Blue Note Records started releasing jazz records 85 years ago this month when German-Jewish immigrant Alfred Lion held the first recording sessions for the label in New York City.
Much has changed over those 85 years in terms of musical style, technology, delivery systems, etc. But current company president Don Was says one thing has not.
“Everything we do stems from a manifesto that was written in 1939 by our founders, where they dedicated themselves to the pursuit of authentic music and to providing uncompromising artistic freedom for the artists,” says Was, an Oak Park native and Grammy Award-winning producer who took over Blue Note’s top spot 12 years ago this month. “We take that very seriously.”
Blue Note is certainly taking its anniversary seriously.
This week an all-star ensemble dubbed the Blue Note Quintet, under the direction of pianist Gerald Clayton, began a tour that stops in Detroit on Friday, Jan. 19. Other events include some vinyl reissues series, including one in conjunction with Third Man Records and a “VMP Anthology: The Story of Blue Note Records” box set; limited-edition fine art photos by label co-founder Francis Wolff; canvas wall art prints of Blue Note album covers; the return of the Blue Note Review subscription series; Blue Note playlists on a variety of streaming services; and a special anniversary sale and a new Rewards program at store.bluenote.com.
Was — who’s expanded and modernized the Blue Note roster during his tenure — hopes all of those will rekindle memories and also help bring listeners to the label and its musicians, new and old.
“It’s really important that every one of the artists on the roster comes from a generous place,” Was explains, “that they are experiencing some deep emotional life that conversational language fails to convey and they can tap into music and put it out there so that the listener can share that experience and maybe find some comfort and understanding of their own situation through that.”
The Blue Note Quintet performs two shows Friday, Jan. 19 at the Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave. Doors at 6 and 9 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
Other music events of note this weekend (all subject to change) include …
FRIDAY, JAN. 19
• Guest conductor Osmo Vanska leads the Detroit Symphony Orchestra through pieces by Beethoven, Sibelius and Henry Dorn through Saturday, Jan. 20 at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Saturday’s show will stream live at 8 p.m. via the “Live From Orchestra Hall” series. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
• R&B songstress Chante Moore performs at 8 p.m. at Sound Board in the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. 800-745-3000 or soundboarddetroit.com.
• George Michael Reborn celebrates the late British pop icon at 8 p.m. at Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren. 586-268-3200 or andiamoshowroom.com.
• Michigan troubadours Christian Ohly and Jack Droppers team up at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• Nashville singer-songwriter Will Kimbrough comes north for a show at 8 p.m. at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• San Diego DJ Mikey Lion headlines a night with Kevin Knapp and Dantiez at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
• Drummer James Gaiters and his band MUV-MENT performs through Saturday, Jan. 20 at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• The Hughes Smith Quintet plays through Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 97 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe. 313-882-5399 or dirtydogjazz.com.
• The Lowdown Brass Band, JonPaul Wallace and Killer Diller triple up at 8:30 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Djangophonique, Henry Acker and Grant Flick hold a birthday celebration for legendary French gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 313-761-1818 or theark.org.
SATURDAY, JAN. 20
• Detroit’s own 42 Dugg holds a “Welcome Home Party,” rescheduled from Nov. 25, at 7 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Tony Braxton breathes again at 8 p.m. at Sound Board in the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. 800-745-3000 or soundboarddetroit.com.
• Long-lived Detroit rock band Sponge makes its debut at The Roxy, 401 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. Showtime is 8 p.m. 248-453-5285 or theroxyrochester.com.
• Experimental Brooklyn artist L’Rain brings her IKYD Winter Tour to Red Door Digital, 7500 Oakland St., Detroit, at 8 p.m. 313-875-9026 or reddoordigital.com.
• Canadian rapper Nostalgix appears with Qurl, Cass and Juicy at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
• Spafford jams at El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.
• North Carolina country singer Kameron Marlowe plays a sold-out show at District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte. Doors at 7 p.m. district142live.com.
• The British Invasion Years celebrates 60s hits from across the pond at 8 p.m. at Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren. 586-268-3200 or andiamoshowroom.com.
• The World Music guitar duo Blackman/Arnold explores the globe at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• Spitvalve, Woolly and Absentees are part of a Punk Showcase at 8:30 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• Jump — America’s Van Halen Experience pays tribute at District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte. Doors at 7 p.m. district142live.com.
• The Grand Rapids all-star punk band Brother Wolf is joined by Man Art Arms and Buried Lights at 9 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Access To Concrete celebrates the release of a new album, “The Robots in the Walls,” with a performance at 9 p.m. at Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. 313-873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.
• Detroit’s Dirk Kroll Band rocks at 8 p.m. at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• Musical humorist Heywood Banks picks and grins at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 313-761-1818 or theark.org.
SUNDAY, JAN. 21
• Los Angeles R&B singer and songwriter Leela James plays at 7:30 p.m. at Sound Board in the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. 800-745-3000 or soundboarddetroit.com.
• It’ll be anything but bittersweet when Big Head Todd & the Monsters performs at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 6:30 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• Trumpeter Ben Green’s Harmolodics play one night only at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• Jazz vocalist Sunny Wilkinson performs a matinee date at 2 p.m. at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• J. Michael & the Heavy Burden, Crafted Conviction, Toed and more are part of The New Year Kick-Off 2024 at 5 p.m. at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• Wisconsin’s Midwest Gypsy Swing Fest brings its show to Michigan at 7:30 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 313-761-1818 or theark.org.
