[JPL] Blue Note Records Vs. Prestige Records

[Eric Jackson]

Arturo Gomez wrote:

> The current year of 2009 marks the 70th anniversary of Alfred Lion’sBlue
> Note Records, it also is the 60th anniversary of Bob Weinstock’s Prestige
> Records. Both labels have an amazing discography of classic recordings by
> gifted artists, both used Rudy van Gelder, there are many artists whom
> recorded for both labels, both had outstanding liner notes by prominent
> writers and both were early on champions for Latin jazz session among other
> similarities. IMO Blue Note Records had the more prolific artwork.
> 
>  
> 
> Which is your preferred label of the two?
> 

I think there was a big difference in their sounds. Not sound quality 
but I think they released different kinds of music starting perhaps in 
the late 50, and during the 60s. As was mentioned, many of the Prestige 
dates were just blowing dates. Some of them were great, no doubt! Blue 
Note seemed to have two major directions for it's artists. Many were 
young and writing their own compositions which were more intricate than 
the blowing session type stuff from Prestige. They also seemed to be 
more interested in the jazz funk boogaloo groove type sound than 
Prestige was.

Certainly for that period, I was more of a fan of Blue Note. Looking at 
the entire catalog of both it would be a terrible day if for some reason 
I couldn't listen to music from one of those labels. Too much great 
stuff on both.


Eric Jackson
Mon - Thurs 8 pm - mid.
89.7 FM WGBH Boston
www.wgbh.org/jazz



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