City Lights (2006 Digital Remaster)

The most famous of all jazz labels had it all! Five-star artists, original repertoires, ingenious associate artistic directors, exceptional sound recording, sublime album covers, a variety of genres (Bebop, Hard Bop, Soul Jazz, Modal Jazz, Free Jazz)… The label was launched in 1939 by Francis Wolff and Alfred Lion, two Germans who had fled the Nazi regime, and had everything going for it. Qobuz has picked 10 key albums from its ample catalogue. Some of them are celebrated classics. Others are underrated marvels. But all of them played a vital role in shaping Blue Note as a label.

Rooted in dance and eventually becoming its very own artistic movement, the history of tango is an epic one; and its future truly looks limitless. A musical genre with hybrid origins, it remains one of the most incredible creations to come out of Río de la Plata. “It’s the only thing we don’t ask Europe for its opinion on,” wrote Argentina’s Macedonio Fernández, the man that young Jorge Luis Borges admired “to the point of devout and passionate plagiarism.” A number of coincidences in the late 19th century gave rise to this style of music. As musicologist Carlos Vega said: "no one really tried to create tango." And yet, here it is; complete with its own traditions and innovations, as well as its own golden age, ill-fated artists, myths and rituals.

After his major success with a triple album, he went on to repeat this with a double one! Kamasi Washington charms and intrigues well beyond the jazz sphere. Working with Kendrick Lamar and Snoop Dogg, and most importantly as the head of the West Coast Get Down collective, the charismatic saxophonist from Los Angeles brings an incredible wave of excitement to the contemporary jazz scene.