The most prolific and longest-running jazz record label of all time is celebrating its 70th anniversary tonight at the Manship Theatre.
The Blue Note 7, an all-star group of modern jazz masters, will pay homage to Blue Note Records’ extensive catalog tonight as part of a tour in promotion of “Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records,” an eight-song collection of re-envisioned Blue Note classics.Blue Note 7 features Bill Charlap on piano, Nicholas Payton on trumpet, Steve Wilson on alto sax and flute, Ravi Coltrane on tenor sax, Peter Bernstein on guitar, Peter Washington on bass and Lewis Nash on drums.All world-renowned musicians, Blue Note 7’s members will perform their own interpretations of songs from Blue Note’s celebrated catalog at the Manship Theatre at 7 and 9 p.m.
“Jazz is a special music,” Bernstein said. “We all love these records and want to pay tribute to them with the proper spirit.”
Blue Note’s legendary catalog traces the entire history of jazz from the early days of Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock to more recent musicians like Medeski Martin & Wood, Norah Jones, Wynton Marsails and Al Green.”There is such a wide variety of guys who have recorded for Blue Note,” Bernstein said. “It was the place where modern jazz was being documented in that time.”
Since its very first recording session Jan. 6, 1939, Blue Note has grown from a small independent label into the world’s longest-running jazz label.”They encouraged musicians to do their own work, and they weren’t worried about making big commercial albums,” Bernstein said.Today, Blue Note boasts a legendary catalog that includes nearly every jazz icon of the last 70 years.
“For me, those records showed me what jazz was all about. After a while, you start to just buy albums because they were recorded on Blue Note. Everything that came out of Blue Note was a very high level.” Bernstein said. “It influenced all of us.”The Blue Note 7 will hit 50 U.S. cities and end with a week-long run at legendary jazz club Birdland in New York from April 14 to 19. A European tour is also planned for October and November.Bernstein said he was a little worried about the tour because of the direction the economy has been heading but has been pleasantly surprised by full arenas around the country.Bernstein said he enjoyed visiting some cities for the first time.”Places like Baton Rouge, Omaha, Nebraska, and Birmingham, Alabama, are usually a little off the beaten path for the jazz circuit,” Bernstein said.Bernstein said he has enjoyed playing with the other members of Blue Note 7 and touring the country.”It’s great for me to be around these great cats,” Bernstein said. “We just want to do this music justice.”
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Contact Jack LeBlanc at [email protected]