Curtis Amy & Frank Butler – Groovin’ Blue LP (Blue Note Tone Poet Series)

Curtis Amy & Frank Butler – Groovin’ Blue

Houston, Texas born tenor saxophonist Curtis Amy found his way to Los Angeles in the mid-1950s where he became embedded in the West Coast Jazz scene and began recording for Pacific Jazz in 1960. His second date for the label was Groovin’ Blue, a hard-swinging session co-led with drummer Frank Butler that was also one of the earliest recordings to feature vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, who was just 19 years old at the time. Rounding out the band on this excellent 6-song set of Amy originals are trumpeter Carmell Jones, who was making his recorded debut, along with pianist Frank Strazzeri, and bassist Jimmy Bond. Highlights include the hard-driving opener “Gone Into It,” the bluesy title track, and the ballad “Beautiful You” which serves as a showcase for Hutcherson’s stunning lyricism.

Blue Note Tone Poet Series

The Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was’ admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley, a.k.a. the “Tone Poet,” on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

Extreme attention to detail has been paid to getting these right in every conceivable way, from the jacket graphics and printing quality to superior LP mastering (direct from the master tapes) by Kevin Gray to superb 180g audiophile LP pressings by Record Technology Inc. Every aspect of these Tone Poet releases is done to the highest possible standard. It means that you will never find a superior version. This is IT.

This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and packaged in a deluxe tip-on jacket.

Tracklist:
A1 Gone Into It
A2 Annsome
A3 Bobblin'

B1 Groovin' Blue
B2 Beautiful You
B3 Very Frank

Label: Blue Note Records
Released: 1961/2025