Oct 23, 2024 10:10 AM
In Memoriam: Claire Daly, 1958–2024
Claire Daly often signed her correspondences with “Love and Low Notes.”
The baritone saxophonist, who died Oct.…
Heads Up has signed an exclusive deal with saxophonist Najee, whose debut for the label
will come out in August 2005. With two platinum and four gold albums, Najee is one of the pioneers of contemporary jazz and one of the best selling instrumentalists of the mid ’80s and ’90s.
“I am extremely excited to join the Heads Up team,” Najee said. “I’m looking forward to what I believe will be an extremely rewarding creative experience.”
The Najee signing and album is just one of the events surrounding the 15th anniversary of Heads Up, which was founded by musician/entrepreneur Dave Love in 1990. Other with debut releases for the label in 2005 include recording by Walter Beasley and Michael Brecker.
“I’m delighted to join an organization which is fast becoming a force in contemporary instrumental music,” says Brecker.
Heads Up will be honored in March ‘05 with concerts at the Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, Pennsylvania, and the North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town, South Africa.
In 2005, the company also releases exciting new recordings by jazz fusion pioneers Yellowjackets and Hiroshima, steel pan master Andy Narell with his French-Caribbean band Sakésho, and label veterans pianist/vocalist Joe McBride and bassist Gerald Veasley.
“I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the Heads Up family since 1992 and have watched its remarkable evolution,” Veasley says. “Through the determination of its hardworking president, Dave Love, and his great staff, Heads Up has grown in stature and influence in the jazz community. It’s especially gratifying to me, since they believed in me at a time when there were precious few bassists who were solo recording artists. Now, six recordings later, I credit Heads Up with making it possible for me to have shared my music with listeners around the world.”
Claire Daly, right, performs with tenor saxophonist George Garzone at Dizzy’s in 2023.
Oct 23, 2024 10:10 AM
Claire Daly often signed her correspondences with “Love and Low Notes.”
The baritone saxophonist, who died Oct.…
Quincy Jones’ gifts transcended jazz, but jazz was his first love.
Nov 5, 2024 1:00 AM
Quincy Delight Jones Jr., musician, bandleader, composer and producer, died in his home in Bel Air, California, on…
“I treat every day like it’s Thanksgiving,” said Roy Haynes.
Nov 19, 2024 12:57 PM
Powerhouse jazz drummer and bandleader Roy Haynes died Tuesday in Nassau County, New York. He was 99. One of the few…
John McLaughlin likened his love for the guitar to the emotion he expressed 71 years ago upon receiving his first one. “It’s the same to this day,” he said.
Nov 7, 2024 2:17 PM
In the aftermath of World War II, the deprivations felt throughout the United Kingdom were particularly acute in John…
Lou Donaldson was one of the originators of the hard bop movement in jazz back in the 1950s.
Nov 12, 2024 12:12 PM
Alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, the final surviving member of the original Art Blakey quintet that in 1954 introduced…
