The Very Best Of Prestige Records: Prestige 60th Anniversary
ON MARCH 24, 2009
THE CONCORD MUSIC GROUP
CELEBRATES
THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESTIGE RECORDS WITH
“THE VERY BEST OF PRESTIGE RECORDS”
A 2-CD COLLECTION OF CLASSIC TRACKS FROM THE LEGENDARY LABEL’S CATALOG
PRODUCED BY NICK PHILLIPS, THE COMPILATION
FEATURES MUSIC BY A WHO’S WHO OF THE JAZZ WORLD
IN THE ’50s AND ’60s
THE CONCORD MUSIC GROUP
CELEBRATES
THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESTIGE RECORDS WITH
“THE VERY BEST OF PRESTIGE RECORDS”
FEATURES MUSIC BY A WHO’S WHO OF THE JAZZ WORLD
IN THE ’50s AND ’60s
FEATURED ARTISTS INCLUDE:
SONNY ROLLINS, JOHN COLTRANE, MILES DAVIS, THELONIOUS MONK, ERIC DOLPHY, DEXTER GORDON, JAMES MOODY, LEE KONITZ/LENNIE TRISTANO & MJQ.
SONNY ROLLINS, JOHN COLTRANE, MILES DAVIS, THELONIOUS MONK, ERIC DOLPHY, DEXTER GORDON, JAMES MOODY, LEE KONITZ/LENNIE TRISTANO & MJQ.
ALSO IN THE WORKS FOR PRESTIGE’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY:
New
Rudy Van Gelder, Prestige remasters, audio podcasts with the legendary
engineer, and “Prestige Records: The Collected Album Cover Art” coffee
table book published by Geoff Gans
New
Rudy Van Gelder, Prestige remasters, audio podcasts with the legendary
engineer, and “Prestige Records: The Collected Album Cover Art” coffee
table book published by Geoff Gans
When producer Bob Weinstock founded Prestige Records
in 1949, little did he know that his tiny independent recording company
would become iconic in documenting an era when jazz was in its golden
age. While the label also recorded blues and folk music in its
lifetime, Prestige was primarily known as the label that stood for
high-premium jazz throughout its active history. Its legacy continued
first as a reissue imprint with Fantasy Records and today with the Concord Music Group. In celebration of the Prestige imprint’s 60th anniversary, on March 24 the Concord Music Group releases The Very Best of Prestige Records,
a 2-CD compilation of top-shelf tracks from 1949-1969 culled from the
immense Prestige catalog. Opening with two of Prestige’s earliest
tracks (“Subconscious-Lee” by Lee Konitz and Lennie Tristano and “I’m in the Mood for Love” by James Moody,
both recorded in 1949), the compilation features music by artists who
today are considered to be the titans of jazz, including John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, Dexter Gordon, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins.
The collection, packed with classic photographs, is a must-have for
Prestige aficionados as well as young fans wanting to build their jazz
libraries. The Very Best of Prestige Records comprises 25 tracks on two discs that were compiled by producer Nick Phillips
(VP Jazz and Catalog A&R), who says that this collection represents
a mere scratching of the surface of the seminal music that Prestige
Records documented. “Because there are so many essential and timeless recordings on the Prestige label, putting together the collection of The Very Best of Prestige Records
was at once one of the easiest and most difficult compilation projects
I have worked on,” writes Phillips in the album’s liner notes. “It was
easy to come up with long lists of albums and tracks worthy of
inclusion, as there are so many all-time jazz classics in the Prestige
catalog. Deciding what to ultimately omit was the difficult part, as
countless additional recordings exist in the voluminous Prestige vault
(not included here) that could rightfully be considered amongst ‘the
very best’ of not only the legendary imprint specifically, but of
recorded jazz in general.” Also writing in the album liner notes, noted jazz radio personality and former Prestige Records staffer Bob Porter
says, “Credit the Concord Music Group for resurgence in the interest of
the Prestige label, with collections such as this one, and the
acclaimed Rudy Van Gelder Remasters series of reissues of Prestige
classics…Sixty years after its first recording date, it remains a
vitally important and historic legacy of jazz recordings fully
deserving of its name, Prestige.” The Very Best of Prestige Records opens
a wide window on a 20-year period when jazz made great evolutionary
strides, from bebop to soul jazz. Phillips says, “As we toast the 60th
anniversary of Prestige, we offer this collection as an appetizer,
knowing full well that it can’t help but whet your appetite for much,
much more of the tasty and ageless musical offerings available from the
iconic label.” In addition, the Prestige
birthday celebration will continue with three series of Rudy Van Gelder
Remasters reissues (March 3, June 2 and September 8) as well as audio
podcasts where the legendary engineer reflects on the early days of the
Prestige label and its various artists. Also planned for later this year is Prestige Records: The Collected Album Cover Art, published by noted music historian Geoff Gans. To be sold through the Concord Music Group Web site, the book will showcase the most memorable Prestige album covers. For additional label information: www.concordmusicgroup.com
in 1949, little did he know that his tiny independent recording company
would become iconic in documenting an era when jazz was in its golden
age. While the label also recorded blues and folk music in its
lifetime, Prestige was primarily known as the label that stood for
high-premium jazz throughout its active history. Its legacy continued
first as a reissue imprint with Fantasy Records and today with the Concord Music Group. In celebration of the Prestige imprint’s 60th anniversary, on March 24 the Concord Music Group releases The Very Best of Prestige Records,
a 2-CD compilation of top-shelf tracks from 1949-1969 culled from the
immense Prestige catalog. Opening with two of Prestige’s earliest
tracks (“Subconscious-Lee” by Lee Konitz and Lennie Tristano and “I’m in the Mood for Love” by James Moody,
both recorded in 1949), the compilation features music by artists who
today are considered to be the titans of jazz, including John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, Dexter Gordon, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins.
The collection, packed with classic photographs, is a must-have for
Prestige aficionados as well as young fans wanting to build their jazz
libraries. The Very Best of Prestige Records comprises 25 tracks on two discs that were compiled by producer Nick Phillips
(VP Jazz and Catalog A&R), who says that this collection represents
a mere scratching of the surface of the seminal music that Prestige
Records documented. “Because there are so many essential and timeless recordings on the Prestige label, putting together the collection of The Very Best of Prestige Records
was at once one of the easiest and most difficult compilation projects
I have worked on,” writes Phillips in the album’s liner notes. “It was
easy to come up with long lists of albums and tracks worthy of
inclusion, as there are so many all-time jazz classics in the Prestige
catalog. Deciding what to ultimately omit was the difficult part, as
countless additional recordings exist in the voluminous Prestige vault
(not included here) that could rightfully be considered amongst ‘the
very best’ of not only the legendary imprint specifically, but of
recorded jazz in general.” Also writing in the album liner notes, noted jazz radio personality and former Prestige Records staffer Bob Porter
says, “Credit the Concord Music Group for resurgence in the interest of
the Prestige label, with collections such as this one, and the
acclaimed Rudy Van Gelder Remasters series of reissues of Prestige
classics…Sixty years after its first recording date, it remains a
vitally important and historic legacy of jazz recordings fully
deserving of its name, Prestige.” The Very Best of Prestige Records opens
a wide window on a 20-year period when jazz made great evolutionary
strides, from bebop to soul jazz. Phillips says, “As we toast the 60th
anniversary of Prestige, we offer this collection as an appetizer,
knowing full well that it can’t help but whet your appetite for much,
much more of the tasty and ageless musical offerings available from the
iconic label.” In addition, the Prestige
birthday celebration will continue with three series of Rudy Van Gelder
Remasters reissues (March 3, June 2 and September 8) as well as audio
podcasts where the legendary engineer reflects on the early days of the
Prestige label and its various artists. Also planned for later this year is Prestige Records: The Collected Album Cover Art, published by noted music historian Geoff Gans. To be sold through the Concord Music Group Web site, the book will showcase the most memorable Prestige album covers. For additional label information: www.concordmusicgroup.com
DL Media