The legacy of the Blue Note record label in jazz history is unquestionable after 70 years. Co-founded in 1939 by Alfred Lion it has provided an unrivalled platform for some of the most influential jazz artists and as a result of its high standards and expertise became identified for a sound and style that has became known as the Blue Note sound, characterised in its heyday by soulful horn riffs, hard bop, the soul jazz flavours of the Hammond organ and much more besides.

The label, all these years on, still has an active A&R, marketing and sales operation. Current artists on its roster include Cassandra Wilson, who this year won the best vocal album at the Grammys. However, as the anniversary is celebrated this year the EMI-owned company has announced plans to severely prune the label’s CD jazz catalogue, paring the list down by more than 100 albums. The list of albums set to be deleted includes limited editions but also relatively recently issued albums and important gems from the vaults. Lee Morgan’s Top Cat, Joe Lovano’s Trio Fascination, which features Elvin Jones and Dave Holland as well as Lee Konitz’s Alone Together, with Charlie Haden and Brad Mehldau are all on the list as well as the Chet Baker Prince of Cool boxed set plus a substantial portion of Jackie McLean’s 1964-66 output.

“Many of the items deleted were limited editions and as such were always going to be deleted at some point,” a UK spokesman for Blue Note said. “But sadly some of the others have simply fallen victim to declining global CD sales. Blue Note is committed to continuing editions of the RVG reissue series and indeed 12 new titles were recently issued including much loved albums by Jackie McLean and Horace Silver as well as compelling albums from Horace Parlan, Anthony Williams and Grachan Moncur III. The label also continues to unearth previously unissued gems such as the forthcoming Freddie Hubbard album, Without A Song, featuring Hubbard live in Europe in 1969 and including performances from the Royal Festival Hall and Colston Hall in Bristol.”