Ten years on from the last of four editions of the Blue Break Beats series, there’s some déjà vu about this but let’s not forget; the legendary Blue Note Label was the inspiration for some of the greatest hip hop tracks by De La Soul, Beastie Boys, Dr.Dre, A Tribe Called Quest and the rest, even Us3 (OK, well maybe that US3 thing got a bit tired).

It’s also worth noting that this is the Blue Note of the late 60s / early 70s that, at the time was looked upon by many jazz period as a “second best” period as the label supported up and coming musicians like Donald Byrd (Mizzell Brothers), David Axelrod and Ronnie Foster.

Whether your Blue Note is the big arrangements of Axelrod (as re-discovered by crate diggers like DJ Shadow or the ‘simple’ organ trios, this is the sound of jazz. Some folks like Gilles Peterson favour the Pure Fire of Impulse! but for me Blue Note was where it was at. Not surprisingly then every track is a classic and well worth revisiting; and if you’re never heard this stuff, you just might have found your new thing.

Or, going the other way, do you know, some people still haven’t heard of A Tribe Called Quest! Compare their classic ‘Scenario’ with the ‘original’ Brother Jack McDuff ‘Oblighetto’. Nothing like each other but isn’t that some psychedelic soul-jazz organ? Enough to get you into Lonnie Smith (also on here with the 60s anthem ‘Spinnin’ Wheel’, Jimmy McGriff, Jimmy Smith and even Larry Young.

A Tribe Called Quest’s also used a track here on their ‘Vibes & Stuff’, Grant Green’s ‘Down Here On The Ground’. Now if you don’t think there is such a thing as a jazz guitarist (and/or Wes Montgomery didn’t do it for you), Grant Green isn’t exactly a household name probably due to early passing in 1979, but he was a big favourite of Peterson with ‘My Favourite Things’ and the jazz-dancer ‘Sookie Sookie’.

And put the bass, guitar, organ and vibes together with the introduction to Ronnie Foster’s ‘Mystic Brew’ and is just timeless modal jazz-funk classic (also ‘nicked’ by Tribe on ‘Electric Relaxation’).

And talkin’ of psychedelic, the find on this one is by master flautist Jeremy Steig. The flute is not the most popular instrument going and even Herbie Mann had to excel at many styles like jazz (Impressions Of The Middle East), funk, Latin and disco thorough his long career to get well known. Even though ‘Howling For Judy’ was included on Vol. 4 of the aforementioned Blue Break Beats, those Beastie Boys spotted it for their ‘Get It Together’ so there’s no doubt they know a good thing when they hear it.

You can’t fault the selections on this album and if hard pressed labels are after a few bob getting out their classics again, so be it. Brilliant stuff throughout and there’s a vinyl edition I’m told for us old skoolers.

And a couple of in-stores to check out in NY & LA on February 12, 2008 featuring Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest) (Apple Store, Soho, 103 Prince Street, NY, NY 10012) and (Apple Store, Third Street Promenade, 1248 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA) both start at 7:00pm and prepare for some classic spinning beats from the new album!

Reviewed: Various — V/A — Droppin’ Science (Greatest Samples From The Blue Note Lab) (Blue Note) Release Date: 11.02.08
1. Lou Donaldson — ‘It’s Your Thing’
2. Ronnie Foster — ‘Mystic Brew’
3. Donald Byrd — ‘Think Twice’
4. David Axelrod & David McCallum — ‘The Edge’
5. Brother Jack McDuff — ‘Oblighetto’
6. Joe Williams — ‘Get Out Of My Life Woman’
7. Grant Green — ‘Down Here On The Ground’
8. Lonnie Smith — ‘Spinnin’ Wheel’
9. Jeremy Steig — ‘Howling For Judy’
10. Lou Donaldson — ‘Who’s Makin’ Love (To Your Old Lady)’

Links:
www.bluenote.com
www.jeremysteig.info