Blue Mitchell – Bring It Home To Me (Blue Note Tone Poet)

Bring It Home to Me is a deeply soulful hard bop session led by trumpeter Blue Mitchell, recorded in January 1966 at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio. The Tone Poet reissue (180 g, gatefold tip-on, mastered by Kevin Gray) restores every nuance of the original tapes, giving warmth, presence, and clarity to Mitchell’s incisive tone. The program balances bluesy drive (in the title track by Jimmy Heath) with Mitchell originals like “Blues 3 for 1” and “Blue’s Theme,” and includes a tender interpretation of the ballad “Portrait of Jennie.” Backed by Junior Cook (tenor sax), Harold Mabern (piano), Gene Taylor (bass), and Billy Higgins (drums), the ensemble moves with relaxed confidence — conversant, swinging, emotionally rich.

Though not as widely heralded as some of Mitchell’s other Blue Note outings, Bring It Home to Me captures a transitional moment in 1960s jazz: grounded in blues, reaching for lyricism, and performed with the assurance of seasoned masters. This Tone Poet version reminds listeners of how much space, respect, and emotional weight a small combo can carry — a recording that rewards close, patient listening.

Reviews

“AllMusic gives the original album 4 stars, praising its soulful grounding and the performances of the soloists.” – AllMusic