Revive Celebrates The 75th Anniversary Of Blue Note Records With A Massive Show At Central Park SummerStage Featuring Gregory Porter, The Revive Big Band + More.
REVIVE lit up the night at Central Park's SummerStage on Sunday, August 3rd with a massive celebration for the 75th anniversary of Blue Note Records featuring performances from Gregory Porter, Otis Brown III, Chris Turner, Jean Baylor, Terence Blanchard, Gretchen Parlato and the Revive Big Band under the direction of Igmar Thomas. The show - the fourth of five highly-anticipated SummerStage performances celebrating the 15th anniversary of Okayplayer.com - was a family-friendly extravaganza designed to pack the house and pay homage to the label's rich legacy as artists and fans look toward the future of the iconic storehouse of rising innovators and jazz giants. The show, which followed the recent announcement of a creative partnership between Blue Note and REVIVE, was a healthy mix of ensemble performances that kept the crowd on its feet.
Porter, Brown and Grammy Award-winning pianist Robert Glasper all seized the occasion to comment on the impact of the label and its importance as a pillar of the tradition, from Blue Note's legendary LP cover art to the creative control the label has historically allowed working musicians. Host Raydar Ellis hit the nail on the head, noting that as other labels are "dropping left and right", Blue Note is still here. That is a pretty awesome feat for any imprint and a momentous occasion for Blue Note Records that may only be eclipsed by the sheer size and quality of its time-honored catalog. Check the footage below to watch the full recap of the Blue Note 75th Anniversary celebration at SummerStage. Get more on the performances and each of the featured artists via REVIVE. Catch Blood Orange and Moses Sumney performing this Saturday, August 16th at Okayplayer's 5th and final show of the 2014 SummerStage series. Stay tuned for more from OKP TV.
