This year’s Record Store Day 2023 takes place on April 22, with the promise of hundreds of new collectibles and rarities to bring thousands of music fans to stores across the U.S. and beyond.
While the big-name rock and pop offerings will draw the most attention, there are also plenty of cool items for jazz fans as well. Here are four that we’d certainly want to spin:
“Blue Room: The 1979 VARA Studio Sessions in Holland,” Chet Baker
Fans of the acclaimed trumpeter-vocalist will certainly dig these rare recordings, which reportedly have gone unheard since they were originally aired by Dutch radio station KRO-NCRV some 44 years ago. It arrives as a two-LP set for Record Store Day via the Jazz Detective Label, followed by double-CD and digital versions on April 28.
“Live at Jazz Workshop 1970,” Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers
This one is a Record Store Day exclusive, which means Blakey fans will likely have to actually visit one of the participating stores, if they want to get their hands on this previously unreleased recording that includes such titles as “Autumn In New York” and “East of the Sun (and West of the Moon).” It’s served up as a single LP by Gearbox Records.
“Queen Talk: Live at the Left Bank,” Shirley Scott
The great jazz organist combines forces with saxophonist George Coleman and drummer Bobby Durham (as well as guest vocalist Ernie Andrews on three tracks) in this never-before-released 1972 concert recording from Baltimore. It’s being made available as a two-LP set by Jazz Detective and Reel To Real Records.
“Europe 1966,” Albert Ayler
The four-LP box set from ORG Music highlights the free jazz giant performing with trumpeter Donald Ayler (Albert’s brother), violinist Michel Samson, bassist William Folwell and drummer Beaver Harris during shows in Berlin and Lorrach, Germany, and Stockholm and Paris.
For participating stores, a complete list of releases and other information, visit recordstoreday.com.
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