February 12, 2009 Issue
How Blue Can You Get?
Blue Note Records Celebrates 70th Anniversary at Farthing February 17
In celebration of famed jazz label Blue Note Records’ 70th anniversary, all-star jazz group The Blue Note 7 will perform at ASU’s Farthing Auditorium on Tuesday, February 17. Purchase tickets by clicking to www.pas.appstate.edu.
On January 13, Blue Note Records commemorated the label’s 70th anniversary with the release of Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records, an eight-song collection of classic tunes from the Blue Note repertoire re-envisioned by The Blue Note 7. On Tuesday, February 17, the group’s extensive 51-city North American tour celebrating the music milestone and new release will roll into Farthing Auditorium. The show will start at 8:00 p.m.
The Blue Note 7 includes pianist, musical director and current Blue Note recording artist Bill Churlap with trumpeter Nicholas Payton, tenor saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, alto saxophonist and flutist Steve Wilson, guitarist Peter Bernstein, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash.
“The music that Blue Note recorded is so vast and historically important that there was no way we could b comprehensive in covering the contributions of so many major musicians,” said Charlap. “We chose to record compositions that would honor the label and its key players, whittling it down to eight of our favorite from Blue Note’s wide-ranging and extensive catalog.”
“The Blue Note 7 is a true collaboration; an all-star band comprised of the next generation of major players, all leaders in their own right,” said Blue Note Records President Bruce Lundvall. “They are also the A-list of accomplished arrangers and composers, steeped in the Blue Note tradition, re-imagining this time-honored repertoire in a fresh way.”
Charlap noted that each tune on Mosaic is arranged by a band member with the exception of two tracks arranged by pianist Renee Rosnes: McCoy Tyner’s “Search for Peace,” and Herbie Hancock’s “Dolphin Dance.” Other tracks include Cedar Walton’s “Mosaic,” written by Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and arranged by Nash; Joe Henderson’s “Inner Urge,” arranged by Payton; Bobby Hutcherson’s “Little B’s Poem” and Thelonious Monk’s “Criss Cross,” both arranged by Wilson; Duke Pearson’s “Idle Moments,” written for guitarist Grant Green and arranged by Bernstein; and Horace Silver’s “The Outlaw,” arranged by Charlap.
Charlap pointed out that song choice was determined by the band’s desire to cover diverse tunes with different moods and arranging approaches.
“Although each player is a leader in his own right, it’s the chemistry between these musicians that makes the band. We’re relatively young guys who have a lot of experience collectively, and we’ve had the opportunity to perform with many of the major Blue Note artists.
In addition to the selections on the new release, The Blue Note 7 will perform songs from a variety of jazz luminaries who have called Blue Note home during its unprecedented run.
Tickets to The Blue Note 7 are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, ASU faculty and staff, and $10 for students. Purchase tickets by clicking to www.pas.appstate.edu or by calling 828-262-6084. For more info, click to www.pas.appstate.edu.
Want To Go?
Date: Tuesday, February 17
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Farthing Auditorium
Cost: $18 for adults/$16 for seniors, ASU faculty and staff/$10 for students
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