Happy Birthday Blue Note!

One of the most iconic record labels in the history of jazz celebrates its birthday today, as Blue Note records turns 70 with no measure of style and grace.

Founded in 1939 by German exiles on the run from the Nazi regime, Blue Note quickly carved out a solid reputation due to its excellent roster, innovative design and the gently humane way they treated their musicians. At a time when jazz musicians were shunted from studio to studio, rarely given time to rehearse before dates, Blue Note found itself becoming the jazz player's favourite record label.

At one point the Blue Note roster included (deep breath) Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Jimmy Smith, Grant Green, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Donald Byrd, Andrew Hill and Ornette Coleman. Giants, all.

The label's stunning music, and its mixture of black and white talent, stood at odds with the prevailing currents in American culture at the time. It's a sobering thought that many of the men who produced the label's greatest recordings couldn't even use the bathroom in many parts of the United States.

Still releasing fantastic music, its roster today includes Wynton Marsalis, Jason Moran, Aaron Parks, Dianne Reeves, Cassandra Wilson and many more.

In 2009, Blue Note Records will celebrate two milestones when it commemorates both the 70th anniversary of the label's founding by Alfred Lion, as well as the 25th anniversary of the its re-launch in 1984 under current President Bruce Lundvall, with a global celebration.

A huge series of events and re-issues are planned for throughout the year, more as it happens!