Catalog Number MMBST-84175
Release Date: Apr 2012

Catalog Number MMBST-84146
Release Date: Apr 2012

Throughout his career, Herbie Hancock has always pushed the boundaries, exploring a wide variety of music while bringing his flair to every setting. His Blue Note albums of the 1960’s ranged from post bop to Latin jazz (he penned “Watermelon Man”), straight ahead to free form. Empyrean Isles, recorded when Hancock was 24 and a new member of the Miles Davis Quintet, features the pianist pushing at the boundaries of hard bop, creating fresh, new music. In a quartet with Freddie Hubbard, Ron Carter and Tony Williams, Hancock shows that he was familiar with both avant-garde jazz and groovin' R&B. His four compositions include the original and most exciting version of “Cantaloupe Island” and the swingingly unpredictable “One Finger Snap.” Empyrean Isles brims with the power and adventure of the best 1960s Jazz, pushing ahead into uncharted territory.
 

In 1963, the year when Our Man In Paris was recorded, Dexter Gordon turned 40 and moved to Europe for what would be a dozen-year stay. Gordon had been the first important bebop tenor-saxophonist and a giant of Jazz since 1945. After some time off the scene in the ‘50s, he was signed to Blue Note. He returned with full force, playing with power, wit and his trademark huge sound, creating one masterpiece after another. On Our Man In Paris, he is clearly inspired by the playing of the innovative bebop pianist Bud Powell, himself at the peak of his powers, bassist Pierre Michelot and the pioneering bop drummer Kenny Clarke. Gordon plays chorus after chorus of fresh, swinging ideas on such tunes as “Scrapple From The Apple,” “Broadway” and “A Night In Tunisia,” making these Jazz standards sound as if they were written for him. This blazing bebop date is a constant joy.