The Modest Jazz Trio - Good Friday Blues

180-gram LP

Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio from the original master tape

Plated and pressed at RTI

Deluxe tip-on jacket

The Blue Note Tone Poet Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was' admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley (from Music Matters), a.k.a. the "Tone Poet," on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

Recorded in the wee hours of Good Friday 1960, this charming and impromptu Pacific Jazz session captured the easygoing alchemy of The Modest Jazz Trio featuring Jim Hall on guitar, Red Mitchell on piano, and Red Kelly on bass. Good Friday Blues would be the trio's sole album, a sublimely swinging date that did indeed begin with the modest expectations of capturing a single track for a blues anthology that Richard Bock was producing.

But the vibe was right, the trio was inspired, the music flowed, and by morning they had laid down six tracks including a pair of originals by Mitchell and renditions of songbook standards including "Willow Weep For Me," "I Remember You," and "I Was Doin' Alright." The drum-less setting allows Hall's gorgeous, subtle tone and melodic flow to shine while Mitchell — who was primarily known as a bassist — surprises with his impressive piano chops, and Kelly provides a sturdy base.

 

Side A

1. Good Friday Blues

2. Willow Weep For Me

3. I Remember You

Side B

1. Bill Not Phil

2. When I Have You

3. I Was Doin' Alright

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