June 01, 2025
Playlist: The Don Was Era of Blue Note Records
Curated by the SFJAZZ Staff
In anticipation of our 2025 SFJAZZ Gala honoring legendary producer, musician, and Blue Note Records President Don Was, this month's playlist features a selection of SFJAZZ Staff's favorite recordings released on Blue Note Records during his tenure.
Blue Note Records President Don Was
In anticipation of our 2025 SFJAZZ Gala honoring legendary producer, musician, and Blue Note Records President Don Was, this month's playlist features a selection of tracks released on Blue Note records since Was’ tenure. Accompanied by insights from SFJAZZ staff members, this playlist shines a light on the brilliant work Don Was has helped come to life at Blue Note Records.
Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band - "He Died Fighting"
from Landmarks (2014)
I consider each release by drummer Brian Blade to be a major jazz event, and one album that really put its hooks in me was 2014’s Landmarks — his fourth with the remarkable Fellowship band. Blade’s partnership with pianist Jon Cowherd has yielded some enchanted musical moments that are many things at once — layered, soulful, introspective, ecstatic, cinematic in scope and tone, and always with a distinct “hominess” that feels true to his Southern roots. “He Died Fighting” tells a story from the first note. Whenever I put on a Fellowship album I’m reminded of the Japanese word “komorebi” (木漏れ日), meaning “sunlight filtering through the trees” — a perfect metaphor for Blade and Cowherd’s kaleidoscopic work.
– RUSTY ACEVES, SENIOR CONTENT EDITOR AND COPYWRITER
Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band - "He Died Fighting"
from Landmarks (2014)
I consider each release by drummer Brian Blade to be a major jazz event, and one album that really put its hooks in me was 2014’s Landmarks — his fourth with the remarkable Fellowship band. Blade’s partnership with pianist Jon Cowherd has yielded some enchanted musical moments that are many things at once — layered, soulful, introspective, ecstatic, cinematic in scope and tone, and always with a distinct “hominess” that feels true to his Southern roots. “He Died Fighting” tells a story from the first note. Whenever I put on a Fellowship album I’m reminded of the Japanese word “komorebi” (木漏れ日), meaning “sunlight filtering through the trees” — a perfect metaphor for Blade and Cowherd’s kaleidoscopic work.
– RUSTY ACEVES, SENIOR CONTENT EDITOR AND COPYWRITER
Wayne Shorter – “Adventures Aboard the Golden Mean”
from Emanon (2018)
It’s only fitting that the legendary Wayne Shorter’s final album with his telepathic quartet of Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, and Brian Blade would be a sprawling, 3-LP orchestral concept album that includes a 74-page sci-fi graphic novel. Inspired by the title of a Dizzy Gillespie composition (“no name” backwards), Emanon is as varied, expansive, and visionary as the man who made it. Though I have no doubt that the quartet augmented by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra is the sound Shorter always heard in his head, and those evocative orchestrations give his work fascinating new dimensions, it’s the quartet alone and live on stage that captivates me most. Recorded at London’s Barbican, “Adventures Aboard the Golden Mean” was always a staple of the Shorter quartet’s performances and was given an emotionally involving performance here.
– RUSTY ACEVES, SENIOR EDITOR & COPYWRITER
Wayne Shorter – “Adventures Aboard the Golden Mean”
from Emanon (2018)
It’s only fitting that the legendary Wayne Shorter’s final album with his telepathic quartet of Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, and Brian Blade would be a sprawling, 3-LP orchestral concept album that includes a 74-page sci-fi graphic novel. Inspired by the title of a Dizzy Gillespie composition (“no name” backwards), Emanon is as varied, expansive, and visionary as the man who made it. Though I have no doubt that the quartet augmented by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra is the sound Shorter always heard in his head, and those evocative orchestrations give his work fascinating new dimensions, it’s the quartet alone and live on stage that captivates me most. Recorded at London’s Barbican, “Adventures Aboard the Golden Mean” was always a staple of the Shorter quartet’s performances and was given an emotionally involving performance here.
– RUSTY ACEVES, SENIOR EDITOR & COPYWRITER
Joe Lovano Us Five - “Cross Culture”
from Cross Culture (2013)
Joe Lovano is your favorite saxophone player’s favorite saxophonist. He radiates the essence of jazz on and off the bandstand and his project ‘Us Five’ is a testament to Lovano’s ‘vibe’ being exactly that–groove, improvisation, melody, and versatility. His 2013 Us Five release entitled Cross Culture featuring two drummers with stand out percussive sounds being pumped out by Francisco Mela, who seamlessly blends cuban rhythms into a straight-ahead jazz context. Also Esperanza Spalding holds down like half the album on bass. Super sick album!
– JUSTIN ESPOSITO, SOCIAL MEDIA & CONTENT STRATEGIST
Joe Lovano Us Five - “Cross Culture”
from Cross Culture (2013)
Joe Lovano is your favorite saxophone player’s favorite saxophonist. He radiates the essence of jazz on and off the bandstand and his project ‘Us Five’ is a testament to Lovano’s ‘vibe’ being exactly that–groove, improvisation, melody, and versatility. His 2013 Us Five release entitled Cross Culture featuring two drummers with stand out percussive sounds being pumped out by Francisco Mela, who seamlessly blends cuban rhythms into a straight-ahead jazz context. Also Esperanza Spalding holds down like half the album on bass. Super sick album!
– JUSTIN ESPOSITO, SOCIAL MEDIA & CONTENT STRATEGIST
Charles Lloyd & the Marvels + Lucinda Williams "Unsuffer Me"
from Vanished Gardens (2018)
NEA Jazz Master and 2025 SFJAZZ Festival headliner Charles Lloyd continues to push jazz into exciting new territories, weaving together diverse strands of American music. On this track, he and his all-star group, The Marvels, collaborate with the legendary Lucinda Williams to reinterpret her original song into a groovy, effortless fusion of jazz, folk, and blues—enhanced by tasteful yet adventurous electronic textures from Bill Frisell’s guitar.
– DIEGO MUNGUIA, DIGITAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR
Charles Lloyd & the Marvels + Lucinda Williams "Unsuffer Me"
from Vanished Gardens (2018)
NEA Jazz Master and 2025 SFJAZZ Festival headliner Charles Lloyd continues to push jazz into exciting new territories, weaving together diverse strands of American music. On this track, he and his all-star group, The Marvels, collaborate with the legendary Lucinda Williams to reinterpret her original song into a groovy, effortless fusion of jazz, folk, and blues—enhanced by tasteful yet adventurous electronic textures from Bill Frisell’s guitar.
– DIEGO MUNGUIA, DIGITAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR
Robert Glasper Experiment - "Afro Blue"
from Black Radio (2012)
This album was an absolute gamechanger! Released in 2012, just a year after Don Was took over as President of Blue Note Records, Black Radio really set the tone and a marked shift for the label over the next decade. Robert Glasper has since emerged as one of the biggest jazz stars and has organically blended jazz to the music of today across all genres – notably hip-hop, soul and funk. Glasper's reimagining of the Mongo Santamaria classic "Afro Blue" featuring Erykah Badu has become foundational to how young jazz artists approach jazz standards today.
– ROSS EUSTIS, DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL
Robert Glasper Experiment - "Afro Blue"
from Black Radio (2012)
This album was an absolute gamechanger! Released in 2012, just a year after Don Was took over as President of Blue Note Records, Black Radio really set the tone and a marked shift for the label over the next decade. Robert Glasper has since emerged as one of the biggest jazz stars and has organically blended jazz to the music of today across all genres – notably hip-hop, soul and funk. Glasper's reimagining of the Mongo Santamaria classic "Afro Blue" featuring Erykah Badu has become foundational to how young jazz artists approach jazz standards today.
– ROSS EUSTIS, DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL
Charles Lloyd & The Marvels – "Masters Of War"
from I Long To See You (2016)
Does anyone recognize the album cover? Yes, that's the SFJAZZ elevator! (Search for #sfjazzelevatormusic on social media for a bunch more photos like this.) NEA Jazz Master Charles Lloyd has performed at SFJAZZ many times over the years and debuted this particular project in our 2015-16 Season. The Marvels features guitarists Bill Frisell and Greg Leisz, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland. Lloyd kicks off his debut album with "Masters Of War," a cover of Bob Dylan’s searing protest anthem.
– ROSS EUSTIS, DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL
Charles Lloyd & The Marvels – "Masters Of War"
from I Long To See You (2016)
Does anyone recognize the album cover? Yes, that's the SFJAZZ elevator! (Search for #sfjazzelevatormusic on social media for a bunch more photos like this.) NEA Jazz Master Charles Lloyd has performed at SFJAZZ many times over the years and debuted this particular project in our 2015-16 Season. The Marvels features guitarists Bill Frisell and Greg Leisz, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland. Lloyd kicks off his debut album with "Masters Of War," a cover of Bob Dylan’s searing protest anthem.
– ROSS EUSTIS, DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL
Makaya McCraven “Black Rhythm Happening”
from Deciphering The Message (2021)
A joyous explosion of rhythm and festive experimentalism, this song is a shining example of Makaya McCraven's bespoke fusion of Hip-Hop and Jazz. It appears on McCraven's 2021 LP Deciphering the Message, where Blue Note granted him free rein to work his sample-cutting magic on the treasures in their vaults. For this track, McCraven reimagines trumpeter Eddie Gale's "Black Rhythm Happening" into a blend of musique concrète, '90s Hip-Hop crunch, and James Brown–style groove.
– DIEGO MUNGUIA, DIGITAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR
Makaya McCraven “Black Rhythm Happening”
from Deciphering The Message (2021)
A joyous explosion of rhythm and festive experimentalism, this song is a shining example of Makaya McCraven's bespoke fusion of Hip-Hop and Jazz. It appears on McCraven's 2021 LP Deciphering the Message, where Blue Note granted him free rein to work his sample-cutting magic on the treasures in their vaults. For this track, McCraven reimagines trumpeter Eddie Gale's "Black Rhythm Happening" into a blend of musique concrète, '90s Hip-Hop crunch, and James Brown–style groove.
– DIEGO MUNGUIA, DIGITAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR
Ambrose Akinmusire - “a blooming bloodfruit in a hoodie”
from Origami Harvest (2018)
This is a sprawling track from the Bay Area's own trumpet genius Ambrose Akinmusire. The song is a harmony of moving parts, combining a chamber string section with brisk modal jazz, along with a vivid verse from cult fan favorite rapper Kool A.D. Something to behold, the song is cerebral, glowing and totally beautiful.
– DIEGO MUNGUIA, DIGITAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR
Ambrose Akinmusire - “a blooming bloodfruit in a hoodie”
from Origami Harvest (2018)
This is a sprawling track from the Bay Area's own trumpet genius Ambrose Akinmusire. The song is a harmony of moving parts, combining a chamber string section with brisk modal jazz, along with a vivid verse from cult fan favorite rapper Kool A.D. Something to behold, the song is cerebral, glowing and totally beautiful.
– DIEGO MUNGUIA, DIGITAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR