Complete Blue Note Recordings [Box set]

Herbie Nichols | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 21, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000005HAC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,148 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Completely Original, December 25, 2001

By 

Kenneth James Michael MacLean (Ann Arbor, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Complete Blue Note Recordings (Audio CD)

I love this boxed set of recordings by Herbie Nichols. Nobody out there has ever sounded like him, either before or after his death from leukemia in 1963. That is a tribute in itself. He has a completely original approach to composition and playing the piano that is unduplicatable.
I know that others have compared him to Monk, but this is superficial, in my mind. Herbie's tunes all have a classical feeling to them, even when he is playing "out of the box." The notes flow together like a classical piece, but most of his tunes are played with at least 2 or 3 notes out of the scale. Don't get me wrong, all of this music is distinctly recognizable as jazz, and great jazz! It feels to me like the compositions float above the key he is playing in, but at the same time there is a definable melody to each piece. The tunes all swing, many of them are catchy melodies, and I find myself smiling often while listening. It's just amazing!
It's very difficult to describe the feel of his stuff, it's like eating an exotic fruit that only exists on one small island in the whole world, then trying to describe the taste.
I sense that Herbie knows exactly what he is doing and where he is going with each note. This is music that pushes the envelope, but which at the same time is structured in a way that is pleasing to listen to. In short, it's just genius!
I want to emphasize that Herbie's music is not "avant garde" in the sense of being all over the place. These are compositions that are well-thought out, often brilliant, often surprising. Herbie's music generates a mood and a feeling that simply cannot be duplicated by anyone else. I find myself sometimes, while listening, just reveling in his unique tapestries.
All 3 CD's are excellent, there is no drop-off from one to the next. There are alternate takes on some of the tunes, but well worth listening to.
All of the music on these CD's is jazz trio, with Al McKibbon on bass and Max Roach / Art Blakey on drums, recorded in 1955. They sound great together!
This boxed set goes on my list of all-time great sessions in jazz. I can't emphasize enough the uniquely enjoyable quality of Herbie's music. Completely different, yet completely enjoyable. It's as simple as that.
If you are a jazz collector, or a serious lover of jazz trio music, this recording is absolutely essential.
In a world where "unique" is over-used, I can safely say that this guy is completely his own, never to be copied. An overlooked genius.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Belated tribute to an ignored great, January 17, 2000

By 

Tyler Smith (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Blue Note Recordings (Audio CD)

The ranks of fine jazz musicians who never received credit for their contributions during their lifetimes are unfortunately large. Herbie Nichols' life offers testimony to the fact that talent doesn't always dictate the course of a career. This wonderful pianist was all but ignored during his life. Fortunately, Blue Note recorded this set of music, which provides all of us the opportunity to hear what was missed the first time around.

Nichols' pieces revolve around subtle vamps, unexpected Monk-like angularities and dark, swirling melodies. While the influence of Monk is there, Herbie's music is completely his own, and like Monk, he crafted compositions that are unique, self-contained worlds. He just doesn't repeat himself. The music here is satisfying on each and every listening.

For a fine review of and comment on Herbie Nichols' life (and the difficulty of pursuing a life in jazz), pick up A.B. Spellman's book, "Four Lives in the Bebop Business."

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable...a travesty Nichols has gone unnoticed, October 26, 1999

By 

Scott Crawford ([e-mail]) (Phnom Penh) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Blue Note Recordings (Audio CD)

Blue Note's recent release of this deluxe set marks a refreshing day for the jazz community. Nichols led a difficult life, compounded pothumoulsy by a relative (almost forceful) lack of recognition of his talents. This is one of my personal favorites, and implore you to purchase it. For a unique interpretation of bop, or to simply enjoy stunning and tasty musical genius, one cannot do without this one.