Underrated Blue Notice Musicians: 12 Artists Price Rediscovering

Throughout its illustrious 80-year profession, the Blue Notice label has had its justifiable share of heroes and heroines – everybody from the estimable onerous bop pioneers Horace Silver and Artwork Blakey to modern-day icons Norah Jones and Robert Glasper. However although a lot of its artists turned jazz icons that helped to convey the label recognition, a lot of underrated Blue Notice musicians slipped by way of the web into obscurity. This doesn’t imply they didn’t have the expertise to succeed – Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff by no means signed a nasty musician – however quite that circumstances conspired towards them, stopping them from taking their careers additional.

We’re going to shine a highlight on 12 underrated Blue Notice musicians. A few of them are cult heroes, particularly to those that contemplate themselves a member of the jazz cognoscenti, however for the informal jazz fan and the broader public, most of them are utterly unknown.

Johnny Coles (1926-1997)

This New Jersey-born trumpeter solely made one album for Blue Notice, 1963’s Little Johnny C. A hidden gem within the label’s catalog, the LP options tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson and 6 ace tunes by pianist/arranger Duke Pearson. Quick in stature, Coles was massive by way of expertise and, previous to becoming a member of Blue Notice, had performed as a sideman with James Moody in addition to serving within the Gil Evans’ orchestra, with whom he performed on Miles Davis’ Sketches Of Spain LP. Earlier than that, he served his musical apprenticeship with R&B horn blowers corresponding to Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson and Bull Moose Jackson. He additionally performed with Charles Mingus and, within the late 60s, joined Herbie Hancock’s band.
Important monitor: “Hobo Joe“

George Braith (born 1939)

Maybe Blue Notice thought that this New York soul jazz saxophonist could be the label’s reply to Rahsaan Roland Kirk, who may blow a number of horns directly. His 1963 debut for Blue Notice, Two Souls In One, featured Braith enjoying soprano and alto saxes concurrently. Although Braith was no match for the outrageous, flamboyant Kirk, he made three albums for Blue Notice, his last one, 1964’s Extension, being arguably his finest. Although his profession didn’t take off at Blue Notice, Braith continued to file as a bandleader after leaving the label however by no means reaped the accolades his distinctive type warranted.
Important monitor: “Boop Bop Bing Bash“

Jack Wilson (1936-2007)

A Chicago-born soul jazz pianist and occasional organist, Wilson paid his dues working with Gene Ammons and Eddie Harris. Earlier than touchdown at Blue Notice in 1966, he recorded as a bandleader for Atlantic and its subsidiary label Vault, and stays one of the vital underrated Blue Notice musicians from the late 60s. His psychedelic-tinged debut for the corporate, Somethin’ Particular, was launched in 1967 and featured vibraphonist Roy Ayers, whereas his two different data for Blue Notice (Easterly Winds, that includes trumpeter Lee Morgan, and Tune For My Daughter) have been extra straight-ahead soul jazz choices. A terrific musician whose music deserves to be higher recognized.
Important monitor: “Do It“

Charlie Rouse (1924-1988)

A tenor saxophonist who may additionally play flute, Washington, DC-born Rouse is finest remembered as a sideman, significantly for his contributions to Thelonious Monk’s music. He stayed with the maverick pianist’s band for 11 years (1959-1970), showing on a plethora of traditional albums. Rouse was three years into his tenure with Monk when Blue Notice provided him the prospect to file as a bandleader. The tip consequence was the pleasant although much-overlooked one-off LP, 1962’s Bossa Nova Bacchanal, which aimed to capitalize on the US public’s then curiosity in Brazilian music. The saxophonist additionally embraced Caribbean music on an album that options oodles of percussion. Rouse solely made a handful of solo albums in his profession, and this one for Blue Notice – the entire antithesis to what he was doing with the extra avant-garde Monk throughout the identical timeframe – is arguably the perfect of the lot.
Important monitor: “Velhos Tempos“

Gil Mellé (1931-2004)

In addition to being a gifted baritone and tenor saxophonist, Gil Mellé was additionally a famous sculptor and painter whose drawings in the course of the 50s appeared on covers of albums by Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. He joined Blue Notice in 1952 after Blue Notice’s boss, Alfred Lion, was impressed by some tracks Mellé had made at engineer Rudy Van Gelder’s Hackensack studio, which from that time turned Blue Notice’s recording house. Between 1952 and 1956, Mellé recorded 5 LPs for the label, showcasing refined compositions and novel preparations that created a mellow, cinematic type of jazz. Mellé ultimately left the jazz world and branched out into movie soundtracks and TV scores. He composed the music for Hollywood films corresponding to The Andromeda Pressure (for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe award) and small-screen reveals the likes of Columbo. Regardless of a prodigious work price, Mellé stays one of many extra underrated Blue Notice musicians, and his 50s sides for the label, although uncommon and onerous to seek out, are value monitoring down.
Important monitor: “Below Capricorn“

Louis Smith (1931-2016)

The cousin of fellow trumpeter Booker Little, Memphis-born Smith was a tough bop exponent from the Clifford Brown faculty of horn enjoying and reduce two sensational albums for Blue Notice in 1958 (Right here Comes Louis Smith, that includes a cameo from Cannonball Adderley beneath the pseudonym “Buckshot La Funke”, and Smithville). After an auspicious begin, Smith stop the jazz life, preferring to cool down and turn out to be a trainer. He returned to recording in 1978, however although he tried to make up for misplaced time and recorded up till 2004, Smith couldn’t eclipse the brilliance of his first two Blue Notice choices. The trumpeter additionally featured on three late 50s Blue Notice albums by guitarist Kenny Burrell, whereas his brief stint with Horace Silver’s group, changing Donald Byrd, will be heard on the 2008 Blue Notice launch Stay At Newport ’58.
Important monitor: “Brill’s Blues“

Dizzy Reece (born 1931)

Arduous bop trumpet maestro Alphonso “Dizzy” Reece was born in Kingston, Jamaica, however moved to England as a young person in 1948 and plied his commerce within the UK. He additionally traveled to Europe, the place he encountered American musicians corresponding to Don Byas, Thad Jones, and Kenny Clarke. He joined Blue Notice in 1958, recording Blues In Trinity in London with a bunch that included Donald Byrd and famous UK saxophonist Tubby Hayes. It was the primary of 4 album classes for Blue Notice and two of them (Starbright and Comin’ On, the latter not launched till 1999) featured jazz luminaries Hank Mobley, Wynton Kelly, Stanley Turrentine, and Artwork Blakey. Reece additionally performed as a sideman on Blue Notice classes for Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley, and Andrew Hill. Regardless of his standing as one of many extra underrated Blue Notice musicians, Reece’s work for the label will reward those that take the time to research it.
Important monitor: “The Rake“

Tina Brooks (1932-1974)

Generally, life-style selections conspire towards a musician discovering fame and fortune. Take tenor saxophonist Harold “Tina” Brooks, whose profession was reduce brief by drug habit. Tipped as a future jazz star, North Carolina-born Brooks began out at Blue Notice as a sideman for organist Jimmy Smith in 1958, and rapidly satisfied Alfred Lion that he had the expertise to guide his personal classes. Although he recorded 5 albums’ value of fabric for Blue Notice between 1958 and 1961, just one session was launched in his lifetime: True Blue, now acknowledged as a tough bop traditional. At Blue Notice, Brooks additionally performed on classes for Kenny Burrell, Jackie McLean, and Freddie Hubbard, although, after 1961, he didn’t file once more, as medicine started to take his life in a downward route.
Important monitor: “Again To The Tracks“

Fred Jackson (born 1929)

This Atlanta-born tenor saxophonist had an early affiliation as a sideman with rhythm’n’blues artists, together with singers Little Richard and Lloyd Worth. Jackson made his Blue Notice debut as a sideman on the album Face To Face, by organist “Baby Face” Willette, in 1961. A 12 months later Jackson recorded Hootin’ And Tootin’ for Blue Notice, which proved to be his solely album as a bandleader. He additionally appeared on two album classes for the label by Hammond hero “Big” John Patton.
Important monitor: “Southern Publicity“

Duke Pearson (1932-1980)

This more-than-capable Atlanta-born pianist, trumpeter, composer, and arranger – whose actual title was Columbus Calvin Pearson, Jr – took over from Ike Quebec as Blue Notice’s A&R man in 1963. He’s the one artist on our listing of underrated Blue Notice musicians who had an extended and regular run of recording on the label, for whom, between 1959 and 1970, he reduce a dozen classes as a pacesetter (together with the good Wahoo, recorded in 1964, which is arguably his finest Blue Notice LP). Pearson additionally performed piano on Blue Notice classes by Donald Byrd, Grant Inexperienced, and Bobby Hutcherson, and his preparations have been featured on albums by Lou Donaldson, Stanley Turrentine, and Lee Morgan. Regardless of his pretty ubiquitous presence at Blue Notice in the course of the 60s, Pearson stays a largely underappreciated cult determine worthy of larger consideration.
Important monitor: “Make It Good“

Sam Rivers (1923-2011)

A flexible instrumentalist who may play saxophone (soprano and tenor), flute, bass clarinet, piano, and harmonica, Rivers hailed from El Reno, Oklahoma, and got here on the radar of the broader jazz neighborhood when he briefly joined the Miles Davis Quintet in 1964. Deemed too outré for Miles, Rivers was changed by Wayne Shorter, whom, mockingly, he joined on the Blue Notice roster later the identical 12 months. Rivers made 4 albums for the corporate, which ranged from adventurous post-bop (Fuchsia Swing Tune) to extra overtly avant-garde choices (Dimensions & Extensions). Rivers’ presence on Blue Notice confirmed that Alfred Lion was eager for his firm to showcase trailblazing musicians on the reducing fringe of jazz. Like fellow 60s Blue Notice recording artist Andrew Hill, Rivers’ music isn’t at all times accessible or simple to digest, however with time, persistence, and repeated listening, it reveals a hidden, otherworldly magnificence.
Important monitor: “Beatrice“

Tyrone Washington (born 1944)

This little-known New Jersey tenor saxophonist is one among jazz’s thriller males. As a sideman, he performed with Horace Silver’s quintet, showing on the group’s 1966 Blue Notice album, The Jody Grind, and organist Larry Younger’s Contrasts LP a 12 months later. That very same 12 months he recorded Pure Essence for Blue Notice, a placing debut that includes Woody Shaw and James Spaulding. It was his solely launch for the label (although one other session is meant to exist) and, after two extra LPs for various labels, launched within the early 70s, Washington turned a Muslim, modified his title to Bialar Muhammad, and gave up music for a lifetime of non secular devotion. Although taking his place among the many most underrated Blue Notice musicians, Pure Essence is a gem that finds Washington shifting between modal jazz and a freer, extra exploratory, Coltrane-esque type.
Important monitor: “Soul Dance“

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