EMI Music

EMI’s Blue Note Records has signed jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader Ambrose Akinmusire. The 28 year-old winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition will head into the studio this Fall to record his major label debut with labelmate Jason Moran as co-producer. “Mr. Akinmusire is among the latest to put together a quintet that [...]

Blue Note Records’ legendary saxophonist, Joe Lovano was honored with three awards at the Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards in New York last night.  Mr. Lovano took home awards for Tenor Saxophonist of the Year, Small Ensemble of the Year and Record of the Year for his album ‘Folk Art.’ On June 24th at Carnegie [...]

In celebration of the 10-year anniversary of Jason Moran’s trio The Bandwagon, Blue Note is releasing Moran’s remarkable new album ‘Ten,’ featuring bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits.   Listeners can check out a full stream of the album on NPR’s Exclusive First Listen Series here. Remix enthusiasts will also have the chance to try [...]

We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Lena Horne, the great singer and actress who broke down racial barriers throughout her remarkable career to achieve international fame. The last three albums of her career were released on EMI’s Blue Note Records between 1994 and 1998. “She was of the great jazz singers, [...]

During a tour stop in Washington, DC, US radio network National Public Radio asked Blue Note Recording artist Lionel Loueke and members of his trio to record for their “Tiny Desk Concert” series.  The West African-born jazz guitarist obliged, squeezing into the tiny studio space with long time drummer/collaborator Ferenc Nemeth (but sans bass player).  [...]

Check out this rave review of Lionel Loueke that aired today from NPR’s All Things Considered. This Blue Note-signed jazz guitarist’s lastest release is called Mwaliko. NPR calls it his best work yet. Check him out for one of the freshest, most original sounds in jazz today.

United States Artists (USA), the national grant-making and advocacy organization, has named guitarist Lionel Loueke the recipient of a 2009 USA Fellowship. The recipients were announced last night at a ceremony in Los Angeles at which Loueke performed. The USA Fellows program annually awards fifty unrestricted grants of $50,000 to artists of all disciplines who [...]

`The Thelonius Monk Institute paid tribute to the legendary Blue Note Records (“The Finest in Jazz Since 1939″) and the label’s President, this week at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center. Numerous jazz legends, including several who have recorded for Blue Note were on hand to honor Lundvall and play for a delighted audience, including:  Dave Koz, Terence [...]