Some great holiday gifts for the jazz lover in your life
Seeking out holiday gifts to impress the discerning music lover in your life? Here are some suggestions, all loaded with lovely music.
One of the most lavish jazz-related objects to arrive in recent memory comes from the Blue Note label, which released numerous excellent albums in 2017. “Peace Love & Fishing” is the first installment in what is promised to be the twice-a-year Blue Note Review series, and it’s clearly a labor of love aimed at the serious music enthusiast. Here’s what’s packed into the massive box: a two-lp 180g vinyl set featuring previously unreleased (and meticulously recorded) music from the current Blue Note roster, including attractive work from veterans (Charles Lloyd, Wayne Shorter) and emerging stars (Kandace Springs, Derrick Hodge ),a two-cd set replicating that music in case you want the vinyl to remain pristine, and an LP copy of a gloriously energetic and obscure 1963 date from trumpeter Blue Mitchell, “Step Lightly.” The package also includes a pair of rare lithographs featuring Shorter and Stanley Turrentine, a turntable mat that declares “Jazz Is Not A Crime,” an engrossing “lifestyle zine” featuring interviews and anecdotes about the music, a stylish scarf designed by John Varvatos (who is apparently a big deal in the world of scarves), and a numbered card signed by label president Don Was.
It’s a lot to take in, and that’s certainly the point. Since streaming is becoming an increasingly dominant way to consume music, here’s something tactile and visual, recalling the era when the object itself was an important component of the art experience. At $200, this project isn’t cheap, but it’s hard to imagine a genuine jazz aficionado not being delighted by this limited edition. They’re only making 1,500 of these, and you can order one at bluenotereview.com.
The reissue-oriented Mosaic Records label has kept a low