Blue Note 80 Vinyl Reissue Series Curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman; Blue Note Live, Part 2 Themed Installment Presented on 180 gram Vinyl LP.

In honor of Blue Note Records' 80th Anniversary, the legendary jazz label is launching the Blue Note 80 Vinyl Reissue Series. Distinct from the Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series, this second series curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman features 180 gram vinyl LP releases in standard packaging with albums spanning the many eras of the label's history presented by themes: Blue Note Debuts, Blue Grooves, Great Reid Miles Covers, Blue Note Live, and Blue Note Drummer Leaders. The series resumes in December 2019 with Part 2 of the Blue Note Live theme Jimmy Smith ‘’Groovin’ At Smalls’ Paradise’’ (1958), Lonnie Smith ‘’Live at Club Mozambique’’ (1995) and Lee Konitz ‘’Alone Together’’ (1997) and will continue with three albums released each month for the coming year.

Jimmy Smith introduced more people to jazz than just about any of his contemporaries as his brand was both accessible and easy to get into, yet complex and challenging too. His debut for Blue Note was A New Sound... A New Star... Jimmy Smith at the Organ, Volume 1 in 1957, followed by Volume 2 the same year. Other highlights of his time with the label included ‘’Groovin' at Small's Paradise’’ (1958), ‘’Back At The Chicken Shack’’ (1960) and ‘’Prayer Meetin'‘’(1963). Recorded live in New York City in 1957 with his regular band of guitarist Eddie McFaddenand drummer Donald Bailey, the freewheeling Groovin' at Smalls Paradise finds the Hammond B3 organ legend in great rapport with his small combo and absolutely going to town in the night club environment with a seminal reading of "After Hours" stealing the show !

This Blue Note 80 Vinyl Edition is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180 gram vinyl at Optimal.