Blue Mitchell - Boss Horn (1966) (RVG) (eac-log-cover)

Blue Mitchell - Boss Horn (1966)

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 260MB

Blue Note | RVG 24-bit remaster

Allmusic:
Trumpeter Blue Mitchell delivers a solid hard bop date with his 1966 Blue Note release Boss Horn. [The Rudy Van Gelder edition of Boss Horn features remastered sound by original producer Van Gelder that does significanly improve the overall sound quality over the original release.]

Tracks:
-1. "Millie" (Duke Pearson) - 6:15
-2. "O Mama Enit" - 5:34
-3. "I Should Care" (Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston) - 7:31
-4. "Rigor Mortez" (Dave Burns) - 6:21
-5. "Tones for Joan's Bones" (Chick Corea) - 6:37
-6. "Straight Up and Down" (Corea) - 6:36
All compositions by Blue Mitchell except as indicated
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on November 17, 1966.

Personnel:
* Blue Mitchell - trumpet
* Jerry Dodgion - flute, alto saxophone
* Junior Cook - tenor saxophone
* Pepper Adams - baritone saxophone
* Julian Priester - trombone
* Chick Corea (tracks 5 & 6), Cedar Walton (tracks 1-4) - piano
* Gene Taylor - bass
* Mickey Roker - drums
* Duke Pearson - arrangement

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Blue Mitchell - A Sure Thing (1962) (eac-log-cover)

Blue Mitchell  - A Sure Thing (1962)

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 240MB

OJC | rar +5% recovery

AMG:
Trumpeter Blue Mitchell is well featured on this CD reissue with a nonet arranged by Jimmy Heath. The music is straightahead but, thanks to Heath's arrangements, sometimes unpredictable. Best is Mitchell's solo on "I Can't Get Started," "Hootie's Blues" and a quintet workout (with Heath, pianist Wynton Kelly bassist Sam Jones and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath) on "Gone with the Wind."

Tracks:
1. West Coast Blues (5:40)
2. I Can't Get Started With You (3:48)
3. Blue On Blue (4:48)
4. A Sure Thing (4:34)
5. Hootie Blues (5:24)
6. Hip To It (5:00)
7. Gone With The Wind (5:57)

Personnel:
Blue Mitchell (trumptet)
Clark Terry (flugelhorn, trumptet)
Julius Watkins (french horn)
Jerome Richardson (alto sax, flute) Jimmy Heath (tenor sax)
Pepper Adams (baritone sax)
Wynton Kelly (piano)
Sam Jones (bass)
Albert "Tootie" Heath (drums)

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Blue Mitchell - Blue Soul (1959) (24-bit rem) (eac-log-cover)

Blue Mitchell - Blue Soul (1959) (24-bit rem)

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 335MB

Riverside | Keepnews 24-bit rem | rar +5% recovery

AMG:
Trumpeter Blue Mitchell left his home in Miami for a short stint in New York City, headed back to Florida, and then to Los Angeles before his brief but vital career as a jazz trumpeter ended. This sojourn identified his sound, initially branded by the warmth of the Southeast, burnished by the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, and polished by the West Coast cool school demeanor. In 1959, as Mitchell returned to Miami, he connected with Detroit trombonist Curtis Fuller and Philadelphia tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath to form one of the most potent three-horn front lines in jazz history. Few knew how good they were until after the fact, but this recording, the third album for Mitchell as a leader, has him and his mates in full flight. Drummer Philly Joe Jones has a lot to do with the solid booster rocket-like propulsion on this primarily hard bop date, and check out his calypso variations on the second chorus of the otherwise easy blues swing and ultra melodic "Waverley Street." Credit Mitchell's street smarts and highly developed melodic inventiveness as the focal point for this definitive session. In many ways, this is a parallel album to the Miles Davis classic Kind of Blue, with subtle undertones driven by fourth-gear swing. The CD kicks off with the famous "Minor Vamp," of which Fuller's original take for the Savoy label has been remixed and layered, and is heard in the acid jazz dancehalls. It's a familiar sparse line, a two-note vamp tacked onto a lithe, perky melody that needs no critique -- it's simply great! More concisely rendered hard bop follows on "The Head," not complex by any means, but filled with plenty o' soul. The hardest line crops up during "Top Shelf," featuring a memorable, cutting, precise solo by Heath. Fuller and Heath lay out so you can hear in full dimension the cozy and warm persona of Mitchell on the ballad "Park Avenue Petite," but especially on the bright, easy swinger "Blue Soul," which most accurately approaches Kind of Blue. In tribute to his then boss, Horace Silver, "Nica's Dream" features Mitchell's muted trumpet over an underlying fresh bed of trombone and tenor sax. Even more so, Mitchell's deep blue horn shines on the standard "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," an organ of sheer beauty and one to be studied for those who need to learn that playing fewer notes more musically is an admirable quality. This is one of the most precious jazz recordings of a year that would soon give sway to the Blue Note sound, and is in many real and important ways as much of a prelude as any other statement. It's a must-have for all serious mainstream jazz fans.

Tracks:
01. Minor Vamp
02. Head, The
03. Way You Look Tonight, The
04. Park Avenue Petite
05. Top Shelf
06. Waverly Street
07. Blue Soul
08. Polkas Dots and Moonbeams
09. Nica's Dream
10. Minor Vamp (Take 1)
11. Park Avenue Petite (Take 1)
12. Blue Soul T(Ake 2)

Personnel:
Blue Mitchell (trumpet); Curtis Fuller (trombone); Jimmy Heath (tenor saxophone); Wynton Kelly (piano); Sam Jones (bass instrument); Philly Joe Jones (drums).

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Blue Mitchell - The Complete Blue Note Sessions 4cd (1963-67) (Mosaic) (eac-log-cover)

Blue Mitchell - The Complete Blue Note Blue Mitchell Sessions 1963-67(98)

jazz | 4cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 1700MB

Mosaic | rar +5% recovery

AMG:
Blue Mitchell was always a consistent, lyrical, and pleasing trumpeter. Although not as significant during the 1960s as Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard (much less Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis), Mitchell had his own appealing sound and was a major asset on many modern mainstream dates. This four-CD limited-edition Mosaic box set collects Mitchell's first six Blue Note dates as a leader: Step Lightly, The Thing to Do, Down With It, Bring It Home to Me, Boss Horn, and Heads Up. Three albums are by his quintet, which included tenor saxophonist Junior Cook and usually the young pianist Chick Corea and was formed shortly after he left Horace Silver, and the three others are with larger groups, two of which have arrangements by Duke Pearson. Among the other key sidemen are tenor great Joe Henderson, altoist Leo Wright, baritonist Pepper Adams, and pianists Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner. There are just two previously unreleased cuts (both alternate takes), but most of the sets have been somewhat rare for years, and taken as a whole, the swinging hard bop and boogaloo performances are Blue Mitchell's finest recordings as a leader.

Tracks:
cd1
01 - Mamacita, 02 - Sweet and Lovely, 03 - Andrea, 04 - Step Lightly, 05 - Cry me a River, 06 - Bluesville, 07 - Fungii Mama, 08 - Mona's Mood, 09 - The Thing to Do
cd2
01 - Step Lightly, 02 - Chick's Tune, 03 - Hi Heel Sneakers, 04 - Perception, 05 - Alone, Alone and Alone, 06 - March on Selma, 07 - One Shirt, 08 - Samba de Stacy
cd3
01 - Bring it Home To Me, 02 - Blues 3 For 1, 03 - Port Rico Rock, 04 - Gingerbread Boy, 05 - Portrait Of Jennie, 06 - Blue's Theme, 07 - Millie, 08 - O Mama Enit, 09 - I Should Care1, 10 - Rigor Mortez
cd4
01 - Bring it Home To Me, 02 - Blues 3 For 1, 03 - Port Rico Rock, 04 - Gingerbread Boy, 05 - Portrait Of Jennie, 06 - Blue's Theme, 07 - Millie, 08 - O Mama Enit, 09 - I Should Care1, 10 - Rigor Mortez

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Blue Mitchell - The Cup Bearers (1962) (eac-flac-cover)

Blue Mitchell  - The Cup Bearers (1962)

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 265MB

OJC | rar +5% recovery

AMG:
Trumpeter Blue Mitchell and four-fifths of the Horace Silver Quintet (with Cedar Walton in Silver's place) perform a variety of superior songs on this CD reissue including Walton's "Turquoise," Tom McIntosh's "Cup Bearers," Thad Jones's "Tiger Lily" and a couple of standards. The music swings hard, mostly avoids sounding like a Horace Silver group, and has particularly strong solos from Mitchell, tenor-saxophonist Junior Cook and Walton; excellent hard bop.

Tracks:
1 Turquoise 5:03
2 Why Do I Love You? 5:28
3 Dingbat Blues 5:41
4 Capers 6:04
5 Cup Bearers 6:15
6 How Deep Is the Ocean? 6:43
7 Tiger Lily 8:31

Personnel:
* Roy Brooks - Drums
* Junior Cook - Saxophone, Sax (Tenor)
* Blue Mitchell - Trumpet
* Cedar Walton - Piano
* Gene Taylor - Bass

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Blue Mitchell - Out Of The Blue (1958) (eac-flac-cover)

Blue Mitchell - Out Of The Blue (1958)

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 325MB

OJC | rar +5% recovery

AMG:
This early recording by Blue Mitchell finds the distinctive trumpeter in excellent form in a quintet also featuring tenor saxophonist Benny Golson (who contributed "Blues on My Mind"), either Wynton Kelly or Cedar Walton on piano, Paul Chambers or Sam Jones on bass and drummer Art Blakey. The consistently swinging repertoire includes a surprisingly effective version of "When the Saints Go Marching In." "Studio B," recorded in the same period but formerly available only in a sampler, has been added to the program. It's an enjoyable date of high-quality hard bop.

Tracks:
01 - Blues On My Mind
02 - It Could Happen To You
03 - Boomerang
04 - Sweet-Cakes
05 - Missing You
06 - When The Saints Go Marching In
07 - Studio B
Recorded at Reeves Sound Studios, New York, New York in December 1958. Originally released on Riverside

Personnel: Blue Mitchell (trumpet); Benny Golson (tenor saxophone); Wynton Kelly, Cedar Walton (piano); Paul Chambers, Sam Jones (bass); Art Blakey (drums).

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Blue Mitchell - The Thing To Do (RVG) (1964) (eac-flac-cover)

Blue Mitchell - The Thing To Do (RVG) (1964)

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 285MB

BN | RVG | rar +5% recovery

AMG
This Blue Mitchell date is a classic, particularly the opening "Fungii Mama," which is really catchy. The trumpeter's quintet of the period (which includes tenor saxophonist Junior Cook, the young pianist Chick Corea, bassist Gene Taylor, and drummer Al Foster) also performs two Jimmy Heath tunes and a song apiece by Joe Henderson ("Step Lightly") and Corea. The record is prime Blue Note hard bop, containing inventive tunes, meaningful solos, and an enthusiastic but tight feel. Highly recommended.

Tracks
1 Fungii Mama 7:48
2 Mona's Mood 5:17
3 he Thing to Do 7:05
4 Step Lightly 10:26
5 Chick's Tune 9:35

Personnel
Blue Mitchell: Trumpet
Junior Cook: Tenor Saxophone
Gene Taylor :Bass
Chick Corea: Piano
Aloysius Foster: Drums

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Blue Mitchell - Down With It! (RVG) (1965) (eac-ape-cover)

 

Blue Mitchell - Down With It! (RVG) (1965)

jazz | 1cd | eac-ape-cue-log-cover | 300MB

BN | RVG remaster 2004 | rar +5% recovery

AMG

Down With It is a fairly standard bop and soul-jazz session from Blue Mitchell. Leading a quintet that features a young Chick Corea on piano, tenor saxophonist Junior Cook, bassist Gene Taylor, and drummer Al Foster, Mitchell creates a laid-back atmosphere which makes R&B covers like "Hi-Heel Sneakers" or the lite bossa nova of "Samba De Stacy" roll along nicely. Just as often, the record is so relaxed that it fails to generate much spark, but each the soloists have fine moments that makes the session worthwhile for jazz purists.

Tracks:
1.Hi-Heel Sneakers
2.Perception
3.Alone, Alone, And Alone
4.March on Selma
5.One Shirt
6.Samba de Stacy

Personnel:
Blue Mitchell (trumpet)
Junior Cook (tenor saxophone)
Chick Corea (piano)
Gene Taylor (double bass)
Al Foster (drums)

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Blue Mitchell - Big 6 (1958)

Blue Mitchell - Big 6 (1958)
jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 220MB
OJC | rar +5% recovery

Review
Trumpeter Blue Mitchell was a virtual unknown when he recorded this Riverside album, his first as a leader. Now reissued on CD in the OJC series, Mitchell is heard in excellent form in an all-star sextet with trombonist Curtis Fuller, tenor great Johnny Griffin, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Wilbur Ware, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. In addition to some group originals, obscurities, and the standard "There Will Never Be Another You," the group also plays the earliest recorded version of Benny Golson's "Blues March," predating Art Blakey's famous recording.

1 Blues March 10:23
2 Big Six 6:42
3 There Will Never Be Another You 4:59
4 Brother 'Ball 7:21
5 Jamph 3:46
6 Sir John 8:05
7 Promenade 1:40

Curtis Fuller; Trombone
Johnny Griffin; Saxophone (Tenor)
Philly Joe Jones; Drums
Wynton Kelly; Piano
Blue Mitchell; Trumpet
Wilbur Ware; Bass

Recording Date
Jul 2, 1958; Jul 3, 1958

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