October 23, 2024
The history of Blue Note Records is defined by a seamless blend of tradition and innovation. From the advent of hard bop to the label’s knack for elevating the greatest young talent in jazz, the Blue Note story has unfolded over the past 85 years with equal regard for jazz’s past and its future. Out Of/Into, the all-star collective that began its life earlier this year as the Blue Note Quintet in celebration of the label’s 85th anniversary, is a profound embodiment of the label’s ethos, presenting state-of-the-art music and musicians—pianist Gerald Clayton, alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, vibraphonist Joel Ross, drummer Kendrick Scott, and bassist Matt Brewer—while also honoring Blue Note’s rich legacy. Or as Ross puts it, “The way the collective keeps the Blue Note legacy going is by unapologetically being true to ourselves.”
On December 6, the band will release their remarkable debut album, Motion I, an inspired set presenting seven original works by the band members, including the captivating lead track “Ofafrii,” that was captured in the midst of the group’s marathon tour of 2024. All of these compositions are brilliant vehicles for improvisation that were thoroughly explored and developed during nearly 40 live engagements at some of the nation’s finest concert halls.
“With such a long time on the road, it was really nice to reach as far as possible,” says Wilkins. Adds Clayton, “We pushed one another to reach further and dig deeper night after night. Over the course of two months, the music expanded in all directions. Things grew both tighter and looser. So much talent and creativity was on that bandstand.”
Simply put, Out Of/Into comprises five of the most important voices of their generation in jazz. The band also represents the latest evolution of one of Blue Note’s most enduring traditions. Over the years, the label has assembled a series of all-star bands overflowing with game-changing ability, including Out of the Blue, Superblue, New Directions, the Blue Note 7, and the Blue Note All-Stars. The players these groups empowered, some of them at the outset of their historic careers, is nothing short of a who’s who of jazz’s last half-century: Kenny Garrett, Roy Hargrove, Renee Rosnes, Greg Osby, Jason Moran, Stefon Harris, Ravi Coltrane, Bill Charlap, Robert Glasper, Lionel Loueke, Ambrose Akinmusire, and so many other greats. Somehow, each of these groups encapsulated their specific Blue Note period while also proving that the label’s “golden age” isn’t a single epoch at all. Rather, it’s a continuum of excellence and newness that is forever pushing onward.
Even the group’s name speaks to this concept of moving ever forward while remaining reverent of the masters who’ve come before. “‘Out Of/Into’ reflects the evolution of the Blue Note story, and of our sound,” says Scott.
