(PR) Xanadu, the legendary jazz label founded by veteran producer Don Schlitten that was initially active in the 1970s and 80s, has been acquired by The Orchard, a global leader in music and video entertainment. The label is being reactivated and will release new jazz recordings and remastered titles from its classic catalog beginning in January 2009.Greg Scholl, president and chief executive of The Orchard, announced Xanadu’s return, stating, “Xanadu is a label that was born of passion and both looked to the future through trailblazing releases by contemporary artists, and to the past through its selective acquisition of historic titles by titans of the genre. As fans of and believers in the genre, our stewardship of the Xanadu legacy is something we take seriously. By bringing this label back to the public eye, and investing selectively in new releases by artists in which we believe, we are proud to serve fans of America’s unique contribution to global culture.”
January 19th sees the first new Xanadu title in several years, with the release of Monk, by the Peter Bernstein Trio. Bernstein, a critical favorite and prolific, sought-after session player, leads a trio backed by Doug Weiss (bass) and Bill Stewart (drums) on 12 Thelonious Monk tunes including “Let’s Cool One,” “Ruby, My Dear,” “Well You Needn’t,” and “In Walked Bud”.
Three of the tunes are solo guitar pieces arranged by Bernstein. Bernstein, who has performed on over 60 recordings and has worked with Larry Goldings, Lou Donaldson, Brad Mehldau, Joshua Redman, Diana Krall, Lee Konitz, among many others has an abiding passion for Monk’s music. In the iconic Ira Gitler’s Monk liner notes, Bernstein comments, “Monk has his own musical universe. There’s lots of space in Monk’s music but you don’t have to fill up all the space. And in his music the rhythmic element is already there--it’s already swinging.”
In addition to the new offering from Bernstein, five newly-remastered Xanadu catalog albums will be released on that same day, featuring recordings by Dexter Gordon, Fats Navarro, Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, Billie Holiday, Jack Teagarden, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, Earl Hines, Roy Eldridge, Bud Powell, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Clarke and others. The selections include:
* Bebop Revisited, Vol. 1 with original performances by Dexter Gordon, Fats Navarro, Chubby Jackson, Conte Candoli, Melba Liston, Terry Gibbs, Max Roach and Earl Coleman that were recorded in 1947 and 1948.
* International Jam Sessions includes recordings from 1950, 1953 and 1957 features the work of Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, Phil Woods, Frank Socolow, Cecil Payne, Duke Jordan, and Arthur Taylor while Harlem Odyssey, recorded in 1940 and 1941, brings offerings from Billie Holiday, Tab Smith, Buddy Tate, Jack Teagarden, Art Tatum, Joe Guy, Thelonious Monk and Kenny Clarke.
* At The Village Vanguard presents original 1965 recordings by Earl Hines & Roy Eldridge with George Tucker and Oliver Jackson, as well as the legendary title Bud In Paris by Bud Powell with Johnny Griffin, Barney Wilen and Kenny Clarke, recorded in 1959 and 1960.
