Blue Note : photos
(Book)

Includes index.

Edition statement from colophon.

Illustration on front and back lining papers.

Blue Note ... The most prestigious jazz label of the 20th century. A story of passion and friendship. The passion of a little 7 year-old-boy, Alfred Lion, who, fascinated, would hide all night behind a swing band, to be at the heart of the percussion and who, on reaching 18, left Berlin and his family for "the source of jazz" : New York. The passion of a young photographer, Francis Wolff, smitten by this "strange music" on attending his very first concert. From the meeting of these two passionate artists came a lifelong friendship which revolved around jazz. Their story gave birth to Blue Note Records, founded in 1939, whose statement of intent read that Blue Note was "designed simply to serve the uncompromising expression of hot jazz and swing, in general." The two friends only recorded what they loved and they would "put quality above cost accounting." Overcoming crises and changing musical trends, they recorded the greatest musicians in jazz history, like Sidney Bechet, Mead "Lux" Lewis, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter. All the photographs in this book were taken by Francis Wolff.

Michael Cuscuna was born in 1949 in Stamford (Connecticut), United States. He is a jazz musician and producer, but also a writer, co-founder of Mosaic Records label in 1981. Ever since he was a young man, he dreamed of joining Blue Note. His dream came true in 1975, and since 1984, as Francis Wolff's heir, he has been managing the famous label and its recordings, with the same high musical standards. Here, he offers his memories and the treasures of his archives to all passionate jazz lovers.

Text in both English and French.