Blue Note Records 85th Anniversary Tour

starring The Blue Note Quintet

Friday, February 9, 2024 at 8pm

Presenting Sponsor
Gerrit & Amy Cole Foundation

Additional support for this program provided by an Anonymous Fund of the Orange County Community Foundation

This performance is presented without an intermission.

Gerald Clayton: Musical Director/Piano
Immanuel Wilkins: Alto Saxophone
Joel Ross: Vibraphone
Kendrick Scott: Drums
Matt Brewer: Bass

Piano Provided by Yamaha

Blue Note Records was founded on January 6, 1939 when a German-Jewish immigrant and passionate jazz fan named Alfred Lion produced his first recording session in New York City. The label has gone on to represent the finest in jazz, tracing the entire history of the music from hot jazz, boogie woogie, and swing, through bebop, hard bop, post-bop, soul jazz, avant-garde, and fusion, and—after being relaunched by Bruce Lundvall in 1984—has remained the leading label dedicated to documenting today’s vibrant and creatively thriving jazz scene under the leadership of current President Don Was, who took the helm in 2012.

The visionary young voices of jazz have long been the lifeblood of Blue Note Records, and The Blue Note Quintet continues the tradition of rising stars of the roster joining forces to celebrate the label’s unparalleled legacy including Out of the Blue, Superblue, New Directions, The Blue Note 7, and The Blue Note All-Stars.

“Blue Note has been such a wonderful home for the community, for incredible musicians, for creativity, for all these years. You can’t help but think about all those masters, all those heroes that you’ve grown up listening to. To get a chance to pay tribute and try to carry some of that essence forward is truly just an honor.” — Gerald Clayton