If you’re a jazz fan, you undoubtedly have a bunch of albums from the legendary Blue Note label. If you don’t, this two hour documentary will quickly get you ordering a Baker’s Dozen of them, as the film gets you excited about the history, feel and above, music of the label that was begun in 1939 by a pair of Jewish German refugees, Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff.
As this film explains, not only did Blue Note revolutionize the sound of jazz, as they made sure the artists were well rehearsed, well fed and well paid, but they changed the look of jazz with the iconic cover photos and designs by Wolff. Interviews with legendary artists from the heyday include Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Lou Donaldson. Most fun of all is the input by creator of the clean sounds of every recording, Rudy Van Gelder, whose signature was on ever recording. Commentary by Mike Cuscuna and Don Was add to the depth of this man’s influence.
Informative insight by younger artists like Ambrose Akinmusire, Kendrick Scott and Robert Glasper show how Blue Note has adapted to the modern times in both its musical inclusiveness and experimentation. The time on this album flies by, and even the interviews bop with the pulse of a Horace Silver album. This is like a video love letter.