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RECORD LABELS

SMOKE SESSIONS RECORDS

smoke session records

Contacts

Publicists:
Maureen McFadden

Record Label Contact:
Smoke Sessions Records

After surviving for almost 15 years in the white-knuckle world of running a New York City jazz club, Smoke co-owners Frank Christopher and Paul Stache decided that they were up for yet another daunting challenge, starting a jazz record label. Awed and inspired over the years by the music all around them, it was their dream to document and share it beyond the limited seats of the club. In the spring of 2013, they quit dreaming and instead recruited their friend Damon Smith to help turn the dream into a reality, Smoke Sessions Records.

The label’s initial focus is on the music and musicians associated with the club. Guided by the golden age of independent jazz labels like Blue Note, Prestige, and Riverside, Smoke Sessions’ ambitious plans are to release 10 to 20 new titles annually with 9 scheduled (one per month) through September 2014 and another full slate arriving starting again in January 2015. The first four titles are Harold Mabern‘s Right on Time (available now), Vincent Herring‘s The Uptown Shuffle (available now), Javon Jackson’s Expression (available now) and David Hazeltine‘s For All We Know (available April 8). Also arriving in 2014 are new titles from Louis Hayes, Jimmy Cobb, Cyrus Chestnut, Orrin Evans, and Eric Reed. Initially, the label planned to record live performances at Smoke exclusively, but future titles starting this year will also include studio sessions.

All Smoke Sessions releases are produced using vintage techniques and audio paths – i.e.; Rupert Neve-designed mixing consoles (Amek-Angela), Studer mastering decks, and Manley tube equalization – in combination with modern high definition recording techniques. Label co-founder Stache records the sessions then works closely with GRAMMY® Award-winner Roman Klun to mix and master them. Each releases features original photography by Jimmy Katz, as well as an original 2,000-word artist interview. The limited edition 200-gram audiophile collection was mastered for vinyl by celebrated engineer Kevin Gray and includes a classic “tip-on style” gatefold record jacket. Smoke Sessions titles are available on deluxe compact disc albums and as high resolution digital downloads; a 200gram audiophile vinyl compilation celebrating the first four releases is also available.

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  • Charles McPherson | “Reverence” - Legendary Alto Saxophonist Charles McPherson Makes His Smoke Sessions Debut with an Inspired New Album, Reverence, Dedicated to Barry Harris Due out April 26, 2024, These Thrilling Performances Were Captured in Front of a Live Audience at Smoke Jazz Club and Feature His Quintet of Terell Stafford, Jeb Patton, David Wong, and Billy Drummond Reverence is the…
  • Eddie Henderson | “Witness to History” - Trumpet Legend Eddie Henderson Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of His Debut Album with a Stunning New Recording Reflecting on His Musical Evolution Witness To History, Due out September 15 via Smoke Sessions Records, Features Pianist George Cables, Saxophonist Donald Harrison, Bassist Gerald Cannon and Drummers Lenny White and Mike Clark If it hadn’t already been used…
  • Orrin Evans | “The Red Door” - Pianist Orrin Evans Opens The Red Door With a Stellar New Album That Celebrates Taking Musical and Personal Chances, Available Today via Smoke Sessions All-Star Date Featuring Nicholas Payton, Gary Thomas, Robert Hurst, Marvin “Smitty” Smith With Special Guests Buster Williams, Larry McKenna, Gene Jackson, the Late Wallace Roney and Vocalists Jazzmeia Horn, Sy Smith, and Alita…
  • Joe Farnsworth | “In What Direction Are You Headed?” | Available Now via Smoke Sessions Records - Drummer Joe Farnsworth Sets Out on a Bold New Path in Answer to the Question  In What Direction Are You Headed? Farnsworth’s Third Album for Smoke Sessions Records, Available Now, Features a Stellar All-Star Quintet with Kurt Rosenwinkel, Immanuel Wilkins, Robert Hurst and Julius Rodriguez “Immanuel Wilkins and Kurt Rosenwinkel offer a transcendent front line…
  • Orrin Evans | “The Red Door” | Available June 16 via Smoke Sessions Records - Pianist Orrin Evans Opens The Red Door With a Stellar New Album That Celebrates Taking Musical and Personal Chances, Due Out June 16, 2023, via Smoke Sessions All-Star Date Featuring Nicholas Payton, Gary Thomas, Robert Hurst, Marvin “Smitty” Smith With Special Guests Buster Williams, Larry McKenna, Gene Jackson, the Late Wallace Roney and Vocalists Jazzmeia Horn, Sy…
  • Wayne Escoffery | “Like Minds” | Available Today via Smoke Sessions Records - Saxophonist/Composer Wayne Escoffery Celebrates the Chemistry Shared by His Closest Musical Collaborators on Like Minds Available Today on Smoke Sessions Records, Like Minds Features Gregory Porter, Tom Harrell and Mike Moreno Joining Escoffery’s Quartet with David Kikoski, Ugonna Okegwo and Mark Whitfield, Jr. Album-Release Shows at Smoke Jazz Club Thursday, April 20 Through Sunday, April 23 “Like…
  • Joe Farnsworth | “In What Direction Are You Headed” | Available May 19 via Smoke Sessions Records - Drummer Joe Farnsworth Sets Out on a Bold New Path in Answer to the Question  In What Direction Are You Headed? Farnsworth’s Third Album for Smoke Sessions Records, Due Out May 19, 2023, Features a Stellar All-Star Quintet with Kurt Rosenwinkel, Immanuel Wilkins, Robert Hurst and Julius Rodriguez Drummer Joe Farnsworth has honed his estimable skills behind…
  • Eric Reed | “Black, Brown, and Blue” - Pianist/Composer Eric Reed Celebrates the Music of Black and Brown Composers on His Deeply Personal New Album Black, Brown, and Blue The Album, Available Today on Smoke Sessions Records, Features a Brilliant New Trio with Bassist Luca Alemanno and Drummer Reggie Quinerly “It takes a few listens and some concentration but what emerges is a powerful,…
  • Buster Williams | “Unalome” | Available Today via Smoke Sessions Records - Legendary Bassist/Composer Buster Williams Celebrates 80 Years (and Counting) Along a Path to Musical Enlightenment on his Stunning New Album Unalome Available Today via Smoke Sessions Records, It Features Vocalist Jean Baylor, Saxophonist Bruce Williams, Vibraphonist Stefon Harris, Pianist George Colligan, and Drummer Lenny White “Soulful and spirited with superb originals.” — The Times (UK) Stream Tracks…
  • Wayne Escoffery | “Like Minds” - Saxophonist/Composer Wayne Escoffery Celebrates the Chemistry Shared by His Closest Musical Collaborators on  Like Minds Due Out April 14, 2023, on Smoke Sessions Records, the Album Features Gregory Porter, Tom Harrell and Mike Moreno Joining Escoffery’s Quartet with David Kikoski, Ugonna Okegwo and Mark Whitfield, Jr. It’s often said that great minds think alike, but…

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