The Blue Note label is one of the most widely known and respected producers of jazz music in the world. This reference book, by noted discographer Michel Ruppli and Blue Note producer Michael Cuscuna, expands upon the previous edition and includes comprehensive documentation of personnel, recording locations and dates, and master and issue numbers for every recording made or issued by the label from its inception through the present day.

An introduction provides a synopsis of the label's genesis, history, and output. Nine sections detail each stage in the label's history, from the sessions produced by the label's founders, through Blue Note's adoption by the Liberty Label and then by the EMI conglomerate, to its 1985 revival as its own entity, the jazz label of record in the United States.

Out to Lunch stands as Eric Dolphy's magnum opus, an absolute pinnacle of avant-garde jazz in any form or era. Its rhythmic complexity was perhaps unrivaled since Dave Brubeck's Time Out, and its five Dolphy originals -- the jarring Monk tribute "Hat and Beard," the aptly titled "Something Sweet, Something Tender," the weirdly jaunty flute showcase "Gazzelloni," the militaristic title track, the drunken lurch of "Straight Up and Down" -- were a perfect balance of structured frameworks, carefully calibrated timbres, and generous individual freedom.

Since it's billed as "Directions in Music by Miles Davis," it should come as little surprise that Filles de Kilimanjaro is the beginning of a new phase for Miles, the place that he begins to dive headfirst into jazz-rock fusion. It also happens to be the swan song for his second classic quintet, arguably the finest collective of musicians he ever worked with, and what makes this album so fascinating is that it's possible to hear the breaking point -- though his quintet all followed him into fusion (three of his supporting players were on In a Silent Way)...

This ground-breaking 1949-'50 Miles Davis nonet had a profound effect on many styles of jazz in the '50s and its influence still echoes to this day. With the writing talents of Gerry Muligan, John Lewis and Gil Evans and with Davis, Mulligan and Le Konitz as principle soloists, the Birth of the Cool band left us with 12 classic performances. This album has been a worldwide jaz best-seller since its first 12" LP release in 1957. All subsequent reissues of this material on LP and CD were derived from that 1957 master tape, which turns out to be second or third generation, accounting for the dullness and lack of clarity in the recording. The origninal tapes of each tune-which were led individually-have survived. And they now sound considerable better. Rudy Van Gelder returned to these masters, transferred them in 24-bit to digital and worked his sonic magic. The result is more signal and clearer sound than ever before on thise classic recordings.