Biography
Duke Pearson was an accomplished pianist, composer, arranger, and producer who played a big part in shaping the direction of Blue Note Records throughout the 1960s and composed many memorable pieces including “Cristo Redentor,” “Jeannine,” “Idle Moments,” “You Know I Care,” and “Sweet Honey Bee” which were performed by Donald Byrd, Grant Green, Joe Henderson, Lee Morgan, and others.
Born in Atlanta, Pearson was introduced to brass instruments and the piano as a youth, and his abilities on the latter inspired his uncle, an Ellington admirer, to give him his nickname. Dental problems forced Pearson to abandon the brass family, so he worked as a pianist in Atlanta and elsewhere in Georgia and Florida before moving to New York in 1959. There, he joined Byrd’s band and the Art Farmer-Benny Golson Sextet, and served as Nancy Wilson’s accompanist. He also began his long association with Blue Note that year by recording his first two albums as a leader, Profile and Tender Feelin’s.
In 1963, he arranged four numbers for jazz septet and eight-voice choir on Byrd’s innovative A New Perspective album; one of the tunes, “Cristo Redentor,” became a jazz hit. From 1963 to 1970, Pearson produced numerous recording sessions for Blue Note, while also recording most of his albums as a leader including Wahoo! (1964), Sweet Honey Bee (1966), The Right Touch (1967), and The Phantom (1968). He also led a big band from 1967 to 1970 and again in 1972, hiring players like Pepper Adams, Chick Corea, Lew Tabackin, Randy Brecker, and Garnett Brown. Pearson continued to accompany vocalists in the 1970s, such as Carmen McRae.
Releases
It Could Only Happen With You - Duke Pearson
I Don’t Care Who Knows It - Duke Pearson
Merry Ole Soul - Duke Pearson
How Insensitive - Duke Pearson
Now Hear This - Duke Pearson
The Phantom - Duke Pearson
Introducing Duke Pearson’s Big Band - Duke Pearson
The Right Touch - Duke Pearson
Sweet Honey Bee - Duke Pearson
Wahoo - Duke Pearson
Tender Feelin’s - Duke Pearson
Profile - Duke Pearson
News
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CLASSIC VINYL REISSUE SERIES 2024 TITLES ANNOUNCED
Blue Note Records has announced the next run of titles in the Classic Vinyl Reissue Series, which presents affordable 180g all-analog vinyl reissues in standard packaging that are mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes and manufactured at Optimal. Curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman, the series... read more
TONE POET AUDIOPHILE VINYL REISSUE SERIES 2023 LINE-UP
Blue Note Records has announced the upcoming 2023 line-up for the Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series. The acclaimed series is produced by the “Tone Poet” Joe Harley and features all-analog, 180g audiophile vinyl reissues that are mastered from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray of Cohearent Audio. Tone... read more
NEW CLASSIC VINYL REISSUE SERIES LINE-UP ANNOUNCED
Blue Note has announced the continuation of the Classic Vinyl Reissue Series, which presents affordable 180g vinyl reissues in standard packaging that are 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... read more
REVISED 2020 RELEASE SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED FOR THE TONE POET AUDIOPHILE VINYL REISSUE SERIES
Blue Note Records has announced a revised 2020 release scheduled for the acclaimed Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series. Pandemic-related closures temporarily put production on hold, but the series will resume again on August 28 with the release of three titles: a first-time vinyl release of vibraphonist Bobby... read more
TONE POET AUDIOPHILE VINYL REISSUE SERIES CONTINUES IN 2020
Blue Note Records has announced the continuation of the acclaimed Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series in 2020. Launched in 2019 in honor of the label’s 80th Anniversary, the Tone Poet series is produced by Joe Harley and features all-analog, 180g audiophile vinyl reissues that are mastered from the original... read more
