Composer Daniel Jamieson to conduct the Metropole Orkest featuring Joe Lovano

On May 19th 2013, the Metropole Orkest will be presenting a concert in Amsterdam celebrating the 50th anniversary of "Ballads." The performance will feature renowned tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano. The orchestra will be conducted by OA2 Records artist Daniel Jamieson, and they will be premiering his reimagined arrangements of these classic standards. In addition to the "Ballads" program, they will be performing arrangements by Jim McNeely, Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner and Billy Strayhorn.

Check out, Sudden Appearance, Daniel's debut release on OA2 Records.

2013 Ballard Jazz Festival Wrap-up

The 2013 Ballard Jazz Festival is now one for the ages. Concluding on Saturday with a sold-out concert by Gary Bartz and Lew Soloff (and a much-needed after party!), the festival saw a healthy increase in artists, sponsors, and crowds, making for a truly rousing time. Thanks to all involved who continue to make the festival possible, and we'll see you next year!

Origin at JazzAhead, Bremen

With a quick turnaround from the festival, we're off to Germany for the Jazzahead conference and festival. A great opportunity to hook up with our European distributors and media friends, we also get a chance to spend time with our geographically distant artists, including Amit Friedman from Israel, the New York-based German pianist Florian Hoefner and the Copenhagen-based New York saxophonist Marc Bernstein.

ORIGIN / OA2 ARTISTS IN CHINA

Origin artists Dave Glenn, Richard Sussman, Dan Gailey & Gary Hobbs joined the great Eric Marienthal and several others to present concerts and workshops at the First China Jazz Education Festival in Shanghai. Organized by Dr. Gene Aitken with support from Jamey Aebersold, the festival brought together 25,000+ students from conservatories around the country, and over 100 educators attended special training seminars on how to develop jazz programs at their schools.

TUNNEL SIX on tour, Canada & US, June 9 - 23, 2012

For the third consecutive year, the members of Tunnel Six will come from all corners of the continent where they live and join together for another tour of actual 'border-crossing modern jazz.' This year's tour will feature tunes from their album Lake Superior, which was featured as one of eMusic's top 100 albums of 2011. The band will make a live record this year, with recordings from concerts in Canada and the US. Be sure to visit www.tunnelsix.com for up-to-date tour blogging, and come hear the band in a city near you!

June 9th - 23rd - click on poster for details.

THE KORA BAND awarded CMA 'new jazz works' grant.

OA2 Records is proud to congratulate Andrew Oliver and The Kora Band for being a recipient of the Chamber Music America New Jazz Works grant. This will be a follow-up album to the band's OA2 debut Cascades, which peaked at #12 on the world music charts and was Earshot Jazz's NW Recording of the Year. Stay tuned for updates!

Florian Hoefner in Germany

New York pianist Florian Hoefner and his group are touring throughout Germany this month in support of their new OA2 release Songs Without Words, which is presently playing on stations across the country and garnering reviews such as this from Rob Young at Urban Flux: "...I’m elated to introduce a remarkably fresh voice in jazz, the Florian Hoefner Group and their latest offering, Songs Without Words... From the onset, his voice speaks with gentle and buoyant tones framed by a multi-colored hue of palpable layers..."

5/18 - Jazzstudio, Nuremberg
5/19 - Jazzclub, Villingen
5/20 - Jazzclub, Gelnhausen
5/22 - Theaterstübchen, Kassel
5/24 - Cafe Telegraph, Leipzig
5/25 - Jazzclub, Rostock
5/26 - Kunststation, Kleinsassen
5/27 - Le Pirate, Rosenheim

Downbeat 5-Star review for Liam Sillery's Phenomenology

New York trumpeter Liam Sillery received a 5-star review for his fourth and most recent release from OA2 Records. Phenomenology made a strong showing on the radio charts earlier this year, and is available now from our website. Don't miss this exciting record Downbeat's Chris Robinson states, "Is so natural, that only one word can be used to describe it: perfect."

Read the full review - here.