One Night with Blue Note


One Night with Blue Note is a 1985 feature length jazz film directed by John Charles Jopson.
To celebrate record executive Bruce Lundvall having relaunched the defunct Blue Note Records label in 1985 under the parent label EMI Manhattan Records, he and music director Michael Cuscuna staged a concert on February 22, 1985 at The Town Hall in New York City, bringing together some of the jazz legends associated with Blue Note over the years as well as some newly signed artists. The concert, featuring more than 30 of the world’s most revered jazz musicians in the form of all-star ensembles, is considered by many serious jazz fans to be one of the most important nights in jazz history.
The 3 hour-plus event was shot on 16mm film with multiple cameras. Director Jopson prepared by studying the music from various live recordings, and then, consulting with producer Tammara Wells plus director of photography Martin Pitts and camera operators Ernest Dickerson, Paul Goldsmith and Don Lenser, determined the camera positions. During rehearsals Pitts and long-time associate Lou Tobin designed the lighting for show. The lighting team was joined by the crew from Chorus Line which had just closed on Broadway. The film is known for its intimate close-ups of the musicians, showing their subtle signals to each other and acknowledgment of well-played riffs. The recording was engineered by Mike Moran and David Hewitt with Remote Recording Service's Silver Truck.

Reception

A People magazine review of the original film from December 16, 1985 stated "There is no hype to this film, just musicians standing and sitting around playing music. But what musicians, and what music. Jopson focuses on faces and hands, capturing the joy that surged through what were often strangely formal proceedings." The All About Jazz review of the DVD re-release by Jim Santella stated "Its historical significance cannot be ignored. With positive changes in what we can now accomplish technologically, Blue Note’s highly recommended DVD makes the future of jazz look even brighter".

Performances (DVD)

  1. "Cantaloupe Island"
  2. "Recorda Me"
  3. "Little B’s Poem"
  4. "Bouquet"
  5. "Jumpin' Jack"
  6. "Summertime"
  7. "Moanin'"
  8. "Sweet and Lovely"
  9. "Appointment in Ghana"
  10. "Tone Poem"
  11. "Blues Walk"
  12. "The Jumpin' Blues"
  13. "Scratch My Back"
  14. "Pontos Cantados"

    One Night with Blue Note Preserved (LP & CD)

;Volume 1
  1. "Cantaloupe Island" - 10:38
  2. "Recorda Me" - 11:15
  3. "Hat And Beard" - 7:09
  4. "Little B's Poem" - 8:07
  5. "Bouquet" - 7:07
;Volume 2
  1. "Broadside" -
  2. "Sweet and Lovely" - 2:46
  3. "Appointment in Ghana" - 7:16
  4. "Passion Dance" -
  5. "Blues on the Corner" -
  6. "Pontos Cantados: Point 1/Klook at the Top of the Stairs/Point 2/Question" -
;Volume 3
  1. "Moanin'" -
  2. "I'm Glad There Is You" - 3:31
  3. "Summertime" - 7:16
  4. "Medley: Blues Walk/Gettin' Sentimental Over You" -
  5. "The Jumpin' Blues" - 6:09
  6. "A Child Is Born" -
;Volume 4
  1. "When You Wish upon a Star" -
  2. "Jumpin' Jack" -
  3. "The Blessing" -
  4. "Tone Poem" -
  5. "Lady Day" -
  6. "El Encanto"
  7. "How Long" -