Artists House relaunched

[brownie]

This may turn out to be interesting:

Veteran Producer Revives Jazz Label

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Veteran producer John Snyder has relaunched Artists House,

the jazz label home of Snyder-produced artists including Ornette Coleman, Gil Evans

and Chet Baker.

The rejuvenated Norwalk, Conn.-based, Rykodisc-distributed company  retains the

original's idealism, with artists again owning their masters and approving all production

aspects.

"The goal is to record music that might not otherwise be recorded and present it in a

way that pushes the technology and addresses issues facing the music business,"

says Snyder, who founded Artists House in 1977.

Shuttering his label in 1983, he directed jazz production at Atlantic, before heading

out in 1987 as an independent producer.

An unsolicited private foundation grant last spring prompted Artists House's restart as

a nonprofit, with all proceeds going to the production of more jazz and other

noncommercial genres neglected by the majors. Initial releases are literary jazz

artist Nancy Harrow's "Winter Dreams," Allman Brothers' bassist Oteil Burbridge's band

Oteil & the Peacemakers' "The Family Secret," and "Scrapomatic," a self-titled debut

disc by a group led by Derek Trucks Band lead singer Mike Mattison and guitarist

Paul Olsen.

Due Aug. 12 are the Bob Brookmeyer/Kenny Wheeler Quintet's "Island" and

keyboardist/violinist Jason Crosby's "Four Chords and Seven Notes Ago."

On Sept. 23 comes acclaimed singer/ songwriter/trumpet player Kami Lyle's

"Somersault" and avant-garde jazz pianist/composer Vijay Iyer's "Blood Sutra."

All CDs are enhanced with MP3s of all the songs. "We want people to send

them to their friends," Snyder says. "It's the best kind of promotion."

Snyder also wants to "compete in the world of free music by giving more to

customers," he says, adding, "We don't want to demonize them as the

majors are doing. The best way for people to respect the work of an artist is

to realize that it is work and it is all oriented toward them -- and it's not

anonymous but personal. We don't think people will rip off their friends."

Further fostering improved consumer relations, most Artists House titles will

include an accompanying DVD documenting the recording sessions and even

including music lessons by the artists.

All of this creates "a community of interest," Snyder says, consisting of "artists who

want to create music for those who want to hear it and are willing to pay a

reasonable price for it -- with profits channeling back into the creation of more music."

[Clunky]

Cant wait for the Iyer - it should have a cracking version of "Hey Joe", which was a killer heard live. Iyer is a pianist to watch, very impressive. Fans of Andrew Hill take note.

[David Ayers]

I didn't see the word 'vinyl' anywhere.

Is he going to reissue any of the old titles, or is the whole point that he never bought them outright anyway so the label doesn't own anything and can't reissue?

The original releases are very good quality vinyl, marred only by special rice paper inner sleeves which seem to stick to the vinyl if stored under pressure.

[shrugs]

Here is one that has been reissued!!!

But by AP.

So In Love

[Jim Dye]

All CDs are enhanced with MP3s of all the songs. "We want people to send them to their friends," Snyder says. "It's the best kind of promotion."

Finally!!! Someone who understands how mp3's can HELP the music industry.

[Adam]

Here is one that has been reissued!!!

But by AP.

So In Love

My recollection is that the Pepper Artists House albums are also in his big Galaxy box set. Can anyone confirm?

[Clunky]

the pepper Galaxy set does include some AH releases , New York Album, Artworks and So In Love. The writing on my bargain set from Zweitausendiens is so small that there be others but it hurts my eyes checking

[brownie]

Here is one that has been reissued!!!

But by AP.

So In Love

My recollection is that the Pepper Artists House albums are also in his big Galaxy box set. Can anyone confirm?

Yes, but does the AnalogueProduction CD has the Mosaic-size liner notes

with photos and discography that made the Artists House LPs so attractive?

I'll keep my LPs.

By the way, some Artists House albums were issued in France (by Pathe-Marconi)

in lookalike copies. I have the French version of the Paul Desmond AH2 album

(without inside notes).

And as Clunky already replied, yes, the Pepper Artists House tracks were

included in the big Galaxy box, with alternates and some additional

material added.