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Music





Garrett
Saracho
JID015

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Pre OrdeR



Tucked away from the sprawl of Los Angeles, nestled off the 605 Freeway, lies one of Jazz music’s best kept secrets. A composer, renegade, and wanderer whose musical journey is gaining a second wind. Garrett Saracho has lived many lives, from being a fresh-faced signee to Impulse Records in the early 1970s to working on blockbuster films to touring with his cousins’ iconic rock group Redbone decades later. But while his stories have always been pushed to the background, this next chapter finds him standing tall at center stage.







Henry Franklin
JID014

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Pre OrdeR


Laying in the bouquet of any jazz ensemble, of any era, playing any style, is the bass. Sturdy and stoic, but also capable of providing the emotional crux, the bass is an essential unit, a compass on which the rest of the ensemble relies on, the provider of the heartbeat, the rhythm, the feel. The conjurer of traditions, the conductor of an elastic orchestra, writing symphonies in real time. There is one such conductor whose own legacy, much like their instrument, has been obscured while remaining ever present. Take a closer listen, however, and the music and career of Henry “The Skipper” Franklin is among the most luminous of any jazz artist. A native of Los Angeles, Henry Franklin came of age while the city was producing some of the most exciting jazz talent in the nation. Early mentorship from his father, who was a bandleader, was foundational. In addition, Franklin took lessons from bassists George Morrow and Al McKibbon.

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Katalyst
JID013

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Pre OrdeR


In the storied and woefully under-celebrated history of Los Angeles Jazz, community has remained the beating heart and driving force. In the 1960s, Horace Tapscott's Pan Afrikan People's Arkestra and Union of God Musicians Ascension Association connected local jazz
musicians. More recently, Los Angeles' new Jazz Renaissance has flourished both on a local and global scale through steady collaboration and mentorship of the next generation. Take a close look at the current jazz landscape, and it soon becomes apparent that the Inglewood-based Katalyst Collective are the new torchbearers of this tradition. Founded in 2014, Katalyst Collective has never been one for labels. Rather than strictly a live act, they've acted as an incubator for a fresh crop of local talent, helping hone the voices and talents of individual members, while collectively advancing like a phalanx. Each "Kat" writes their own solo material, and everyone contributes and works together on each project, feeding off the communal energy Pre OrdeR



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Jean Carne
JID012

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Pre OrdeR

For decades, the voice of Jean Carne has been a crucial part of the American musical landscape, tying together generations of Jazz, Gospel, and R&B artists. As a solo artist, backing vocalist, and vocal coach, she has contributed to and collaborated with the likes of Norman Connors, Doug Carn, Dexter Wansel, Phyllis Hyman, Lonnie Liston Smith, Michael Jackson, and many more. At 74, she shows no signs of slowing down.

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Jazz Is Dead Series two


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In the music industry, time moves ten times faster. There is no pause given to greatness, and legends can vanish amidst the churn of the hit parade. It is no minor miracle, then, that in the face of a deadly pandemic and faltering supply chain, Jazz Is Dead has returned with another offering of top-shelf recordings, paying tribute to past legends and new school torchbearers alike. Whether you’ve known the names of Jazz Is Dead Series 2’s featured guests, or are just meeting them for the first time, prepare to be blown away.  For Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, collaborating with music icons and personal heroes is a dream come true. As Younge notes, “A lot of the luminaries have been forgotten” and we want to get people excited again. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than that.” However, completing such a monumental task while facing the ongoing unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic meant taking careful steps to ensure each artist’s safety and contending with obstacles brought by a global supply chain slowdown, all while keeping the initial vision for the label and production house intact. “Due to the pandemic, we weren’t able to have live events”, says Muhammad. 










jid010

Remixes 

Album Release


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As the final chapter in the initial run of Jazz Is Dead releases, Remixes JID010 continues the creative catharsis of an exhilarating new chapter in jazz music. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad tapped nine iconic creators to reimagine their personal favorites from Jazz Is Dead’s catalogue to-date, who created striking new versions of songs by Marcos Valle, Roy Ayers, Gary Bartz, Azymuth, João Donato, Doug Carn, Brian Jackson and The Midnight Hour. Holding the line taut like a bass string, Younge & Muhammad only invited those special musical alchemists who have previously participated in Jazz Is Dead happenings, or those who are slated to share that stage soon: Cut Chemist, DJ Spinna, Georgie Anne Muldrow, Akili, Shigeto, Pink Siiffu, Dibiase, Natureboy Flako, and Kaidi Tathum. It’s a family affair.



jidMixtape

Jazz Is Dead Series One Mixtape by J.Rocc


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Jazz Is Dead Series 1 Mixtape, a heady hour-long trip through the nine LPs we released in 2020 and 21. Mixed by Beat Junkies Crew founder J. Rocc, this mix wraps up the first series of Jazz Is Dead releases, and is only available on very limited run of cassettes - 300 white, and 300 smokey grey.

Suitable for dancefloors and headphones, it is the perfect capstone and entry point into the musical world that Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad have built, showcasing the living history, influence, and potency of Jazz through its ties to DJ culture.











jid009

Instrumentals 
ADRIAN YOUNGE
ALI SHAHEED MUHAMMAD
Album Release


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Features instrumentals from previously released JID albums by: Roy Ayers, Marcos Valle, Azymuth, Doug Carn, Gary Bartz, João Donato, Brian Jackson, Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad.

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jid008

Brian Jackson
ADRIAN YOUNGE
ALI SHAHEED MUHAMMAD
Album Release

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Brian Jackson JID008 is the first full album released by the great man in 20 years and it's a testament to his multifaceted talents...

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jid007

Joao Donato
ADRIAN YOUNGE
ALI SHAHEED MUHAMMAD
Album Release

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Where’s João Donato? It’s a frequently asked question, referring simultaneously to the physical location and the musical moment he inhabits.

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“THe American Negro”
BY ADRIAN YOUNGE


Album Released
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The American Negro is an unapologetic critique, detailing the systemic and malevolent psychology that afflicts people of color.

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jid003

New marcos valle 
album 



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Younge and Shaheed Muhammad started by mining Valle’s back catalog for direction and inspiration. Unlike most artists of his stature, Valle is still actively recording and releasing music, but Marcos Valle JID003 is different from all of his others.

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roy ayers JID002

ROY AYERS ALBUM OUT NOW

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In February 2018, Roy Ayers performed four sold out shows in Los Angeles as part of the Jazz Is Dead Black History Month series.  It wasn’t until 2020 that fans of Ayers discovered that in addition to those shows, the legendary vibraphone player had also recorded an entire album of new material with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad.

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