OKeh RECORDS ANNOUNCES SEVEN NEW SIGNINGS
AS PART OF "THE SOUND OF NEXT" CAMPAIGN
Including Craig Handy, Dhafer Youssef, Nir Felder,
Somi, Jeff Ballard, James Brandon Lewis, and Theo Croker
New Recordings Available in Early 2014
Following
its re-activation in January 2013 with releases that included projects
by Bill Frisell, Bob James & David Sanborn, Michel Camilo and John
Medeski, SONY Masterworks' OKeh Records is proud to announce their next wave of signings. The artists, who are part of the label's "The Sound of Next" campaign are: saxophonist Craig Handy, Tunisian oudist/vocalist Dhafer Youssef, guitarist Nir Felder, drummer Jeff Ballard, saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, African vocalist Somi, and trumpeter Theo Croker.
"Each
label, and OKeh is no exception, needs a good balance of established
artists and newcomers to reflect what is happening in the world of music
today," states Wulf Müller, who oversees A&R for
OKeh Records and ideated the re-launch. "The second phase of the
re-launch is to focus on great new artists with different backgrounds
and different takes on what jazz can be, but they all have one thing in
common - they are part of Global Expressions in Jazz."
To
showcase the label's new talent in "The Sound of Next" campaign, OKeh
will release a 7 track "The Sound Of Next" sampler featuring one song
from each of these artists.
"The
first wave of OKeh presented well-known masters of the jazz arts: John
Medeski, Bob James & David Sanborn, Michel Camilo, and Bill
Frisell," explains Chuck Mitchell, Senior Vice
President at Sony Masterworks U.S. "Now comes 'The Sound Of Next' -
fresh expressions by established voices: Craig Handy's 2nd Line Smith
and Jeff Ballard's Trio. And new dimensions opened by new voices: Somi,
James Brandon Lewis, Dhafer Youssef, Theo Croker, and Nir Felder. 'The
Sound Of Next' is a divining rod, a no-risk device to discover great
global expressions in jazz, amidst the daily noise. For OKeh, 'The Sound
Of Next' is also 'The Sound Of Now.'"
Upcoming OKeh Album Releases:
January 21, 2014
- Craig Handy - Craig Handy & 2nd Line Smith - Renowned saxophonist continues the brass band tradition with a creative edge and groove derived from the tight 2nd Line funk of the Crescent City
- Dhafer Youssef - Birds Requiem - Oud master of the highest caliber creates music for an imagined movie, blending delicate and melodic tones with modern sensibility
- Nir Felder - Golden Age - Stylistically diverse, Brooklyn-based guitarist, composer and songwriter creates new, unique sounds on the electric guitar
February 4, 2014
- Jeff Ballard Trio - Time's Tales - First-time band leader, this in-demand drummer and composer breaks out with forward thinking, modern jazz
- James Brandon Lewis - Divine Travels - Eclectic saxophonist channels the late avant-garde style of Coltrane, creating free jazz with a spiritual theme
March 25, 2014
- Somi - The Lagos Music Salon - Inspired by her time in Lagos, Nigeria, the East African vocalist and songwriter straddles the worlds of jazz, pop and soul
TBA:
- Theo Croker - Afro Physicist - Trumpeter, vocalist and composer's powerful modern jazz that pays respect to the tradition of the music while moving jazz forward
Sony
Masterworks comprises the Masterworks, Sony Classical, OKeh, Portrait,
Masterworks Broadway and Flying Buddha imprints. For email updates and
information please visit www.SonyMasterworks.com.
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For more information, please contact:
DL Media · 610-667-0501
Amy Miller · amy@dlmediamusic.com
Don Lucoff · don@dlmediamusic.com
Sony Masterworks
Angela Barkan · angela.barkan@sonymusic.com · 212-833-8575
Larissa Slezak · larissa.slezak@sonymusic.com · 212-833-6075