Hot Stamper Blue Note Albums Available Now
More recordings by Rudy Van Gelder
- Side one was the best we heard in our shootout, earning a grade of nearly Triple Plus (A++ to A+++)
- It’s clear yet rich- the horns are full-bodied and warm, and the top is fairly extended
- Side two earned a Double Plus (A++) grade – by track two it’s full, smooth and natural
- Both sides are exceptionally quiet, playing a true Mint Minus – for Blue Note that’s rare!
A fun and lively Blue Note, presented here with two especially hot sides and quiet vinyl!
After hearing a copy that blew us away a few years back, we went on the hunt for enough pressings to get this shootout off the ground. It wasn’t easy — run across many clean Kenny Dorham LPs recently? — but we finally pulled it off and this copy really impressed the hell out of us compared to the others we had on hand to play.
Dorham is backed by a killer lineup here — Joe Henderson, Herbire Hancock, Butch Warren and Anthony Williams. AMG calls the music “explorative yet swinging music” that “lives up to its potential”. I’d say it’s one of the better “lesser-known” Blue Note titles, a real sleeper in their catalog. (more…)