Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Blue Note reissue the drummer Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers' time-honoured hard bop album Mosaic, often cited as among his best. From the titular opener to the seguing montage-worthy sequences of 'Arabia', 'Crisis' or 'Down Under', we're met with huge, extruding saxes and trombones, backed by Blakey's un-pin-downable drumming, evocative of huge towering New York skylines and crowd bustle; apparently, the album was so tightly performed it needed no alternate takes.

Review: Cecil Taylor released Unit Structures on the Blue Note label in 1966. It was his debut on the label and was quickly followed up by a second album in the same year with Conquistador! This one came with an essay by Taylor entitled Sound Structure of Subculture Becoming Major Breath/Naked Fire Gesture and is known for its high energy and atonal sounds. It sat well within the plasm of the free-jazz of the times but was at the sharp end with its ferocious paying styles. It is a record rich on colour and mathematical complexity with two bassists adding their own low end weight.

Review: Stanley Turrentine's debut as a bandleader arrived in June 1960, just a few months after his notable sideman role on Jimmy Smith's Midnight Special and Back at the Chicken Shack. With these albums cementing his status as a standout player, Blue Note boss Alfred Lion wasted no time bringing Turrentine back into the studio to record his first outing as a leader. The result announced the arrival of his deeply soulful tenor saxophone, immediately marking him as a key figure in the hard bop scene. Turrentine's approach was distinctiveieach note infused with emotion and a deep sense of groove. His compositions, like 'Look Out' and 'Minor Chant', alongside tunes by Parlan and Clifford Brown, revealed his mastery of both melody and rhythm. The session was anchored by a strong rhythm section, featuring pianist Horace Parlan, bassist George Tucker, and drummer Al Harewood, each contributing to the album's powerful sound. A highlight is the ballad 'Journey into Melody', where Turrentine's ability to infuse warmth and depth into a song is on full display. This all-analogue remastering offers a true-to-the-original listening experience, preserving the warmth and clarity of this essential jazz release.

Review: The Tone Poet series is one in which Blue Note revisit some of its most classic albums and gives them some fresh attention. This vinyl edition of Stanley Turrentine's 1964 recording of Mr. Natural was produced by Joe Harley and has been mastered by Kevin Gray, who worked from original master tapes. It's pressed on 180g vinyl and comes in a lovely and deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket. It is a great record from the soulful tenor saxophonist and Blue Note stalwart with help from Lee Morgan on trumpet, Elvin Jones on drums, McCoy Tyner on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Ray Barretto on congas.

Review: Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs' is a thrilling, never-before-released live recording of jazz giants McCoy Tyner and Joe Henderson, captured at Slugs' Saloon in 1966. Joining them are bassist Henry Grimes and drummer Jack DeJohnette, forming a powerhouse quartet. The performance, unearthed from DeJohnette's personal archives after nearly six decades, showcases the intense musical chemistry between Tyner and Henderson, who were central figures in the 1960s jazz scene. The recording, originally engineered by Orville O'Brien, brings the energy and creativity of this 1966 set to life. With expert mastering by Matthew Lutthans, the sound is crisp and vibrant, transporting listeners back to the legendary Slugs' Saloon. Forces of Nature is a amazing look into an era of jazz brilliance.