Telarc Announces Jazz and Blues SACDs Planned for 2005

Following up on their announcement of new Classical Music SACD releases a few days ago, Telarc International and their Heads Up subsidiary, have released their list of Jazz and Blues Super Audio CDs planned for release in the coming year. Included in the list are artists that have been previously available in the Super Audio CD format as well as jazz saxophone player Michael Brecker, who was signed to the Heads Up jazz label earlier this year.

As with the Classical Music SACD titles, Telarc plans to release the Super Audio CD and the CD Audio edition of each album on the same day, making the SACDs so-called “day and date” releases. Here’s the list of the 2005 Jazz and Blues Music SACD Releases from Telarc and Heads Up with a description of each disc provided by the label.

January 2005 – Telarc & Heads Up Jazz SACD Releases

Telarc SACD-63613
Solo
Michel Camilo

“Well known for his exuberant style and intimate familiarity with a vast range of jazz and Latin idioms, Michel Camilo has always had a sense of musical adventure, and his third Telarc release is no exception. Critics everywhere have praised the Dominican jazz pianist’s talents as a composer and arranger, but Solo showcases him as a performer. Although Camilo has been honing the concept for seven years, this is his first solo album and marks a major milestone in his career. Produced by Camilo and recorded at Avatar Studios in New York with no overdubs, Solo is arranged as a trilogy spotlighting four Brazilian gems (Francis Hime’s “Minha” and Atras Da Porta,” along with Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Luiza” and “Corcovado”), four jazz standards (“The Frim Fram Sauce,” Monk’s “’Round Midnight,” Gershwin’s “Our Love Is Here To Stay” and “Someone To Watch Over Me”), and three new Camilo originals. The set closes with a reworking of the pianist’s popular “Suntan.” Solo is the followup to Live at the Blue Note, which won a Grammy last year for Best Latin Jazz Album. Camilo also won Jazz Week’s award for Artist of the Year in 2004.”

Telarc SACD-63010
Telarc & Heads Up SACD Sampler 5 – Jazz
Various Artists including Tierney Sutton, McCoy Tyner & Spyro Gyra

“Telarc and Heads Up SACD Sampler No. 5 is a dynamic collection of some of Telarc and Heads Up’s most exciting 2004 multichannel recordings. Featured on this sampler are Tierney Sutton’s heart-rendering version of Irving Berlin’s “What’ll I Do?” from her critically acclaimed Dancing in the Dark recording, the incomparable McCoy Tyner’s “The Chase” from Illuminations, Junior Brown’s “Little Rivi-Airhead” from Down Home Chrome and Spyro Gyra’s rendition of “As You Wish” from The Deep End. This sampler has a little bit of something for everyone.”

February 2005 – Telarc Blues SACD Release

Telarc SACD-63614
From The Dust
Rory Block

“Following up on her two 2004 releases – Sisters and Brothers (a collaborative recording with Eric Bibb and Maria Muldaur) and Last Fair Deal – Rory Block’s 2005 Telarc release showcases her musical prowess on two fronts. Not only has she become a major singer-songwriter with a voice uniquely her own, but she has simultaneously proven herself to be the embodiment of the delta blues tradition. Expect cutting-edge songcraft and performance as well as a dose of Rory stretching the delta blues to new dimensions.”

March 2005 – Telarc & Heads Up Jazz SACD Releases

Heads Up HUSA-9097
Altered State
Yellowjackets

“Following on the heels of Mint Jam, their 2001 Grammy-nominated live recording, and 2003’s Grammy-nominated Time Squared, keyboardist Russell Ferrante, bassist Jimmy Haslip, saxophonist Bob Mintzer and drummer Marcus Baylor continue to evolve with their most daring effort yet. New challenging material with unusual time signatures, great soloing along with that classic Jackets sound will remind fans world-wide why this group has been a pioneer in the jazz fusion arena for more than two decades. Joined again by vocalist Jean Baylor, the Jackets are poised for another critically acclaimed release.”

Telarc SACD-63615
Knowing You
John Pizzarelli

“Captured in a classic jazz setting, John Pizzarelli’s most solid recording to date spotlights a wide-ranging collection of standards he’s often performed but never recorded. In addition to a couple originals, the singer/guitarist’s sixth Telarc release features material from such noted pop and Broadway songwriters as Jimmy McHugh, Frank Loessor, Alan Bergman and Johnny Mandel. Special guests slated to appear include renowned Brazilian composer and arranger Cesar Camargo Mariano on piano, Bucky Pizzarelli on rhythm guitar, Larry Goldings on organ and piano, and Harry Allen on tenor saxophone. Pizzarelli’s lineup includes pianist Ray Kennedy, bassist Martin Pizzarelli (John’s brother) and the newest member of the band, drummer Tony Tedesco.”

May 2005 – Telarc Jazz SACD Release

Telarc SACD-63625
London Flat, London Sharp
Dave Brubeck

“Following up on the success of his historically resonant solo-piano recording, Private Brubeck Remembers (2004), the most widely recognized and respected figure in piano jazz of the last half-century adds another chapter to his prolific Telarc discography with the cleverly titled quartet recording, London Flat, London Sharp. Celebrating his 85th birthday in 2005, continues to push the creative envelope and yet remain accessible at the same time with this new installment in his lengthy Telarc discography.”

August 2005 – Heads Up Jazz SACD Release

Heads Up HUSA-9099
TBA
Michael Brecker

“Michael Brecker has won more Grammies than any saxophonist ever. An inspiration to musicians around the world, the 55-year-old native of Philadelphia is an eleven-time Grammy-winner, and the first to win both “Best Jazz Instrumental Performance” and “Best Jazz Instrumental Solo” two years in a row. As a result of his constant stylistic and harmonic innovations, Brecker is among the most studied instrumentalists in music schools today. The tenor saxophonist and composer’s Heads Up debut features all originals compositions, and Brecker says he’s never been more excited about a new recording. One of his most challenging projects to date, Brecker has been exploring the mysterious and enchanting sounds of Bulgarian folk music. Look for tour dates in the fall.”

Breathe Album Dropped from Telarc Classical SACD List
While reviewing the Telarc SACD plans for next year, we also received an update from Telarc’s Director of Publicity and SACD Marketing, Amanda Sweet. She tells us that the Breathe I album that was initially listed for release as a Classical SACD was shown on that list in error. The label plans for the Breathe sampler series to be available only on CD Stereo disc.