The Rudy Van Gelder Editions on Spotify (234 Blue Note & Concord Jazz Classic Albums)

A message to you, Rudy

(source image)

Last saturday I went to a concert with a friend of mine. While driving to the venue, we spoke a bit about music. I made her listen to one of my last iPod playlists. She gave me a cd by Herbie Hancock. Thinking about it, later, I realized the easy availability of rock music (my favourite) is taking me away from all the other genres. No jazz anymore. No world music. Just few pop or electronics. Nada heavy metal, nada black music, nada classical. It's like an ocean of indie got a complete control of my music life. That's not good. So, as a first reaction, I spent some day listening to something different, starting from Herbie Hancock and jazz. Easy came the idea to make a jazz playlist on Spotirama, too. Then, I met Rudy Van Gelder.

From Wikipedia:

Rudy Van Gelder (born 2 November 1924, Jersey City, New Jersey) is an American recording engineer specializing in jazz. Often regarded as one of the most important recording engineers in music history, Van Gelder has recorded several thousand jazz sessions, including many widely recognized as classics, in a career spanning more than half a century. Bringing an unprecedented clarity to jazz recording, Van Gelder has recorded many of the great names in the genre, including Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Grant Green, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, and many others. He worked with many record companies, but he is most closely associated with Blue Note Records, now a division of EMI. (...) Since 1999, he has been busy remastering the analog Blue Note recordings he made several decades ago into 24-bit digital recordings in its ongoing RVG Edition series.

The full list of these remastered recordings is here and the good news is that all the 168 titles are available on Spotify. Unfortunately, they're not always appropriately tagged. Sometimes they appear as "Rudy Van Gelder Edition", sometimes as "RVG", sometimes the engineer's name appears only in some songs, sometimes it doesn't appear at all. I collected all the 168 albums (in italics, the ones I'm not 100% sure they're RVG remastered editions). Then, as a bonus, I collected also the other albums that appear as Rudy Van Gelder remasters on Spotify (both from Blue Note and Concord Records) but are not on the official Blue Note website. Total: 234 albums! I put them in two different playlists. The first one is made with the complete recordings. Take it as a kind of huge encyclopedia of classic jazz. The second one includes just one song each album: it's a sort of radio station, good to get a taste without diggin' too deep in live versions, alternate takes, etc. etc. The order of the first 168 albums follows the publication of the remastered recordings from 1999 to 2009. Enjoy!

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THE PLAYLISTS

1. Unity (Larry Young)

2. The Real McCoy (McCoy Tyner)

3. Blowin' the Blues Away (Horace Silver)

4. Volume 2 (Sonny Rollins)

5. Midnight Blue (Kenny Burrell)

6. Somethin' Else (Cannonball Adderley)

7. Speak No Evil (Wayne Shorter)

8. Soul Station (Hank Mobley)

9. Empyrean Isles (Herbie Hancock)

10. Go! (Dexter Gordon)

11. Out To Lunch (Eric Dolphy)

12. Moanin' (Art Blakey)

13. Song For My Father (Horace Silver)

14. The Sidewinder (Lee Morgan)

15. Page One (Joe Henderson)

16. Maiden Voyage (Herbie Hancock)

17. Idle Moments (Grant Greene)

18. Cool Struttin' (Sonny Clark)

19. Life Time (Tony Williams)

20. Juju (Wayne Shorter)

21. Hub-Tones (Freddie Hubbard)

22. Point of Departure (Andrew Hill)

23. A Blowing Session (Johnny Griffin)

24. A New Perspective (Donald Byrd)

25. Groovin' at Small's Paradise (Jimmy Smith)

26. A Night at the Village Vanguard (Sonny Rollins)

27. Una Mas (Kenny Dorham)

28. The Sermon (Jimmy Smith)

29. Six Piece of Silver (Horace Silver)

30. The All Seeing Eye (Wayne Shorter)

31. No Room For Squares (Hank Mobley)

32. House Party (Jimmy Smith)

33. The Prisoner (Herbie Hancock)

34. Whistle Stop (Kenny Dorham)

35. Birth of the Cool (Miles Davis)

36. The Eminent J.J. Johnson - Volume 1 (J.J. Johnson)

37. The Eminent J.J. Johnson - Volume 2 (J.J. Johnson)

38. Wizard of the Vibes (Milt Jackson)

39. Miles Davis - Volume 2 (Miles Davis)

40. Miles Davis - Volume 1 (Miles Davis)

41. Genius of Modern Music - Volume 2 (Thelonious Monk)

42. Jazz Immortal (Clifford Brown)

43. Memorial Album (Clifford Brown)

44. At the Cafè Bohemia - Volume 1 (Art Blakey)

45. At the Cafè Bohemia - Volume 2 (Art Blakey)

46. A Night at Birdland - Volume 1 (Art Blakey Quintet)

47. A Night at Birdland - Volume 2 (Art Blakey Quintet)

48. At the Golden Circle - Volume 1 (Ornette Coleman)

49. Sonny Clark Trio (Sonny Clark Trio)

50. Cool Blues (Jimmy Smith)

51. Dialogue (Bobby Hutcherson)

52. Open Sesame (Freddie Hubbard)

53. Hustlin' (Stanley Turrentine)

54. Lee-Way (Lee Morgan)

55. Roll Call (Hank Mobley)

56. Green Street (Grant Green)

57. Hub Cap (Frebbie Hubbard)

58. The Natural Soul (Lou Donaldson)

59. Volume One (Sonny Rollins)

60. Grantstand (Grant Green)

61. Our Man in Paris (Dexter Gordon)
62. Blue Train (John Coltrane)
63. Indestructible (Art Blakey)
64. Adam's Apple (Wayne Shorter)
65. Search for the New Land (Lee Morgan)
66. Let Freedom Ring (Jackie McLean)
67. Mode For Joe (Joe Henderson)
68. Ready For Freddie (Freddie Hubbard)
69. Never Let Me Go (Stanley Turrentine)
70. Conquistador! (Cecil Taylor)
71. Prayer Meetin' (Jimmy Smith)
72. The Cape Verdean Blues (Horace Silver)
73. Newk's Time (Sonny Rollins)
74. The Thing To Do (Blue Mitchell)
75. Breaking Point (Freddie Hubbard)
76. Inner Urge (Joe Henderson)
77. Dexter Calling (Dexter Gordon)
78. Buhaina's Delight (Art Blakey)
79. Home Cookin' (Jimmy Smith)
80. The Sixth Sense (Lee Morgan)
81. Black Fire (Andrew Hill)
82. Doin' Allright (Dexter Gordon)
83. Tender Moments (McCoy Tyner)
84. Destination Out (Jackie McLean)
85. Blue Spirits (Freddie Hubbard)
86. In 'N Out (Joe Henderson)
87. One Flight Up (Dexter Gordon)
88. Free For All (Art Blakey)
89. True Blue (Tina Brooks)
90. A Night in Tunisia (Art Blakey)
91. Horace Silver & the Jazz Messengers (Horace Silver)
92. Night Dreamer (Wayne Shorter)
93. Speak Like a Child (Herbie Hancock)
94. Feelin' the Spirit (Grant Green)
95. Inventions and Dimensions (Herbie Hancock)
96. Symphony for Improvisers (Don Cherry)
97. The Big Beat (Art Blakey)
98. Time For Tyner (McCoy Tyner)
99. Oblique (Bobby Hutcherson)
100. Judgment (Andrew Hill)
101. That's Where It's At (Stanley Turrentine)
102. Joyride (Stanley Turrentine)
103. Horace-Scope (Horace Silver)
104. The Gigolo (Lee Morgan)
105. Workout (Hank Mobley)
106. Gettin' Around (Dexter Gordon)
107. A Swingin' Affair (Dexter Gordon)
108. Mosaic (Art Blakey)
109. Live at the Club Mozambique (Grant Green)
110. The Cooker (Lee Morgan)
111. Another Workout (Hank Mobley)
112. Royal Flush (Donald Byrd)
113. Doin' the Thing: The Horace Silver Quintet at the Village Gate (Horace Silver)
114. City Lights (Lee Morgan)
115. Demon's Dance (Jackie McLean)
116. Happenings (Bobby Hutcherson)
117. Here To Stay (Freddie Hubbard)
118. Off to the Races (Donald Byrd)
119. Introducing (Johnny Griffin)
120. Undercurrent (Kenny Drew)
121. Compulsion (Andrew Hill)
122. Clubhouse (Dexter Gordon)
123. The Cat Walk (Donald Byrd)
124. Bossa Nova Soul Samba (Ike Quebec)
125. Lee Morgan Sextet: Volume 2 (Lee Morgan)
126. Lee Morgan Sextet: Volume 3 (Lee Morgan)
127. Flight to Jordan (Duke Jordan)
128. Bass on Top (Paul Chambers)
129. Delightfulee (Lee Morgan)
130. The Magnificent Thad Jones (Thad Jones)
131. Takin' Off (Herbie Hancock)
132. Afro-Cuban (Kenny Dorham)
133. Gravy Train (Lou Donaldson)
134. Back at the Chicken Shack (Jimmy Smith)
135. Midnight Special (Jimmy Smith)
136. Candy (Lee Morgan)
137. Indeed! (Lee Morgan)
138. The Latin Bit (Grant Green)
139. Live at Club Baby Grand: Volume 1 (Jimmy Smith)
140. Live at Club Baby Grand: Volume 2 (Jimmy Smith)
141. Blue and Sentimental (Ike Quebec)
142. Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims (Jutta Hipp, Zoot Sims)
143. Look Out! (Stanley Turrentine)
144. Further Explorations By the Horace Silver Quintet (Horace Silver)
145. The Soothsayer (Wayne Shorter)
146. Shades of Redd (Freddie Redd)
147. Here 'Tis (Lou Donaldson)
148. Jimmy Smith Plays Fats Waller (Jimmy Smith)
149. J.R. Monterose (J.R. Monterose)
150. Hank Mobley Quintet (Hank Mobley)
151. The Opener (Curtis Fuller)
152. Lou Takes Off (Lou Donaldson)
153. Dearly Beloved (Stanley Turrentine)
154. Dimensions & Extensions (Sam Rivers)
155. Evolution (Grachan Moncur)
156. Peckin' Time (Hank Mobley)
157. Leapin' and Lopin' (Sonny Clark)
158. A Chip Off the Old Block (Stanley Turrentine)
159. Rollin' With Leo (Leo Parker)
160. One Step Beyond (Jackie McLean)
161. Grant's First Stand (Grant Green)
162. Paul Chambers Quintet (Paul Chambers Quintet)
163. Spring (Tony Williams)
164. Stop and Listen (Baby Face Willette)
165. The Tokyo Blues (Horace Silver)
166. Some Other Stuff (Grachan Moncur)
167. Bluesnik (Jackie McLean)
168. Street of Dreams (Grant Green)


Bonus albums:
(Blue Note)
169. Like Someone in Love (Art Blakey)
170. A.T.'s Delight (Art Taylor)
171. Face To Face (Baby Face Willette)
172. The Amazing Bud Powell: Volume 1 (Bud Powell)
173. The Amazing Bud Powell: Volume 2 (Bud Powell)
174. The Amazing Bud Powell: Volume 3 (Bud Powell)
175. The Scene Changes (Bud Powell)
176. Time Waits (Bud Powell)
177. At the Half Note Cafè: vol.1 & vol.2 (Donald Byrd)
178. Byrd in Hand (Donald Byrd)
179. Free Form (Donald Byrd)
180. Fuego (Donald Byrd)
181. Slow Drag (Donald Byrd)
182. Sweet Honey Bee (Duke Pearson)
183. At the Five Spot: Volume 2 (Eric Dolphy)
184. The Night of the Cookers (Freddie Hubbard)
185. The Complete George Braith Blue Note Sessions (George Braith)
186. Goin' West (Grant Green)
187. Hi-Voltage (Hank Mobley)
188. The Turnaround (Hank Mobley)
189. My Point of View (Herbie Hancock)
190. Up and Down (Horace Parlan)
191. Finger Poppin' (Horace Silver)
192. Horace Silver Trio (Horace Silver Trio)
193. Serenade To a Soul Sister (Horace Silver)
194. It Might As Well Be Spring (Ike Quebec)
195. 4, 5 and 6 (Jackie McLean)
196. A Fickle Sonance (Jackie McLean)
197. Action (Jackie McLean)
198. Capuchin Swing (Jackie McLean)
199. Jackie's Bag (Jackie McLean)
200. Right Now (Jackie McLean)
201. Rockin' the Boat (Jimmy Smith)
202. The Sound of Jimmy Smith (Jimmy Smith)
203. Our Thing (Joe Henderson)
204. Little Johnny C (Johnny Coles)
205. The Complete 'Round About Midnight at the Café (Kenny Dorham)
206. Let Me Tell You About It (Leo Parker)
207. Lush Life (Lou Donaldson)
208. Here Comes Louis Smith (Louis Smith)
209. At the Golden Circle: Volume 2 (Ornette Coleman)
210. Dial S For Sonny (Sonny Clark)
211. Ballads (Sonny Rollins)
212. Never Let Me Go (Stanley Turrentine)
213. The Spoiler (Stanley Turrentine)
214. Davis Cup (Walter Davis)

(Concord Records)
215. 'Round Midnight (Andy Bey)
216. Farmers Market (Art Farmer)
217. The Freedom Book (Booker Ervin)
218. Settin' the Pace (John Coltrane)
219. Coltrane (John Coltrane)
220. Traneing In (John Coltrane)
221. Mating Call (John Coltrane)
222. Kirk's Work (Roland Kirk with Jack McDuff)
223. Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet (Miles Davis)
224. Steamin' (Miles Davis)
225. El Hombre (Pat Martino)
226. Groovy (Red Garland)
227. Soul Junction (Red Garland)
228. Dig It (Red Garland Quintet with John Coltrane)
229. We Three (Roy Haines)
230. This Is Criss! (Sonny Criss)
231. Moving Out (Sonny Rollins)
232. Plays For Bird (Sonny Rollins)
233. Monk (Thelonious Monk)
234. Thelonious Monk Trio (Thelonious Monk Trio)

Listen to them on Spotify:
Mammoth (full albums, 1686 tracks, about 1 week): HTTP, URI. (SR0237)
Lite (one track each album, 234 tracks, about 1 day): HTTP, URI. (SR0238)