[78-L] The return of OKeh

[Steve Ramm]

Here's the PRESS RELEASE I got from Sony: SONY 
CLASSICAL ANNOUNCES RE-LAUNCH OF 
OKeh 
LABEL AS PRIMARY JAZZ IMPRINT
 
Label 
to Put Focus on New and Established Artists 
Embodying 
"Global Expressions in Jazz"
 
Upcoming 
Releases by Bill Frisell, David Sanborn & Bob James, 
John 
Medeski, and Dhafer Youssef, Among Others

 
Sony Classical is proud to announce the re-launch of the historic 
OKeh label. With the objective of documenting "Global 
Expressions in Jazz," OKeh will focus on releasing 
jazz by new and established artists that have a wide range of global 
backgrounds. Initial releases during the first half of 2013 include projects by 
Bill Frisell, David Sanborn & Bob James, 
and John Medeski, as well as an additional five to seven 
projects slated for release later in the year.
 
In the United States, OKeh will be part of 
Sony Masterworks, Sony Classical's U.S. branch.
 
"What I want to achieve with OKeh is to build a home 
for jazz and jazz related music of the highest quality, no matter what its 
origins are," states Wulf Müller, the 29-year industry veteran 
who recently joined Sony Classical as an exclusive jazz A&R and Marketing 
consultant. Mr. Müller conceived the label's re-launch. "'Global 
Expressions in Jazz' will mean improvised music from all over the 
world, being used as a global language to communicate between lovers of 
music. We hope to create a label that will define the present and future of the 
music we call Jazz."
 
The announcement comes just months after the appointment of 
Chuck Mitchell as the Senior Vice President for Sony 
Masterworks. Mitchell previously served as Worldwide President of the 
legendary Verve label and more recently as a Vice President at eOne Music. "The 
re-activation of OKeh comes at a particularly auspicious moment 
in the international evolution of creative music," says Mr. Mitchell. "Wulf's 
knowledge of and commitment to jazz in all its facets and forms makes him the 
ideal individual to lead the next chapter in the development of this 
historically important imprint."
 
"With Wulf Müller and Chuck Mitchell as the ideal partners, I'm 
thrilled that we are breathing new life into one of the coolest brands in 
recorded music history," states Bogdan Roscic, President of 
Sony Classical. "We feel there is currently an incredible wealth of exciting 
music out there that will find a new home and thrive on OKeh. 
And Sony Classical is the ideal platform for it - with specialized teams around 
the world whose attention and expertise will benefit all OKeh 
artists and their releases."
 
Founded in 1918, OKeh initially became well known for recording 
artists in the classic jazz and blues traditions, including Louis Armstrong, 
Duke Ellington, King Oliver, and Sidney Bechet.
 
Müller reflects, "OKeh's tradition as a label for 
great improvised music of its time, its connection to some of the most 
influential artists in the genres of jazz and blues, made it the perfect label 
for us to use, as its history already stands for what we are aiming for: quality 
in all aspects of the recordings and giving todays artists a platform to express 
themselves, while at the same time opening doors to the future."
 
 
Upcoming OKeh Album 
Releases:
 
April 
9: John Medeski - A Different Time
 
May 
(TBA): David Sanborn & Bob James - Title 
TBA
 
TBA: 
Bill Frisell Big Sur Quintet - Title TBA