Duke Pearson – Wahoo! (Blue Note Classic Series)

Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition on 180-gram LP

All-analog mastering from the original master tapes

Blue Note MVP Duke Pearson was a versatile presence on the label from the late-1950s thru the early 1970s, contributing in myriad ways to numerous classic albums as a pianist, bandleader, sideman, composer, arranger, and producer. After recording a pair of trio albums as a leader for Blue Note in 1959, Pearson returned to the studio in 1964 with the sextet session Wahoo!, which was a perfect encapsulation of his many talents.

Writing for an ensemble featuring Donald Byrd on trumpet, James Spaulding on alto saxophone and flute, Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Mickey Roker on drums, Pearson presents five evocative originals including "Amanda," "Bedouin," and "ESP (Extrasensory Perception)." Duke strips it down to the trio for a lovely ballad performance of his piece "Farewell Machelle" and closes the album with a brisk, jaunty flight through Byrd's tune "Fly Little Bird Fly."

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Optimal.