Astell&Kern Create Special Hi-Res Edition for Blue Note 75th Anniversary – Legendary jazz label Blue Note Records has partnered with high-end audio manufacturer Astell&Kern to offer an exclusive limited edition hi-res box set for their 75th Anniversary. It features 75 of the label’s essential albums, newly remastered from analog tape for the first time to a hi-res MQS digital format of 192K/24-bit. Five Blue Note albums also make their hi-res debut with the release, including Art Blakey, Don Cherry, Andrew Hill, Bobby Hutcherson and Tina Brooks. Astell&Kern’s AK240 hi-res portable audio player is part of the collection, with a 100-page book filled with the original album art, a new book on Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression, and a special stand. Aficionados can now experience the classic recordings just as the musicians originally did. All 75 albums are on a micro SD card in a unique case. Only 1000 of the packages with the custom blue AK240 player will be available worldwide. Price: $6000.