Bobbi Humphrey – Fancy Dancer

What our staff has to say: “I absolutely love Bobbi Humphrey, especially Blacks and Blues, and this record. Mellow, utterly soothing jazz funk. She is an incredible flutist, completely floating but virtuosic at the same time. This record is perfect for strolling down the street on a stifling summer night, or for laying in the park when the temperature’s just right.” – Hannah

Blue Note Classic Vinyl Reissue Series All-Analog 180g Vinyl LP Mastered by Kevin Gray Directly from the Original Master Tapes and Manufactured at Optimal in Germany

Blue Note Records has announced the continuation of the Classic Vinyl Reissue Series which presents 180g vinyl LP reissues in standard packaging mastered by Kevin Gray and manufactured at Optimal. The pressings are all-analog whenever an analog source is available, with Gray mastering directly from the original master tapes. While the first 16 titles of the series focused on the best-known Blue Note classics from the 1950s and 60s, the new run of titles curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman broadens its scope to span the many eras and styles of the legendary label’s eight-decade history presented by themes: Bebop, Hard Bop, Soul Jazz, Post-Bop, Avant-Garde, The 70s, The Rebirth, and Hidden Gems.

Bobbi Humphrey was one of the most prominent stars on the Blue Note roster of the 1970s. The flutist debuted on the label in 1971 with Flute In¸ the first in a run of six creative and highly enjoyable albums. On her breakout 1973 album Blacks and Blues, Humphrey hooked up with the forward-thinking producer Larry Mizell to create a jazz-funk classic that expanded her audience. It proved to be a winning combination, and the two joined forces again on Satin Doll the following year.

Their third and final collaboration would be on the great 1975 album Fancy Dancer. Humphrey’s alluring flute dances through vibrant and ingenious arrangements by Larry and Fonce Mizell that skillfully wove together a broad range of influences from across the spectrum of black music. The set featured standout tracks like the Latin grooves of “Uno Esta,” the laid-back jam “You Make Me Feel So Good,” and the album’s expansive closer “Please Set Me At Ease,” which the innovative hip hop beatmaker Madlib memorably remade on his 2003 Blue Note remix album Shades Of Blue.