Blue Note Records

Blue Note Records was founded in New York City in 1939 by Alfred Lion, a German-born jazz enthusiast who had immigrated to the United States. The label’s first recording session took place on January 6, 1939, when Lion recorded boogie-woogie pianists Albert Ammons and Meade “Lux” Lewis. Writer and musician Max Margulis provided financial backing during the label’s early years, while Lion’s childhood friend Francis Wolff joined the company later that year.

Blue Note initially specialized in hot jazz, swing, and boogie-woogie, issuing its recordings primarily on 78 rpm discs. Lion developed a reputation for giving musicians unusually favorable recording conditions and allowing performances more time than the standard three-minute format. The label’s early catalog included Sidney Bechet, Albert Ammons, Meade “Lux” Lewis, James P. Johnson, Art Hodes, and Thelonious Monk.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Blue Note became particularly associated with bebop, hard bop, soul jazz, and avant-garde jazz, recording artists such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Jimmy Smith, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, and Wayne Shorter. Photographer Francis Wolff and designer Reid Miles also helped establish the distinctive visual identity of the label.

After a period of dormancy, Blue Note was relaunched in 1984 under Bruce Lundvall and continues to release and reissue jazz recordings.

Blue Note Discography

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#1939