Blue Note, the mythical label that doubled down on jazz in the 1950s, has brought together many all-star groups over the years. Having such a magnificent roster means they are well placed to encourage dream unions for jazz fans. For example, the current Blue Note all-stars line-up includes Ambrose Akinmusire, Robert Glasper, Marcus Strickland, Lionel Loueke and more, artists who are the flagbearers for a modern, genre melding sound.
This concert, shot in 1996 at the JazzOpen Stuttgart festival, assembled three musicians who had been collaborators for a number of years: Ron Carter (the most-recorded double bassist ever), Bobby Hutcherson (who played with everyone from McCoy Tyner to Eric Dolphy) and Joe Chambers (drummer extraordinaire who also played with Tyner and Dolphy as well as Charles Mingus and Chick Corea). All three had recorded together for Blue Note since the 60s and were joined here by two relatively younger band members, Kevin Hays on Piano and Javon Jackson on tenor, both musicians who would be part of the Blue Note All Stars for many years to come. They make for a supreme quintet.
