Blue Notes Records Embraces Jam Band Artists

Blue Notes Records is the cornerstone of recording excellence. For seven decades Blue Note has produced award-winning jazz artists for global listening pleasure. Their advertising logo states: “The Finest in Jazz Since 1939”. I see a trend forming that Blue Note Records is investing directly in the jam band genre. Blue Note has signed Gov’t Mule and Robert Randolph and the Family Band to their roster of artists. They will also be releasing a collaboration between Elvis Costello and The Roots later this year. I view this as an encouraging milestone for jam band music and its loyal legion of fans. It is significant that jam band artists are roosting under the roof of venerable Blue Note Records. Jam band music like jazz is at the music of our heart an improvisational experience.

Blue Note Records Jam Band Artists

Robert Randolph and the Family Band

Last Tuesday, July 16th Blue Note released the latest studio album from Robert Randolph & The Family Band. Lickety Split features the group’s current lineup with Robert joined by Marcus Randolph, Danyel Morgan, Lenesha Randolph and Brett Haas. Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin) engineered the album, which also includes guest appearances from Trombone Shorty and Carlos Santana.

Gov’t Mule

Gov’t Mule and will release Shout!, the group’s first studio album in four years on September 24. In an unprecedented twist and gift to their fans, a special bonus CD will also be included, which includes the 11 tracks from the album but in different versions with each one sung by a different world-class special guest and friend of the band. Elvis Costello and The Roots

Elvis Costello and The Roots announced that a collaborative album entitled Wise Up Ghost will be exclusively released by Blue Note Records on Tuesday, September 17, 2013. A small number of test pressings were distributed as white labels on Record Store Day on April 20 but the full release will follow later in the year. Most of the sessions took place in secret at Feliz Habitat Studios in the dead of night, while others were in plain sight at Costello’s Hookery Crookery Studios. Elvis described the record as “the shortest distance between here and there” and containing “both rhythm and what is read”. Ahmir says, “It’s a moody, brooding affair, cathartic rhythms and dissonant lullabies. I went stark and dark on the music, Elvis went HAM on some ole Ezra Pound shit.” It promises to be one of the most unexpected and surprising releases of 2013. Notice the cover art for Wise Up Ghost below. The image was inspired by the City Lights Pocket Poets Series, in homage to the cover of Allen Ginsberg’s Howl. The video pays tribute to the significance of vinyl, the turntable and bohemian poetic pentameter.