Blue Note Records releasing jazz ring tones

LOS ANGELES - Blue Note Records, home to recordings by classic jazz artists such as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey and Chet Baker, has begun releasing select cuts from its trove of recordings for use on mobile phones. The move is part of an initiative by the label, a unit of Britain's EMI Music, dubbed "The Best of Blue Tones," and marks the first time samples culled from the master recordings have been available for customizing mobile phone sounds. In all, the label has released cuts from 24 jazz tracks, including Blakey's "Dat Dere," Baker's "My Funny Valentine," Monk's "Straight No Chaser," and Davis' "Move." Initially, the tracks will be offered only through major mobile phone carriers in the United States, but should be made available through international mobile operators shortly, the label said. Blue Note plans to release more mobile phone-tailored samples from other tracks in the future.-AP