"The incomparable trumpeter Clifford Brown’s star was just starting to ascend when he recorded two sessions as a leader for Blue Note in 1953 — a co-led quintet date with alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson and a sextet date under his own name — that were later compiled on the 12" LP Memorial Album (BLP 1526) shortly after his tragic death in a car accident in 1956. Side 1 presents the sextet with alto saxophonist Gigi Gryce, tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, pianist John Lewis, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Art Blakey on a blistering version of 'Cherokee,' the stunning ballad performance of 'Easy Living,' the Quincy Jones bebop theme 'Wail Bait,' and more. Side 2 finds the Donaldson-Brown Quintet with Heath on bass, Elmo Hope on piano, and Philly Joe Jones on drums cooking through a set including Brown’s briskly paced original 'Brownie Speaks,' Hope’s grooving 'De-Dah,' and the resplendent ballad 'You Go To My Head.' This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is mono, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal." - Blue Note Records

• 180g black vinyl pressing
• mono sound
• all-analog remaster cut from the original tapes
• featuring Clifford Brown (t), Charlie Rouse (t. sax), Lou Donaldson (a. sax), Elmo Hope (p), John Lewis (p), Percy Heath (b), Art Blakey (d), Philly Joe Jones (d) + more
• original release year: 1956
• music label: Blue Note Records 2024