Bronx born Freddie Roach was first introduced to Blue Note listeners on Ike Quebec’s albums Heavy Soul and It Might As Well Be Spring. He began his own run of leader dates with his excellent 1962 debut Down To Earth. That album is now part of Blue Note’s Classic Vinyl Series roster.
The deeply soulful six-song set was a showcase of his nuanced, bluesy sound and his knack for writing thoroughly enjoyable original tunes like “De Bug” and “Althea Soon” that were ideal vehicles for this swinging four-piece band featuring Percy France on tenor saxophone, Kenny Burrell on guitar, and Clarence Johnston on drums.
This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.
Roach’s release joins other 2025 Classic Vinyl Series releases, which encompass amazing albums from across the decades. Offerings from the 1950s include Jimmy Smith’s House Party and A Blowing Session, which brought Johnny Griffin together with John Coltrane and Hank Mobley.
1960s soul jazz is represented by Lou Donaldson’s Say It Loud and Horace Silver’s Serenade to a Soul Sister, while 1970s jazz-funk gets its spotlight via Donald Byrd’s Stepping Into Tomorrow and Eddie Henderson’s Heritage. A pair of 1980s LPs will be reissued to vinyl from the original analog master tapes for the first time, Tony Williams’ Civilization and Don Pullen’s New Beginnings.
Other artists represented in next year’s series include Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Stanley Turrentine, Baby Face Willette, Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Sonny Clark, Freddie Redd, Grant Green, Elvin Jones, Andrew Hill, and Jackie McLean.
Curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman, the series presents all-analog 180g vinyl reissues mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes and manufactured at Optimal.
Order Blue Note’s Classic Vinyl Series reissue of Freddie Roach’s Down to Earth now.
