JAM Magazine: October/November 1999 Issue: Contemporary Jazz

by Jeff Charney

The A&M Blues
According to a report in Daily Variety, Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, co-founders of A&M Records, are filing another lawsuit against Polygram/Seagram's. When Alpert and Moss sold A&M Records to Polygram/Netherlands in 1989, they included an unusual clause that guaranteed the integrity of the A&M label would be maintained for at least 20 years. But when Seagram's took over Polygram this year, A&M was shut down and its roster was blended into Seagram's Universal Music Group leaving many A&M artists out in the cold.

Alpert and Moss had already filed an accounting suit against Polygram/Seagram's; apparently this new claim was filed because the two felt the dissolution of A&M by Universal Music brass reflected poorly on each of them and "irreversibly damaged" their reputation and stature in the industry. According to Variety, both "would like to see A&M Records restored and stand again, not merely as an imprint but as a symbol of an artist-friendly outpost."

This additional complaint adds weight to the lawsuit filed in May of '98 in which Alpert and Moss claimed they were owed more than $3.5 million derived from profits at the label. Variety reports that the sale contract entitled the two to profits for five years following the closing of the sale in 1990.

More C-Jazz News
Atlantic Records and Mesa/Bluemoon have officially parted company. Mesa/Bluemoon, which provided Atlantic with many top contemporary jazz artists, had been absorbed into the Atlantic division two years ago; Mesa/Bluemoon head George Naufel could not comment in a recent Gavin story on any of the future ramifications of the split pending the resolution of various legal matters. Two Mesa/Bluemoon artists have already exercised their options to leave. Guitarist Jeff Golub has signed with the GRP/Verve Music Group, and trumpeter Rick Braun has signed a new deal with Warner Brothers. Atlantic kept two Bluemoon artists and moved them to the Atlantic roster: saxophonist Steve Cole, who will enter the studio soon to start work on his second record, and keyboardist Brian Culbertson whose latest CD, Somethin' Bout Love, hit the stores on September 21.

CDNOW, one of the top spots on the 'net for selling CDs, has agreed to be acquired by Sony and Time Warner. CDNOW will merge with Columbia House, which is the direct marketing arm for Sony/Time Warner. CDNOW shareholders will retain about 26% of the company with 37% shares going to Sony/Time Warner. CDNOW says the acquisition will allow it to cut its overhead.
Indie label Artists Only has teamed up with Great Britain's Candid Records to release some of Candid's catalog in the U.S. Look for vintage recordings by such artists as Charles Mingus and Eric Dolphy, as well as a new project by pianist Jessica Williams.

And retired basketball superstar Michael Jordan is starting his own record label. Rumor has it that he is a big contemporary jazz fan and will be signing acts in this genre.

R.I.P.
Harry "Sweets" Edison died July 27 after a 14 year battle with cancer. One of the great trumpeters of the swing era, Edison was a featured soloist with Count Basie in the 1940s. He also worked with such greats as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Buddy Rich, Benny Carter and Louis Bellson as well as Quincy Jones, Henry Mancini and Nelson Riddle. Edison was 83.

Bassist Leroy Vinnegar died August 3 in Portland, Oregon of cardiac arrest. He was 71. Forever associated with the "walking bass" style of playing, Vinnegar worked with many of the prominent musicians linked to "West Coast Jazz" in the 1950s, including Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Shorty Rogers, Art Pepper and Harold Land. He also recorded with Sonny Rollins, Shelly Manne, Les McCann, Eddie Harris and Teddy Edwards and released several albums as a leader.

And trombonist Spiegle Willcox died on August 25 at the age of 96. Willcox was the sole surviving member of the 1925 Jean Goldkette Orchestra where he played alongside Jimmy Dorsey, Frank Trumbauer, Joe Venuti and Bix Beiderbecke.

Email Jeff Charney at jeffrey@tfs.net, and check out his web site at: www.kprs.com. "The Sunday Jazz Brunch" can be heard every Sunday on KPRS (103.3 FM) from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

RETURN TO OCTOBER 1999 MAIN INDEX

------------------------------------------------------------------------
© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		by Jeff Charney The A&M Blues According to a report in Daily Variety, Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, co-founders of A&M Records, are filing another lawsuit against Polygram/Seagram's. When Alpert and Moss sold A&M Records to Polygram/Netherlands in 1989, they included an unusual clause that guaranteed the integrity of the A&M label would be maintained for at least 20 years. But when Seagram's took over Polygram this year, A&M was shut down and its roster was blended into Seagram's Universal Music Group leaving many A&M artists out in the cold. Alpert and Moss had already filed an accounting suit against Polygram/Seagram's; apparently this new claim was filed because the two felt the dissolution of A&M by Universal Music brass reflected poorly on each of them and "irreversibly damaged" their reputation and stature in the industry. According to Variety, both "would like to see A&M Records restored and stand again, not merely as an imprint but as a symbol of an artist-friendly outpost." This additional complaint adds weight to the lawsuit filed in May of '98 in which Alpert and Moss claimed they were owed more than $3.5 million derived from profits at the label. Variety reports that the sale contract entitled the two to profits for five years following the closing of the sale in 1990. More C-Jazz News Atlantic Records and Mesa/Bluemoon have officially parted company. Mesa/Bluemoon, which provided Atlantic with many top contemporary jazz artists, had been absorbed into the Atlantic division two years ago; Mesa/Bluemoon head George Naufel could not comment in a recent Gavin story on any of the future ramifications of the split pending the resolution of various legal matters. Two Mesa/Bluemoon artists have already exercised their options to leave. Guitarist Jeff Golub has signed with the GRP/Verve Music Group, and trumpeter Rick Braun has signed a new deal with Warner Brothers. Atlantic kept two Bluemoon artists and moved them to the Atlantic roster: saxophonist Steve Cole, who will enter the studio soon to start work on his second record, and keyboardist Brian Culbertson whose latest CD, Somethin' Bout Love, hit the stores on September 21. CDNOW, one of the top spots on the 'net for selling CDs, has agreed to be acquired by Sony and Time Warner. CDNOW will merge with Columbia House, which is the direct marketing arm for Sony/Time Warner. CDNOW shareholders will retain about 26% of the company with 37% shares going to Sony/Time Warner. CDNOW says the acquisition will allow it to cut its overhead. Indie label Artists Only has teamed up with Great Britain's Candid Records to release some of Candid's catalog in the U.S. Look for vintage recordings by such artists as Charles Mingus and Eric Dolphy, as well as a new project by pianist Jessica Williams. And retired basketball superstar Michael Jordan is starting his own record label. Rumor has it that he is a big contemporary jazz fan and will be signing acts in this genre. R.I.P. Harry "Sweets" Edison died July 27 after a 14 year battle with cancer. One of the great trumpeters of the swing era, Edison was a featured soloist with Count Basie in the 1940s. He also worked with such greats as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Buddy Rich, Benny Carter and Louis Bellson as well as Quincy Jones, Henry Mancini and Nelson Riddle. Edison was 83. Bassist Leroy Vinnegar died August 3 in Portland, Oregon of cardiac arrest. He was 71. Forever associated with the "walking bass" style of playing, Vinnegar worked with many of the prominent musicians linked to "West Coast Jazz" in the 1950s, including Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Shorty Rogers, Art Pepper and Harold Land. He also recorded with Sonny Rollins, Shelly Manne, Les McCann, Eddie Harris and Teddy Edwards and released several albums as a leader. And trombonist Spiegle Willcox died on August 25 at the age of 96. Willcox was the sole surviving member of the 1925 Jean Goldkette Orchestra where he played alongside Jimmy Dorsey, Frank Trumbauer, Joe Venuti and Bix Beiderbecke. Email Jeff Charney at jeffrey@tfs.net, and check out his web site at: www.kprs.com. "The Sunday Jazz Brunch" can be heard every Sunday on KPRS (103.3 FM) from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. RETURN TO OCTOBER 1999 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.