Sony Classical is relaunching historic OKeh Records as its primary jazz imprint. The imprint will be part of Sony Masterworks, Sony Classical’s domestic branch. Overseeing OKeh will be Chuck Mitchell, senior VP at Sony Masterworks, and Wulf Muller, Sony Classical’s jazz A&R and marketing consultant.
Focusing on both new and established artists who embody “global expressions in jazz,” OKeh is eyeing 10-12 projects for release this year. The first wave includes John Medeski (A Different Time, April 9) and David Sanborn and Bob James (title TBA, May) as well as Bill Frisell and Dhafer Youssef.
Muller, a 29-year industry veteran who recently joined Sony Classical, conceived the OKeh relaunch. “We hope to create a label that will define the present and future of the music we call jazz,” said Muller in a release announcing the news. “OKeh’s tradition as a label for great improvised music of its time, its connection to some of the most influential artists in the genres of jazz and blues, made it the perfect label for us to use.”
Read more: Billboard
