Following its re-activation in January 2013 with releases that included projects by Bill Frisell, Bob James & David Sanborn, Michel Camilo and John Medeski,�SONY Masterworks’ OKeh Records�is proud to announce their next wave of signings. The artists, who are part of the label’s�”The Sound of Next”�campaign are: saxophonist�Craig Handy, Tunisian oudist/vocalist�Dhafer Youssef, guitarist�Nir Felder, drummer�Jeff Ballard, saxophonist�James Brandon Lewis, African vocalist�Somi, and trumpeter�Theo Croker.
“Each label, and OKeh is no exception, needs a good balance of established artists and newcomers to reflect what is happening in the world of music today,” states�Wulf M�ller, who oversees A&R for OKeh Records and ideated the re-launch. “The second phase of the re-launch is to focus on great new artists with different backgrounds and different takes on what jazz can be, but they all have one thing in common – they are part of Global Expressions in Jazz.”
To showcase the label’s new talent in “The Sound of Next” campaign, OKeh will release a 7 track “The Sound Of Next” sampler featuring one song from each of these artists.
“The first wave of OKeh presented well-known masters of the jazz arts: John Medeski, Bob James & David Sanborn, Michel Camilo, and Bill Frisell,” explains�Chuck Mitchell, Senior Vice President at Sony Masterworks U.S. “Now comes ‘The Sound Of Next’ – fresh expressions by established voices: Craig Handy’s 2nd Line Smith and Jeff Ballard’s Trio. And new dimensions opened by new voices: Somi, James Brandon Lewis, Dhafer Youssef, Theo Croker, and Nir Felder. ‘The Sound Of Next’ is a divining rod, a no-risk device to discover great global expressions in jazz, amidst the daily noise.
For OKeh, ‘The Sound Of Next’ is also ‘The Sound Of Now.'”
Upcoming OKeh Album Releases:
January 21, 2014
Craig Handy -�Craig Handy & 2nd Line Smith�- Renowned saxophonist continues the brass band tradition with a creative edge and groove derived from the tight 2nd Line funk of the Crescent City
Dhafer Youssef -�Birds Requiem�- Oud master of the highest caliber creates music for an imagined movie, blending delicate and melodic tones with modern sensibility
Nir Felder -�Golden Age�- Stylistically diverse, Brooklyn-based guitarist, composer and songwriter creates new, unique sounds on the electric guitar
February 4, 2014
Jeff Ballard Trio -�Time’s Tales�- First-time band leader, this in-demand drummer and composer breaks out with forward thinking, modern jazz
James Brandon Lewis -�Divine Travels�- Eclectic saxophonist channels the late avant-garde style of Coltrane, creating free jazz with a spiritual theme
March 25, 2014
Somi -�The Lagos Music Salon�- Inspired by her time in Lagos, Nigeria, the East African vocalist and songwriter straddles the worlds of jazz, pop and soul
TBA:
Theo Croker -�Afro Physicist�- Trumpeter, vocalist and composer’s powerful modern jazz that pays respect to the tradition of the music while moving jazz forward