Sonny Clark - Blues In The Night (Limited Edition Japanese Blue Note Vinyl LP)

Sonny Clark - Blues In The Night Vinyl LP - Limited Edition Japanese Blue Note Pressing

A showcase for one of hard bop's most distinctive pianists, Blues In The Night captures Sonny Clark leading a tight trio through a session that highlights his elegant touch, blues-soaked sensibility and impeccable sense of swing. This 1979 Japanese limited edition pressing, manufactured by King Record Co. and released on Blue Note's GXF series, presents Clark's artistry with the sonic excellence Japanese audiophile editions are prized for.

Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's legendary Hackensack studio under the guidance of Blue Note founder Alfred Lion, the album features Clark primarily supported by bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Wes Landers, with Jymie Merritt taking over bass duties on the final track. The trio format allows Clark's piano playing to take centre stage, and he responds with performances that balance sophistication and soul, technical facility and emotional directness.

Clark's approach to the piano was marked by a crystalline touch and a harmonic vocabulary that drew from bebop while looking forward to the modal explorations that would define the early 1960s. Whether navigating blues changes, interpreting standards, or working through original compositions, Clark maintained a distinctive voice that was both cerebral and deeply swinging. His tragic early death in 1963 cut short a career that was still developing, making sessions like this all the more valuable.

This limited edition Japanese pressing includes the original insert and represents the session with exceptional clarity and warmth. For collectors of Blue Note's catalogue and admirers of piano trio jazz, this is an essential document of an under-appreciated master.

Vinyl: EX
Sleeve: EX
Obi: None

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