"Is Blue Note striking off key?"

[chris olivarez]

Maybe Blue Note isn't the same as in the days of Alfred Lion but hell all things change. Even so Blue Note is a lot better than many labels these days.

[chris]

I probably suffer from hard bop myopia. I try to keep my ears open, but that is the direction I naturally gravitate. It is also easier for the newbie to figure out worthwhile purchases with a filter of 20-30 or more years or critical discussion rather than jumping out and trying to figure out what to buy amongst current releases. If anything, my taste is working backwards from a beginning of late Coltrane and others to where I much more greatly appreciate early jazz, big band, etc...

I'm sure that will change over time. Right now, that's just where my ears are at.