VA - Blue Note Re:imagined (2020) Hi-Res

Be it through soul, rap or electronic music, artists are always revisiting Blue Note’s repertoire, and Madlib’s brilliant Shades of Blue (2003) is but one example. It’s now the new British jazz scene’s turn to revisit the musical gems – famous or obscure – from this legendary label launched in 1939 by Francis Wolff and Alfred Lion. The aim of this project named Blue Note Re:imagined is to focus primarily on the label’s high-quality music and key musicians. Some of the most revisited artists are therefore Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson and Bobby Hutcherson, and often their work is covered in a rather daring style. For example, Alfa Mist manages to imbue Eddie Henderson’s Galaxy with a rather sensual groove whilst preserving the avant-garde flair of the original version from 1975. The same goes for the Bristolian Ishmael, whose take on McCoy Tyner’s Search for Peace is truly captivating. As for the two sax stars of the moment, Shabaka Hutchings (Bobby Hutcherson's Prints Tie) and Nubya Garcia (Joe Henderson's A Shade of Jade), they both live up to their reputation for shaking things up.

Of course, Blue Note Re:imagined doesn’t forget about the vocals. Poppy Ajudha (Watermelon Man by Hancock), Yazmin Lacey (I'll Never Stop Loving You by Dodo Greene), the Norwegian collective Fieh (Armageddon by Wayne Shorter), trumpet player and singer Emma-Jean Thackray (Speak No Evil / Night Dreamer, also by Shorter) and Jordan Rakei (Wind Parade by Donald Byrd), bring a lightness to the album and showcase real talent. But it’s Jorja Smith who takes first prize by covering the most unusual track on the album, Rose Rouge, the leading single from Frenchman St Germain’s album Tourist (2001), taking lyrics from I want you to get together by Marlena Shaw. All in all, it’s funny that what seems to have influenced these exciting young musicians most on Blue Note Re:imagined is still Herbie Hancock from his Headhunters era, an album that was released by Columbia records, not Blue Note… © Marc Zisman

Tracks:

1. Jorja Smith - Rose Rouge
2. Ezra Collective - Footprints
3. Poppy Ajudha - Watermelon Man (Under The Sun)
4. Jordan Rakei - Wind Parade
5. Skinny Pelembe - Illusion (Silly Apparition)
6. Alfa Mist - Galaxy
7. Ishmael Ensemble - Search For Peace
8. Nubya Garcia - A Shade Of Jade
9. Steam Down - Etcetera
10. Blue Lab Beats - Montara
11. Yazmin Lacey - I'll Never Stop Loving You
12. Fieh - Armageddon
13. Jack Steadman - Maiden Voyage
14. Shabaka Hutchings - Prints Tie
15. Melt Yourself Down - Caribbean Fire Dance (Lewisham Drop)
16. Emma-Jean Thackray - Speak No Evil (Night Dreamer)