Blue Note Records: Then and Now with Don Was
We take a deep dive into the vaults of Blue Note Records, the independent label that helped put artists like Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, and Jimmy Smith on the map. Flagbearer of trad jazz, bebop, and the cool school, Blue Note is still at it after 80 years and has expanded its wheelhouse to include vocalists like Norah Jones, Ryan Adams, and Van Morrison. We talk with producer extraordinaire and Blue Note president Don Was about the label’s past and new directions. And we confab with record maven Michael Cuscuna about digging through Blue Note’s back catalog and giving life to unreleased and out-of-print masterpieces. Plus, we hear from Aaron Neville, Jason Moran, and Lonnie Smith about their part in the legendary label’s history. It’s a parade of jazz, old and new, borrowed and blue… and then some!
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: Blues for Clarinets Jimmy Hamilton and the Duke's Men The Blue Note Years- Vol. 1 "Boogie Blues and Bop", Blue Note
The Road is My Middle Name Bonnie Raitt Nick of Time, Capitol
I Need to Know Delbert McClinton Acquired Taste, New West Records
SEGMENT: Don Was Part I
Instrumental: I Know Freddie Roach Blue 45s: The Ultimate Jukebox, Blue Note
Dat Dere Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers Blue 45s: The Ultimate Jukebox, Blue Note
Bluesville Blue Mitchell Step Lightly: Peace, Love & Fishing, Blue Note
SEGMENT: Don Was Part II
Instrumental: Skippy Thelonius Monk Thelonius Monk-- The Complete Blue Note Recordings , Blue Note
Four in One Thelonious Monk Thelonious Monk-- The Complete Blue Note Recordings, Blue Note
SEGMENT: Jason Moran
SEGMENT: Dr. Lonnie Smith
Funky Mama Lou Donaldson Blue 45s: The Ultimate Jukebox, Blue Note
Come in My Kitchen Cassandra Wilson Blue Light Til' Dawn, Blue Note
Closing Bed: Alligator Bogaloo Lou Donaldson Blue 45s: The Ultimate Jukebox, Blue Note
HOUR TWO
Open Bed: Blue Harlem Ike Quebec Quintet The Blue Note Years- Vol. 1 "Boogie Blues and Bop", Blue Note
Whinin' Boy Moan Van Morrison What's Wrong with this Picture?, Blue Note
Turn Me On Norah Jones Norah Jones-- Come Away With Me, Blue Note
SEGMENT: Aaron Neville
All My Trials Charles Lloyd and the Marvels I Long to See You, Blue Note
Instrumental: Wavy Gravy Kenny Burrell Blue 45s: The Ultimate Jukebox, Blue Note
See See Rider Jimmy Smith Blue Note Perfect Takes , Blue Note
Blues Ain't Nothing But a Woman Crying For Her Man Dinah Washington Jazz Profile: Dinah Washington, Blue Note
Cantaloupe Island Herbie Hancock Empyrean Isles, Blue Note
Instrumental: I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart Duke Ellington The Essential Duke Ellington, Sony Music
SEGMENT: Michael Cuscuna
Give It Up or Let Me Go Bonnie Raitt Give It Up, Warner Bros.
Shake It and Break It Billie and DeDe Pierce The Atlantic New Orleans Jazz Sessions, Mosaic
Old Stack O'Lee Blues The Bechet-Nicholas Blue Five 60 Years-- Blue Note-- 1939-1999, Blue Note
Closing Bed: Walking Through the Streets of the City Paul Barbarin The Atlantic New Orleans Jazz Sessions, Mosaic