Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Blue Moon Over Paris: ORTF Recordings 1963–1968

Deluxe 180-Gram Double LP

Special Gatefold Edition

Includes 12-Page Booklet

Deluxe limited edition. Also available as a Deluxe CD version.

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Blue Moon Over Paris: ORTF Recordings 1963–1968 presents two previously unreleased Paris performances by two distinct editions of the legendary Jazz Messengers, recorded five years apart at the L’Olympia Theatre in 1963 and the Salle Pleyel in 1968.

Presented as a deluxe 180-gram 2LP gatefold edition, the release includes a 12-page booklet with stunning photographs, liner notes by acclaimed jazz critic and author Bob Blumenthal, plus testimonies from Billy Harper, Julian Priester, Cindy Blackman Santana and Takashi Blakey.

The 1963 performance features one of the most celebrated Jazz Messengers lineups of the era, with Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone, Cedar Walton on piano and Reggie Workman on bass, alongside Blakey on drums.

The 1968 performance features a different edition of the band with Bill Hardman on trumpet, Julian Priester on trombone, Billy Harper on tenor saxophone, Ronnie Matthews on piano and Lawrence Evans on bass. Together, these two concerts illuminate Blakey’s remarkable ability to assemble and develop some of the most exciting ensembles in jazz.

Tracklist:

Side A

1. MOON RIVER 11:14

2. BUHAINA’S DELIGHT 9:39

Side B

1. THAT OLD FEELING 6:42

2. I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS 7:42

3. CARAVAN 13:34

Side C

1. SLIDE No.1 14:25

2. BLUES FOR EROS 14:40

Side D

1. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS 9:07

2. MOANIN’ 12:41

3. BLUE MOON 2:57

4. THE THEME 2:55

Sides A & B: ART BLAKEY drums; FREDDIE HUBBARD trumpet; CURTIS FULLER trombone; WAYNE SHORTER tenor sax; CEDAR WALTON piano; REGGIE WORKMAN bass.
Recorded at L’Olympia Theatre, Paris, April 25, 1963.

Sides C & D: ART BLAKEY drums; BILL HARDMAN trumpet; JULIAN PRIESTER trombone; BILLY HARPER tenor sax; RONNIE MATTHEWS piano; LAWRENCE EVANS bass.
Recorded at Salle Pleyel, Paris, November 6, 1968.

Produced for Release by ZEV FELDMAN.
Executive Producers: JORDI SOLEY and CARLOS AGUSTÍN CALEMBERT.
Associate Producers: LINDSAY FITZGERALD and MARTÍN ARIAS GOLDESTEIN.
Original Recordings Produced by ANDRÉ FRANCIS and LUCIEN MALSON.
INA Digitization in High Resolution, restoration and mastering: IAN DEBEERST.
LP Mastering by MATTHEW LUTTHANS at The Mastering Lab.
Front and Back Cover Photos by CHRISTIAN ROSE / ROGER-VIOLLET.
Front Cover Design: JOHN SELLARDS.
Back Cover and Interior Design: SIMON SVÄRD.
Album Package Editor: MARTÍN ARIAS GOLDESTEIN.
Photo Research: ZEV FELDMAN and LINDSAY FITZGERALD.