Andrew Hill – Passing Ships (180g 2LP)

Label: Tone Poet / Blue Note – ST-90417 – 180 Gram Virgin Vinyl 

Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio from the original master tape 

AAA 100% Analogue  – Limited Edition –  Audiophile Mastering – Pressed  at RTI

The Blue Note Tone Poet Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was’ admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley (from Music Matters), a.k.a. the “Tone Poet,” on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

Andrew Hill is one of the most distinctive pianists/composers in jazz. Recorded in 1969, this album sat unreleased until 2003 when it was issued on CD thanks to archivist Michael Cuscuna. Hill penned all compositions for an ensemble featuring Woody Shaw, Dizzy Reece, Julian Priester, Joe Farrell, Howard Johnson, Bob Northern, Ron Carter and Lenny White. This is presented for the first time on vinyl. Blue Note Tone Poet Series features all-analog, remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.

Andrew Hill’s Passing Ships Sure to Please, Both Musically and Sonically Michael Fremer
Highest recommendation, musically and sonically! One caution: Kevin Gray cut this one appropriated hot so be sure your stylus is super-clean and that your VTF is correctly set or you might experience some break-up that I guaranty you is not the record’s fault. – Sound 10/10 Music 10/10

Andrew Hill is one of the most distinctive pianists and composing talents in jazz. Yet this profoundly moving session recorded in 1969 sat unreleased until 2003 when it was finally issued on CD through the efforts of Blue Note archivist Michael Cuscuna. Hill penned all seven of Passing Ships’ compositions for an ensemble featuring Woody Shaw and Dizzy Reece on trumpet, Julian Priester on trombone, Joe Farrell on saxes, flute and bass clarinet, Howard Johnson on tuba, Bob Northern on French horn, Ron Carter on bass, and Lenny White on drums. Passing Ships stands comparison to Hill’s greatest work, and is presented for the first time on vinyl with this Tone Poet Edition.

Blue Note Records’ Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series is produced by Joe Harley and features all-analog, mastered-from-the-original-master-tape 180g audiophile vinyl reissues in deluxe gatefold packaging. Mastering is by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) and vinyl is manufactured at Record Technology Incorporated (RTI).

Recording Engineer– Rudy Van Gelder