Bobbi Humphrey – Blacks and Blues (Blue Note 80th)

Blue Note 80 Vinyl Reissue Series Curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman; Blue Grooves (Part 1) Themed Installment Presented on 180g Vinyl LP

In honor of Blue Note Records’ 80th Anniversary, the legendary jazz label is launching the Blue Note 80 Vinyl Reissue Series. Distinct from the Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series, this second series curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman features 180g vinyl LP releases in standard packaging with albums spanning the many eras of the label’s history presented by themes: Blue Note Debuts, Blue Grooves, Great Reid Miles Covers, Blue Note Live, and Blue Note Drummer Leaders. The series resumes in July 2019 with Part 1 of the Blue Grooves theme – Lonnie Smith Think! (1968), Reuben Wilson Blue Mode (1969) and Bobbi Humphrey Blacks And Blues (1973) – and will continue with three albums released each month for the coming year.

Flutist Bobbi Humphrey found wide success with Blacks and Blues, her breakout third album for Blue Note, working with the Mizell Brothers (who had recently hooked up with Donald Byrd to produce the trumpeter’s landmark album Black Byrd) to create a jazz-funk classic for the ages featuring the standout track “Harlem River Drive.” Humphrey’s alluring flute and breezy vocals paired with Larry Mizell’s compelling R&B jazz fusion compositions and production proved a winning combination that would lead to future collaborations on Humphrey’s albums Satin Doll and Fancy Dancer.

This Blue Note 80 Vinyl Edition is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Musicians:
Bobbi Humphrey, flute & vocals
David T. Walker / John Rowin, guitar
Fonce Mizell, clavinet & trumpet
Jerry Peters, piano
Fred Perren, synthesizer
Chuck Rainey / Ron Brown, bass
Harvey Mason, drums
King Errison / Stephanie Spruill, percussion