Rare Blue Notes

[Holy Ghost]

Still waiting to put the CD in this sleeve (customed the sleeve to CD size already)

[Late]

9 hours ago, JSngry said:

Coltrane said (in the Kofsky interview?) that the reason he "pulled back" for a quick minute was that he messed up his favorite mouthpiece and it took him a bit to find another one that gave him what he really needed.

I've read that too. His sound on Ballads and the Hartman date is not the sound one hears on Africa Brass, for example. I wonder what he did to his Otto Link? As far as adjusting the physical qualities of a mouthpiece, I thought the main practice was trying to increase the inner bore size, if just by millimeters. I know Steve Lacy did that with his soprano mouthpiece, and then used an alto ligature (which wouldn't affect the bore, but would allow the reed to vibrate more freely)  in order to get the most open soprano sound possible.

Back to rare-ish Japanese compilations, this one looks good:

 

I would spin this comp!

[Kevin Bresnahan]

It took me a long time to find an affordable copy of Belden's "Princejazz". It's seems to be pretty rare.

[JSngry]

1 hour ago, Late said:

I've read that too. His sound on Ballads and the Hartman date is not the sound one hears on Africa Brass, for example. I wonder what he did to his Otto Link? As far as adjusting the physical qualities of a mouthpiece, I thought the main practice was trying to increase the inner bore size, if just by millimeters. I know Steve Lacy did that with his soprano mouthpiece, and then used an alto ligature (which wouldn't affect the bore, but would allow the reed to vibrate more freely)  in order to get the most open soprano sound possible.

Back to rare-ish Japanese compilations, this one looks good:

 

I would spin this comp!

You can adjust any physical part of a mouthpiece, tip opening, lay, chamber, any of it.

[dougcrates]

These DJ mixes released by Blue Note Japan in the late 90s were a nice introduction to all the samples that had been used on rap songs.

[Dub Modal]

5 hours ago, dougcrates said:

These DJ mixes released by Blue Note Japan in the late 90s were a nice introduction to all the samples that had been used on rap songs.

Nice. Don't think I knew about these. 

[Holy Ghost]

Still waiting to put the CD in this sleeve (customed the sleeve to CD size already)

Biz Markie??? This is a rare BN now? We talking about the same dude in that Mtv video back in the day with the Mozart wig playing on that toddler's piano, rapping just a friend? That dude? Wow. 

 

[Dub Modal]

6 hours ago, Holy Ghost said:

We talking about the same dude in that Mtv video back in the day with the Mozart wig playing on that toddler's piano, rapping just a friend? That dude? Wow. 

Can't tell if you're joking but Biz is a hip hop legend. He was a central figure in the early NYC scene, discovered Rakim, and was a music loving DJ. Personally I'd love to hear this mix along with the others. 

[felser]

6 hours ago, Holy Ghost said:

Biz Markie??? This is a rare BN now? We talking about the same dude in that Mtv video back in the day with the Mozart wig playing on that toddler's piano, rapping just a friend? That dude? Wow. 

16 minutes ago, Dub Modal said:

Can't tell if you're joking but Biz is a hip hop legend. He was a central figure in the early NYC scene, discovered Rakim, and was a music loving DJ. Personally I'd love to hear this mix along with the others. 

 

Edited March 13 by felser

[Holy Ghost]

1 hour ago, felser said:

🧐 Where have I been?!?

1 hour ago, Dub Modal said:

Can't tell if you're joking but Biz is a hip hop legend. He was a central figure in the early NYC scene, discovered Rakim, and was a music loving DJ. Personally I'd love to hear this mix along with the others. 

I am now officially schooled. I did not know all this. 

[Dub Modal]

4 minutes ago, Holy Ghost said:

🧐 Where have I been?!?

I am now officially schooled. I did not know all this. 

All Up in the Biz is a doc on him that came out a few years ago. Streams on several platforms I think. Definitely worth the watch. Dude had a big unique personality 

[paulfromcamden]

On 3/12/2026 at 8:21 PM, dougcrates said:

These DJ mixes released by Blue Note Japan in the late 90s were a nice introduction to all the samples that had been used on rap songs.

I only have the Biz Markie mix which for some reason also got a vinyl release in the US and isn't hard to find. It's great! Heavy on rare groove, loads of great tunes and Biz's rough and ready mixing style and rapping.

All the mixes are on Mixcloud if anyone is interested.

[Holy Ghost]

13 hours ago, Dub Modal said:

All Up in the Biz is a doc on him that came out a few years ago. Streams on several platforms I think. Definitely worth the watch. Dude had a big unique personality 

Thanks for hipping me, I will check it out 😎

[Late]

 

What I like/appreciate about those comps is that they barely touch Blue Note from the 60's. Showcasing the label of the 70's is something the "connoisseur" rarely, if ever, does.

[Late]

The McCoy track, while good, is sorta an outlier. I like Japanese comps of Blue Note work for their track selection. Always a few (if small) surprises.

[Late]

[andybleaden]

I have a few of these (including some of the samplers) 

 

My favourite was the always the Roswell Presents which (at that time) had cd tracks that for me were then impossible to find. Now have them but still like to spin it as a treat now and again. 

 

Not seen that UNIQLO one:

More info here from Discogs: 

 

1	Horace Parlan–	Wadin' Bass – George Tucker Drums – Al Harewood Piano – Horace Parlan Written-By – Horace Parlan	5:52
2	Joe Henderson–	Serenity Bass – Richard Davis (2) Drums – Elvin Jones Piano – McCoy Tyner Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson Trumpet – Kenny Dorham Written-By – Joe Henderson	6:16
3	Dexter Gordon–	Manha De Carnaval Bass – Bob Cranshaw Drums – Billy Higgins Piano – Barry Harris (2) Tenor Saxophone – Dexter Gordon Vibraphone – Bobby Hutcherson Written-By – Antonio Maria*, Luis Bonfa*	8:23
4	Jackie McLean–	What's New Alto Saxophone – Jackie McLean Bass – Jimmy Garrison Drums – Art Taylor Piano – Walter Bishop, Jr. Written-By – Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke	5:17
5	Sonny Clark–	Cool Struttin' Alto Saxophone – Jackie McLean Bass – Paul Chambers (3) Drums – "Philly" Joe Jones Piano – Sonny Clark Trumpet – Art Farmer Written-By – Sonny Clark	9:21
6	Lou Donaldson–	Softly As In A Morning Sunrise Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson Bass – Sam Jones Drums – Al Harewood Piano – Horace Parlan Trumpet – Bill Hardman Written-By – Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg	6:31
7	Anthony Williams–	Love Song Bass – Gary Peacock Drums – Anthony Williams Piano – Herbie Hancock Tenor Saxophone – Sam Rivers, Wayne Shorter Written-By – Anthony Williams
8	Dexter Gordon–	Cheese Cake Bass – Butch Warren Drums – Billy Higgins Piano – Sonny Clark Tenor Saxophone – Dexter Gordon Written-By – Dexter Gordon	6:32
9	Lee Morgan–	The Sidewinder Bass – Bob Cranshaw Drums – Billy Higgins Piano – Barry Harris (2) Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson Trumpet – Lee Morgan Written-By – Lee Morgan	10:26
10	Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers–	A Night In Tunisia Bass – Jymie Merritt Drums – Art Blakey Piano – Bobby Timmons Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter Trumpet – Lee Morgan Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli	11:14

• Record Company – EMI Music Japan Inc
• Manufactured By – EMI Music Japan Inc
• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – EMI Music Japan Inc
• Copyright © – EMI Music Japan Inc
• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Blue Note Records
• Copyright © – Blue Note Records
• Pressed By – Memory-Tech

• A&R – Ayaka Hagio, Shingo Terashima
• Art Direction, Design – Tomohiro Kaji (2)
• Compiled By – Uniqlo
• Coordinator [Artwork] – Ayako Sabae, Tatsuo Shimizu, Yuri Tamura
• Executive-Producer – Hitoshi Namekata
• Liner Notes – 岡崎正通*
• Mastered By – Akihito Watanabe
• Producer – Yoshimitsu Harashima, Yuko Hirose (2)
• Public Relations – Ritsuko Jinno

Collaborative compilation tie-in with a series of ten Blue Note t-shirts sold at UNIQLO stores.

In jewel case with clear tray and obi. Twelve page booklet includes liner notes and track commentary in Japanese.

Track 1 recorded on April 20, 1960; from Us Three
Track 2 recorded on April 10, 1964; from In 'N Out
Track 3 recorded on May 28, 1965; from Gettin' Around
Track 4 recorded on October 2, 1959; from Swing, Swang, Swingin'
Track 5 recorded on January 5, 1958; from Cool Struttin'
Track 6 recorded on February 5, 1960; from Sunny Side Up
Track 7 recorded August 12, 1965; from Spring
Track 8 recorded August 27, 1962; from Go!
Track 9 recorded December 21, 1963; from The Sidewinder
Track 10 recorded August 14, 1960; from A Night In Tunisia

• Barcode: 4 988006 885141
• Matrix / Runout: TOCJ-66553 MT 963
• Mastering SID Code: IFPI L153
• Mould SID Code: IFPI 28A4
• Rights Society: JASRAC