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12 January 2023 – Blue Note Records has announced the upcoming 2023 line-up for the Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series. The acclaimed series is produced by the “Tone Poet” Joe Harley and features all-analog, 180g audiophile vinyl reissues that are mastered from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray of Cohearent Audio. Tone Poet vinyl is manufactured at Rti in Camarillo, California, and packaged in deluxe gatefold tip-on jackets. The titles were once again handpicked by Harley and include acknowledged treasures of the Blue Note catalog as well as underrated classics, modern era standouts, and albums from other labels under the Blue Note umbrella including Pacific Jazz.

Newly announced titles begin March 3 with the release of two under-recognized albums that are available for pre-order now on the Blue Note Store. Pianist Andrew Hill’s excellent 1968 session Dance With Death featured his singular compositions performed by a versatile quintet with trumpeter Charles Tolliver, saxophonist Joe Farrell,...

Fans waited a long time for Kendrick Lamar’s latest full-length, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers — 1,855 days, to be exact. And while writers, Twitter enthusiasts, and Gen Z TikTokers have been busy deconstructing the Compton native’s lyrics, it’s useful to remember that Kendrick remains one of the most underrated beat selectors in hip-hop. His debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city, played out like a feature film, and his subsequent releases have consistently reimagined the boundaries between jazz, hip-hop, and movie scores.

Unlike with any of Kendrick’s past albums,...

Paul Motian passed away at age 80 yesterday after complications from the bone-marrow disorder myelodisplastic syndrome. In a career that exceeded five decades, Motian was one of the most respected drummers in jazz history as well as a superb composer and adept bandleader. Critic Art Lange called him "that rare commodity, an intimate drummer." And here's a bit of trivia: Motian played at Woodstock, in Arlo Guthrie's band.

Even music lovers largely unfamiliar with jazz have heard his work with pianist Bill Evans, whose trio Motian played in from 1959 to 1964. Other piano greats who availed themselves of Motian's subtly swinging sense of rhythm included Thelonious Monk, Herbie Nichols, Keith Jarrett, Paul Bley, Carla Bley, Lennie Tristano, Mose Allison, Martial Solal, Enrico Pieranunzi, and Marilyn Crispell.

On his own records (perhaps to avoid comparisons?) he favored guitarists instead, most notably Bill Frisell. After graduating from their '80s apprenticeships in Motian's trio and quintet,...