Monterey Jazz Festival Records

BROWSE ALL MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL RECORDS ARTISTS

(Est. 2007) To celebrate the Festival’s 50th Anniversary, the Monterey Jazz Festival and Concord Records partnered together in 2007 to form Monterey Jazz Festival Records in order to present some of the finest, never-before-released performances from the Festival’s storied past. MJFR is also committed to looking forward—not only by presenting new works and all-star collaborations for future release, but as a not-for-profit label. The profits realized by MJF will be re-invested into its year-round jazz education programs benefiting students and young people around the world.

MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL RECORDS FEATURED ARTISTS

Art Blakey & the Giants of Jazz

Art Blakey, one of the top drummers in all of jazz history, began by studying the piano in school. He only took up the drums when the drummer with a band in which he was playing became ill.

Jimmy Witherspoon

Jimmy Witherspoon (1923-1997) had one of the most distinctive styles of all blues singers. He was a crooner, and he was a shouter; it depended on what approach a particular song called for. His baritone voice could be smooth as single-malt Scotch, though he often adopted, as Leonard Feather put …

Cal Tjader

After a short stint as leader of his own group, Cal joined George Shearing’s Quintet as featured vibraphonist and percussionist. While with Shearing Cal made frequent trips to New York and began listening to the Latin New York bands of Tito Puente and Machito. “I always had an affection for Latin rhythms and I was looking for something different.”

Dave Brubeck

Dave Brubeck (b. 1920) is a true rarity: a jazz musician who never compromised his music and yet has been very popular for 55 years. Throughout his career he has stuck to his original musical mission to explore polyrhythms and polytonality.