Out Of/Into

The history of Blue Note Records — jazz’s preeminent record label, and one of the most storied imprints in all of music — 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 while also honoring Blue Note’s impossibly rich legacy. Or as the group’s vibraphonist, Joel Ross, puts it, “The way the collective keeps the Blue Note legacy going is by unapologetically being true to ourselves.”

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 drummer Kendrick Scott.

In fact, Out Of/Into—which also features pianist and musical director Gerald Clayton, alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, and bassist Matt Brewer—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, 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.