The Marshall University School of Music will present its Jazz Ensemble I in concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Smith Recital Hall. The concert, “Celebrating 80 Years of Blue Note Records,” will feature music from the record label’s most influential artists, including Horace Silver, Wayne Shorter, Art Blakey, Hank Mobley, Kenny Dorham and John Coltrane.
“While Blue Note Records has changed hands many times over the years, it is still one of the most influential labels in shaping the course of modern jazz,” said Jeff Wolfe, director of the MU Jazz Ensemble I. “One thing that has not changed, despite Blue Note’s octogenarian status, is staying true to its founders’ creed, which is printed on every album: ‘The Finest in Jazz since 1939.’”
While Blue Note did not often feature big bands in its catalog, focusing more on smaller groups, this concert offers an opportunity to hear many of these famous compositions in a new context, Wolfe said.
“I call it old wine in new bottles. While these arrangements offer the audience to hear some familiar tunes in new settings, that bluesy, soulful, funky, and swinging trademark Blue Note sound is always at the forefront,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe also noted Blue Note’s influence beyond its music.
“Blue Note Records has not only been at the forefront of how modern jazz sounds, but also how it looks,” he said. “From Rudy Van Gelder’s pioneering recording techniques, to Reid Miles’ influential album cover designs and Francis Wolff’s striking photography, Blue Note Records is an American institution.”
The concert is free and open to the public, with sponsorship from the School of Music in the College of Arts and Media. Free parking is available after 7 p.m. on Marshall’s campus.