Big John Patton - Let 'Em Roll - 180g [Tone Poet Series]

Blue Note’s roster of Hammond B3 organists was a vibrant and varied bunch that ran the stylistic gamut from Jimmy Smith’s virtuosic innovations to Larry Young’s horizon-expanding explorations. Kansas City born dynamo Big John Patton operated in a soul jazz sweet spot throughout his stellar 1960s Blue Note tenure always making sure each of his platters was served with a healthy helping of soul. Patton first appeared as a sideman on Lou Donaldson’s albums The Natural Soul and Good Gracious and later cut his own Blue Note leader debut with 1963’s Along Came John. Perhaps the most unique—and certainly one of the finest—albums in his discography is Let ‘Em Roll, a fantastic 1965 session that found Patton altering the standard organ trio line-up of guitar (Grant Green) and drums (Otis Finch) by adding vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson into the mix (Green had used this same instrumentation to great effect on his album Street of Dreams the year prior). Highlights of the set include the Patton originals “Let ‘Em Roll” and “Latona,” a tender performance of the Johnny Mandel ballad “The Shadow of Your Smile,” and a spirited romp through Hank Mobley’s “The Turnaround.”

Blue Note Tone Poet Series

The Blue Note Tone Poet 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 (from Music Matters), 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 180 gm audiophile LP pressings by Record Technology Inc. Every aspect of these Blue Note/Tone Poet releases is done to the highest possible standard. It means that you will never find a superior version. This is IT.

Blue Note Records’ Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series is produced by Joe Harley and features all-analog, mastered-from-the-original-master-tape 180g audiophile vinyl reissues in deluxe gatefold packaging. Mastering is by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) and vinyl is manufactured at Record Technology Incorporated (RTI).

     Tracklist:
Let 'Em Roll 
Latona 
The Shadow of Your Smile 
The Turnaround 
Jakey 
One Step Ahead 

NEW SEALED 180g LP - audiophile quality w/ thick gatefold jacket