The under-recognized tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan blew in from Chicago in 1957 and recorded a trio of excellent Blue Note sessions over a prolific 8-month span including the self-titled album Cliff Jordan. Jordan’s 2nd date for the label was a generous serving of smoldering bop featuring a robust septet with Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, John Jenkins on alto sax, Ray Bryant on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Taylor on drums. The band stretches out on extended takes of Jordan’s “Not Guilty,” Jenkins’ “St. John,” and Fuller’s “Blue Shoes” before an 18-year-old Morgan takes the spotlight on his tune “Ju-Ba” to close the set.

Blue Note Tone Poet Series

The Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was’ admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley, a.k.a. the “Tone Poet,” on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

Extreme attention to detail has been paid to getting these right in every conceivable way, from the jacket graphics and printing quality to superior LP mastering (direct from the master tapes) by Kevin Gray to superb 180g audiophile LP pressings by Record Technology Inc. Every aspect of these Tone Poet releases is done to the highest possible standard. It means that you will never find a superior version. This is IT.

This mono Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.

Tracklist:

A1: Not Guilty
A2: St. John

B1: Blue Shoes
B2: Beyond The Blue Horizon
B3: Ju-Ba