Louis Smith – Here Comes Louis Smith [Mono] (Blue Note Tone Poet Series Tone Poet Society Exclusive Edition)

(AAA) — Lacquers cut from the original analog master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.

This is a Tone Poet Society Exclusive release, limited to 1,000 individually numbered copies, adorned with a Tone Poet Society Exclusive gold foil stamp, and comes with a lithographic print of a photo by Francis Wolff.

The prodigious trumpet talents of Louis Smith were first introduced on Here Comes Louis Smith, a stunning debut album recorded initially for Transition in 1958 that was instead released by Blue Note after the former label folded and Blue Note boss Alfred Lion eagerly purchased the masters. The date featured Smith in stellar company alongside alto saxophone master Cannonball Adderley (performing under the pseudonym “Buckshot La Funke” for contractual reasons), pianists Duke Jordan and Tommy Flanagan, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Art Taylor. Smith asserts himself impressively from uptempo swingers like Duke Pearson’s “Tribute To Brownie” to Hoagy Carmichael’s classic ballad “Stardust,” also showcasing his compositional prowess on his originals “Brill’s Blues,” “Ande,” “South Side,” and “Val’s Blues.”

Blue Note Tone Poet Series

The Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was’ admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley, a.k.a. the “Tone Poet,” on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

Extreme attention to detail has been paid to getting these right in every conceivable way, from the jacket graphics and printing quality to superior LP mastering (direct from the master tapes) by Kevin Gray to superb 180g audiophile LP pressings by Record Technology Inc. Every aspect of these Tone Poet releases is done to the highest possible standard. It means that you will never find a superior version. This is IT.

This mono Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket including a lithographic print of a Francis Wolff photograph from the session.

Tracklist:
A1 Tribute To Brownie
A2 Brill's Blues
A3 Ande
B1 Star Dust
B2 South Side
B3 Val's Blues

Limited to 2 per customer.

(Above description from BlueNote.com)