Sep 3, 2025 12:02 PM
Keeping the Flame at Van Gelder Studio
On the last Sunday of 2024, in the control room of Van Gelder Studio, Don and Maureen Sickler, co-owners since Rudy Van…
Telar has expanded its artist roster with the recent additions of John Lee Hooker Jr. and Liquid Soul.
John Lee Hooker Jr., the son of one of the most prestigious names in blues, will release his debut album on the label, Cold As Ice, on June 27. The son of the man who brought the world “I’m In The Mood” takes elements from this old school and mixes them with something newer and younger that appeals to the 21st century audience. That mix earned Hooker a Grammy nomination and caught the attention on Telarc, a label that the musician is exited about joining. “We wanted a label with a family feel to it, a place that dealt with artists from a standpoint of honesty and integrity,” Says Hooker. “We found all those things in Telarc, and we feel fortunate and blessed to be with them.
Liquid Soul, the Chicago-bred combo that is known for mixing jazz, hip-hop, funk and hard-bop, will release their Telarc debut, One-Two Punch, on March 23.
The pioneers of the acid-jazz movement during the mid-1990s in Chicago, Liquid Soul expanded their musical style — a style that starts with jazz and embraces R&B, spoken word and more — that is now a compilation of sound that has evolved over the years. Led by saxophonist/composer Mars Williams, the eight-piece collective is looking forward to expanding their audience into to Europe with the help of their new label.
“Telarc is the kind of label that we wanted to build a relationship with,” says Williams. “They are pioneers of an awesome digital sound, and they have a worldwide distribution system that could enhance our exposure beyond North America.”
Not only are the artists happy to be at a new music home, but Telarc is more than happy to welcome them into the jazz family. President of Telarc, Robert Woods, said he is “excited about having Liquid Soul on board,” and “very proud to have John Lee Hooker Jr. on the Telarc Roster.”
Don and Maureen Sickler serve as the keepers of engineer Rudy Van Gelder’s flame at Van Gelder Studio, perhaps the most famous recording studio in jazz history.
Sep 3, 2025 12:02 PM
On the last Sunday of 2024, in the control room of Van Gelder Studio, Don and Maureen Sickler, co-owners since Rudy Van…
Trio aRT with its avalanche of instrumentation: from left, Pheeroan akLaff, Scott Robinson and Julian Thayer.
Sep 3, 2025 12:03 PM
Trio aRT, a working unit since 1988, shockingly released its very first studio recording this summer. Recorded in…
“Think of all the creative people I’m going to meet and a whole other way of thinking about music and a challenge of singing completely different material than I would have sung otherwise to my highest level in dedication to the moment,” Elling says about his Broadway run.
Sep 9, 2025 1:18 PM
Kurt Elling was back at home in Chicago, grabbing some family time in a late-June window between gigs. Sporting a smile…
Pat Metheny will perform with his Side-Eye III ensemble at Big Ears 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee, next March.
Sep 9, 2025 12:19 PM
Big Ears has announced the lineup for its 2026 festival, which will take place March 26–29 and include 250…
Mark Masters, right, with Billy Harper.
Sep 3, 2025 12:00 PM
The Rising Star Category of this publication’s annual Critics Poll was once called Talent Deserving Wider Recognition…
