Analogue Productions, the world leader in high quality vinyl production, is thrilled to announce the December 13 release of Birth of the Blue, a collection documenting the transformative first session in 1958 by the same band that would go on to record Kind of Blue – the one of the greatest and greatest-selling jazz album of all time – the following year.
Featuring Davis’ legendary sextet – John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb – who had first come together less than two weeks prior, this historic set was recorded at Columbia’s 30th Street Studio, and captures the origins of a momentous shift in modern jazz. Featuring four tracks, including three ballads and one Davis original, the music was meticulously remastered from new transfers of the original stereo session tapes, and is presented here as a standalone release for the first time ever. Birth of the Blue was pressed at Quality Record Pressing and the premium gatefold jacket features period-correct artwork plus new liner notes from acclaimed jazz historian Ashley Kahn, author of Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece.
Kahn notes that the four tunes on Birth of the Blue have previously been treated as “archival lagniappe – a stepchild undeserving of its own release.” He continues, “But to quote Miles himself: So what. Together these tracks capture a very rare and special group of improvisers in their first weeks as an ensemble, and have their own story to tell. Together, they merit their own release – musically, historically, undeniably.”
On Wednesday, December 4th, Analogue Productions and Acoustic Sounds will preview the release of Birth of the Blue with a special playback session and panel discussion featuring Kahn, Acoustic Sounds founder and CEO Chad Kassem, and Davis producer and archivist Steve Berkowitz, at NYC listening room All Blues. Named after a track on the Kind of Blue album and inspired by the jazz kissa bars of Japan, All Blues is home to one of the finest vintage playback systems in New York. The event is open to the public.
For over forty years, Acoustic Sounds has championed the art of vinyl, reissuing historic recordings with the utmost care and precision. The company was founded by Chad Kassem, whose unlikely journey from a small apartment-based vinyl resale operation to the helm of the world’s largest vertically integrated vinyl production facility has transformed the high-end audio industry. His Salina, Kansas-based company houses Acoustic Sounds in its entirety, a reissue label (Analogue Productions), state-of-the-art pressing plant (Quality Record Pressings), a mastering facility (The Mastering Lab at Acoustic Sounds), a recording studio and concert venue (Blue Heaven Studios), print shop (Consolidated Printing) and original recordings label (APO Records). Kassem’s relentless dedication to sound quality and preservation of historical recordings has made Acoustic Sounds a trusted source for high-fidelity music.Today, the company presses over a million records each year, bringing legendary labels and artists – from Verve, Impulse, Atlantic and Contemporary Records, to John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix, Steely Dan and The Doors – as they’ve never been heard before to fans worldwide. Chad Kassem’s commitment to excellence has redefined the boundaries of high-quality vinyl production and built an empire grounded in authenticity and quality.
Birth of the Blue Tracklist:
1. On Green Dolphin Street
2. Fran-Dance
3. Stella By Starlight
4. Love for Sale
