January 06. 2009
It was 70 years ago today - January 6, 1939 - that a young German immigrant and passionate jazz fan named
Alfred Lion held the very first recording session for what was to become
Blue Note Records. Two weeks prior Lion had found his calling as he sat spellbound by two boogie-woogie pianists -
Albert Ammons &
Meade Lux Lewis - at the legendary Spirituals to Swing concert at Carnegie Hall, and the world's premiere and longest-running Jazz label was born.
To celebrate the label's history and mark this important milestone,
NPR Talk of the Nation will host an hour of conversation and music this afternoon with the label's current president
Bruce Lundvall—who relaunched Blue Note 25 years ago—as well as longtime producer
Michael Cuscuna and pianist
Bill Charlap.
Click HERE for show info and to check out the online feature.Click here for more info on the 70th Anniversary.