First Flight to Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings captures previously unissued recordings of drum legend Art Blakey with a classic line-up of The Jazz Messengers featuring trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist Bobby Timmons, and bassist Jymie Merritt from January 14, 1961 at Hibiya Public Hall in Tokyo during the band’s first-ever tour of Japan. The deluxe 2-LP 180g vinyl edition and 2-CD edition come with elaborate booklets featuring rare photos from the Blakey family’s personal archives and Japanese photographers Shunji Okura and Hozumi Nakadaira, as well as images from the original 1961 Japanese concert tour program; an historical essay by acclaimed jazz critic Bob Blumenthal; plus new interviews with jazz icon Wayne Shorter in conversation with Blue Note president Don Was, celebrated Blue Note saxophonist Lou Donaldson, Japanese jazz star Sadao Watanabe, renowned Japanese music critic Reiko Yukawa, Art Blakey’s son Takashi Blakey, and a trio of drum greats: Louis Hayes, Billy Hart and Cindy Blackman Santana. First Flight to Tokyo is co-produced by Zev Feldman and trumpeter David Weiss. Audio was newly transferred from the original ¼” tape reels, and the vinyl edition was mastered by Bernie Grundman.
Tracks
Disc 1
1. Now's The Time (Live At Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 1/14/61)
2. Moanin' (Live At Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 1/14/61)
3. Blues March (Live At Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 1/14/61)
4. The Theme (Live At Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 1/14/61)
Disc 2
1. Dat Dere (Live At Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 1/14/61)
2. 'round About Midnight (Live At Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 1/14/61)
3. Now's The Time (Version 2 / Live At Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 1/14/61)
4. A Night In Tunisia (Live At Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 1/14/61)
5. The Theme (Version 2 / Live At Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 1/14/61)
