The Definitive Versions of Blue Note are on XRCD24... Listen & Compare! XRCD24 is Compatible with ALL CD PLAYERS!

Herbie's Blue Note debut features the incomparable horn duo of Freddie Hubbard and Dexter Gordon (both at their creative peaks), blowing out Hancock's angular, bluesy tunes with passion and finesse. The album kicks off with the classic "Watermelon Man"; the songs are largely uptempo hard-bop until closing with the sparkling, late-night ballad "Alone and I." The pianist's forays into experimentation are displayed in the strange rhythm section solos and the lack of thematic resolution on "The Maze" or the 32-bar broken phrasing on "Three Bags Full." The sound is pure early-'60s Rudy Van Gelder: muted piano, in-your-face horns and rhythm section in your living room. Mastered & Produced by Alan Yoshida & Joe Harley from the Original Rudy Van Gelder Blue Note 2-Track Analog Tapes. The Definitive Versions of Blue Note are on XRCD24... Listen & Compare! XRCD24 is Compatible with ALL CD PLAYERS!

Backed by a powerhouse of musicians, this set kicks off with the Turrentine composed "Look Out." The rhythm section, consisting of George Tucker and Al Harewood, makes way for some bouncing solos from Horace Parlan on the piano and Turrentine's sax. Contains 9 jazzy tracks including Journey into Melody, Look Out, Little Sheri and many more. Mastered & Produced by Alan Yoshida & Joe Harley from the Original Rudy Van Gelder Blue Note 2-Track Analog Tapes. The Definitive Versions of Blue Note are on XRCD24... Listen & Compare! XRCD24 is Compatible with ALL CD PLAYERS!

That's Where It's At features the first of two collaborations between Turrentine and pianist Les McCann. Rounding out the rhythm section is Herbie Lewis on bass and Otis Finch on drums. Contains 7 tasty tracks including Smile, Stacy, Soft Petal Blues and many other. Mastered & Produced by Alan Yoshida & Joe Harley from the Original Rudy Van Gelder Blue Note 2-Track Analog Tapes. The Definitive Versions of Blue Note are on XRCD24... Listen & Compare! XRCD24 is Compatible with ALL CD PLAYERS!

This 1962 jazz album by saxophonist Dexter Gordon features the lineup of Sonny Clark, Butch Warren and Billy Higgins. This was the same quartet from the classic album "Go!", which was recorded only days earlier. In 1962, there was no stopping Dexter Gordon. The first great bebop tenor-saxophonist, Gordon was in one of his peak periods. He contributed two songs (including the heated "Soy Califa"), swings hard on "You Stepped Out Of A Dream" and caresses the melodies of "Don't Explain" and "Until The Real Thing Comes Along". With his huge tone, witty style and ability to swing at every tempo, Dexter Gordon could not be beat when he played the music he loved. "A Swingin' Affair", which also features outstanding playing from Sonny Clark and Billy Higgins, is one of his truly great recordings. The definitive versions of Blue Note are on XRCD24 - the optimization of CD mastering and manufacturing. Plays on all standard CD players.

Art Blakey was one of the greatest of all jazz drummers, a masterful talent scout and the inspiring leader of the Jazz Messengers. For 35 years (1955-90), the Jazz Messengers featured brilliant young talent who were pushed by Blakey to write new music and play at their very best. Few lineups could compete with the 1960 edition of the Jazz Messengers featured on the album "The Big Beat". Blakey, the "old man" of the band at 30, is joined by bassist Jymie Merritt and three brilliant stylists who were not only exciting soloists but very skilled songwriters: trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor-saxophonist Wayne Shorter and pianist Bobby Timmons. The Big Beat introduces Timmons' "Dat Dere" (which practically defines soul jazz) and Shorter's "Lester Left Town" (a tribute to Lester Young) and includes an inventive version of "It's Only A Paper Moon" along with a few other lesser-known but colorful pieces. This is hard bop at it's finest from one of the most immortal jazz groups of all time. The definitive versions of Blue Note are on XRCD24 - the optimization of CD mastering and manufacturing. Plays on all standard CD players.

Jackie McLean, an American jazz alto saxophonist, composer, bandleader and educator, who recorded with such Jazz greats as Miles Davis, Charles Mingus and Sonny Rollins is joined on this album "Swing, Swang, Swingin'" with Art Taylor on drums, Walter Bishop Jr.. on piano, and Jimmy Garrison on bass and delivers a great session of tunes. Recorded in 1959, this was Jackie's 2nd album with Blue Note. Includes a swinging version of Cole Porter's "I Love You" and a refreshing & lively take on Irving Berlin's "Let's Face the Music and Dance". Contains 7 songs. The definitive versions of Blue Note are on XRCD24 - the optimization of CD mastering and manufacturing. Plays on all standard CD players.