First Flight to Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings captures previously unissued recordings from January 14, 1961 at Hibiya Public Hall in Tokyo of drum legend Art Blakey with the classic Jazz Messengers lineup featuring Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Timmons and Jymie Merritt documenting the band’s first highly anticipated tour to Japan. Newly transferred from the original ¼” tape reels. The limited-edition 2-LP 180-gram set and deluxe 2-CD edition come with elaborate booklets featuring rare photos by Japanese photographers Shunji Okura and Hozumi Nakadaira, from the Blakey family’s personal archives, and images from the original 1961 Japanese concert tour program; an historical essay by acclaimed jazz critic Bob Blumenthal; plus new interviews with jazz icon Wayne Shorter in conversation with Blue Note president Don Was, celebrated Blue Note saxophonist Lou Donaldson, Japanese jazz star Sadao Watanabe, renowned Japanese music critic Reiko Yukawa, Art Blakey’s son Takashi Blakey, and a trio of drum greats: Louis Hayes, Billy Hart and Cindy Blackman Santana. First Flight to Tokyo is co-produced by Zev Feldman and trumpeter David Weiss. The 2-LP edition is mastered at 33 ⅓ RPM by Bernie Grundman and pressed at Record Technology Inc. (RTI).