Stars align for Blue Note Re:imagined

Legendary labels Blue Note and Decca have announced Blue Note Re:imagined - a star studded album full of classic Blue Note tracks which are brought together and reworked by a selection of contemporary jazz, soul and R&B stars.

Representing a bridge between the ground-breaking label’s past and future, the project will feature contributions from a roll call of internationally acclaimed jazz, soul and R&B acts - Shabaka Hutchings, Ezra Collective, Nubya Garcia, Mr Jukes, Steam Down, Skinny Pelembe, Emma-Jean Thackray, Poppy Ajudha, Jordan Rakei, Fieh, Ishmael Ensemble, Blue Lab Beats, Melt Yourself Down, Yazmin Lacey, Alfa Mist, and Brit Award-winning Jorja Smith.

Blue Note, which celebrated its milestone 80th anniversary in 2019, boasts an illustrious catalogue that traces the entire history of jazz, and the Re:imagined project features music originally created by some of its most legendary artists. Alongside Smith’s reworking of 'Rose Rouge' is Ezra Collective’s version of Wayne Shorter’s 'Footprints' plus interpretations of tracks by the likes of Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson, Donald Byrd, Eddie Henderson, McCoy Tyner and Andrew Hill.

Blue Note President (and Jazz FM Award winner) Don Was : “The music of Blue Note Records owes its enduring relevance to the fact that, throughout its 81-year history, the artists on the label consistently pushed the envelope of contemporary music. Blue Note Re:imagined continues that tradition by viewing the label’s legacy through the lens of the UK scene’s most inventive young artists.”

Blue Note Re:imagined will be released on October 16th 2020.

We recently looked at the roots and history of Blue Note Records as part of our A to Z feature, which you read here.

• blue note
• herbie hancock
• ezra collective
• wayne shorter
• joe henderson
• donald byrd
• mccoy tyner