One Night with Blue Note

One Night with Blue Note

Directed by	John Charles Jopson
Produced by	Bruce Lundvall Tammara Wells
Music by	Art Blakey Ron Carter Jack DeJohnette Herbie Hancock Freddie Hubbard Michel Petrucciani Jimmy Smith Stanley Turrentine McCoy Tyner Grover Washington, Jr.
Distributed by	EMI Distribution
Release date(s)	1985
Running time	121 min.
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English

One Night with Blue Note is a 1985 jazz film directed by John Charles Jopson^{[citation needed]}.

Record executive Bruce Lundvall relaunched the defunct Blue Note Records label in 1985 under the parent label EMI Manhattan Records. To celebrate, Lundvall and Music Director Michael Cuscuna staged a concert on February 22, 1985 at The Town Hall in New York City, bringing together some of the jazz legends associated with Blue Note over the years as well as some newly signed artists. The concert, featuring more than 30 of the world’s most revered jazz musicians in the form of all-star ensembles, is considered by many to be one of the most important nights in jazz history. The 3 hour-plus event was shot on 16mm film with multiple cameras. Director John Charles Jopson prepared by studying the music from various live recordings, and then consulting with Producer Tammara Wells plus Director of Photography Martin Pitts and Camera Operators Ernest Dickerson, Paul Goldsmith and Don Lenser determined the camera positions. During rehearsals Pitts and long-time associate Lou Tobin designed the lighting for show. The lighting team was joined by the crew from "Chorus Line" which had just closed on broadway. The film is known for its intimate close-ups of the musicians, showing their subtle signals to each other and acknowledgment of well-played riffs. A four-LP box set One Night with Blue Note Preserved featuring the entire concert was released simultaneously with the film and as separate volumes^{[citation needed]}.

Many of the performers have died since this film was made, including Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Jimmy Smith, Woody Shaw, Walter Davis Jr., Art Blakey, Stanley Turrentine, Joe Henderson, Michel Petrucciani, Grover Washington, Jr. and Tony Williams.^{[citation needed]}

1 DVD Re-release
2 Reception
3 Performances (DVD)
4 One Night with Blue Note Preserved (LP & CD)
5 References
6 External links

DVD Re-release

A re-release of the film on DVD in 2003 featured some additional performances as well as a new stereo mix and Dolby 5.1 surround sound with new telecine transfers. There was some criticism from reviewers and fans for dropping other performances (by Charles Lloyd and Stanley Jordan) and for some of the re-editing. Also missing is the classic black-and-white opening title sequence in the Blue Note style designed by Jopson and Pitts and featuring Joe Henderson playing sax on the fire escapes of mid-town Manhattan. Other noteworthy additions to the DVD include the historic black-and-white photos by label co-founder Francis Wolff, and a gallery of memorable Blue Note cover art by designer Reid Miles. Interstitial piano music (underscoring during voiceovers) on the DVD, though not listed in the credits, was provided by jazz pianist Deidre Rodman^{[citation needed]}.

Running time: 121 minutes

Reception

The All About Jazz review by Jim Santella stated "Its historical significance cannot be ignored. With positive changes in what we can now accomplish technologically, Blue Note’s highly recommended DVD makes the future of jazz look even brighter".^[1]

Performances (DVD)

"Cantaloupe Island" (Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams)
"Recorda-me" (Hubbard, Henderson, Hancock, Carter, Williams, Bobby Hutcherson)
"Little B’s Poem" (Hutcherson, Hancock, Carter, Williams, James Newton)
"Bouquet" (Hancock, Carter, Hutcherson)
"Jumpin’ Jack" (Stanley Jordan)
"Summertime" (Grover Washington, Jr., Kenny Burrell, Reggie Workman, Grady Tate)
"Moanin’" (Hubbard, Johnny Griffin, Curtis Fuller, Walter Davis Jr., Workman, Art Blakey)
"Sweet and Lovely" (McCoy Tyner)
"Appointment in Ghana" (Woody Shaw, Jackie McLean, Tyner, Cecil McBee, Jack DeJohnette)
"Tone Poem" (Charles Lloyd, Michel Petrucciani, McBee, DeJohnette)
"Blues Walk" (Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Smith, Burrell, Tate)
"Jumpin' the Blues" (Stanley Turrentine, Smith, Burrell, Tate)
"Scratch My Back" (Turrentine, Smith, Burrell, Tate)
"Pontos Cantados" (Cecil Taylor)