RCA VICTOR GROUP TO LAUNCH BLUEBIRD JAZZ AS COMPANY'S EXCLUSIVE JAZZ IMPRINT

Initial Fall Releases of Classic Reissues To Feature Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, and Louis Armstrong Boxed Sets, And Recordings of Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney, Coleman Hawkins, Carmen McRae, Charles Mingus, and Gil Scott-Heron, with Six New Reissue Series Planned for 2001-2002

New York, NY - RCA Victor Group will reactivate the Bluebird Jazz label as the company's home for jazz music, David Weyner, Executive Vice President, General Manager of RCA Victor Group has announced. The legendary imprint will release both new recordings and reissues of historic importance, with an ambitious six new reissue series planned for 2001-2002. All releases will emphasize artistic quality and superior audio sound, and each recording will feature detailed liner notes written by distinguished journalists, often accompanied by rare archival photographs; in most cases the reissued packages will also include special bonus tracks of interest to collectors.

Launched in 1933 and home to such artists as Glenn Miller, Fats Waller and Artie Shaw, the Bluebird label name was synonymous with the best of American popular music. At the end of the 78 RPM era (late '40's), Bluebird was folded into RCA Victor.

Bluebird's current artist roster comprises Tom Harrell and Dave Douglas, two critically acclaimed jazz masters, with plans for future artist signings imminent. Composer/trumpeter Harrell's current recording, Paradise, was released in June. Entertainment Weekly praised the release as an “excellent, romantic melange of Latin-jazzy pieces, brisk post-bop settings, and string-oriented groupings that wear the sobriquet of “chamber jazz" well. Harrell, is...one of jazz's quiet giants, making important music in the margins."

Dave Douglas's upcoming album, Witness, will be released on August 21. A politically inspired response to artists and activists who have made nonviolent statements, Witness features a 10-piece ensemble and guest appearances by Tom Waits and Cibo Matto's Yuka Honda. The composer/trumpeter was recently named trumpeter and composer of the year in Down Beat magazine's 49th Annual Critics Poll, as well as 2001 Jazz Trumpeter of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association.

Bluebird's ambitious reissue program includes six separate series aimed at a wide range of consumers, from serious connoisseurs to more casual listeners. The series, which will begin launching in Fall, 2001, will be drawn from RCA's rich jazz archives, including Bluebird, Flying Dutchman, Novus and RCA Victor. The specific series planned are:

Bluebird Boxed Sets
Three deluxe boxed sets are planned for release this fall. These include the career-spanning Artie Shaw: Anthology (5 CDs, October 9) covering highlights from across Shaw's career as a bandleader, including sides from Brunswick, Decca, and MusicCraft, as well as recordings from Shaw's personal collection; Glenn Miller: Complete Army Air Force Band Recordings (4 CDs, October 9); and Louis Armstrong, Complete RCA Victor Recordings (4 CDs, September 25 street date - rerelease of the critically acclaimed, out of print boxed set). Continuing RCA's tradition of exceptional deluxe packages, the boxed sets feature extensively researched and restored music, rare archival photographs, and informative essays and liner notes. All three boxes will be preceded by “Best of" CDs featuring top tracks condensed from the boxed sets, aimed at the more novice fan.

Bluebird First Editions
Bluebird's collector's series, aimed principally at the core jazz audience, will feature classic albums from the catalogs of RCA Victor, Flying Dutchman, Novus, and other RCA Victor Group jazz imprints. Beginning with extensive research in the BMG Vaults and continuing through painstaking audio restoration, the series will present the most comprehensive version, with the highest quality sound, of these classic albums, including as much additional material as possible. Every First Editions release will feature attractive new packaging, with high quality photography, the original artwork when available, the original liner notes, and new liner notes by eminent journalists.

The initial First Editions release (September 25) includes five recordings:

• Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney, Fancy Meeting You Here (Five Bonus Tracks: 2 tracks with Rosemary Clooney and Bob Hope; 3 tracks of Bing Crosby and Jo Stafford from a 1959 Christmas television show)
• Coleman Hawkins, The Hawk in Hi-Fi (9 alternate takes, previously unreleased on any format)
• Carmen McRae, Carmen Sings Monk (3 alternate takes, previously unreleased on any format)
• Charles Mingus, Tijuana Moods (2 CDs, includes complete alternate takes and session footage)
• Gil Scott-Heron, Free Will (10 alternate takes, previously unreleased on any format)

Bluebird Limited Editions
This limited edition series of important jazz and vocal albums will feature albums to be made available on a one-time only basis.

Bluebird Mid-Priced Series
(Series Title TBD). This mid-priced compilation series will introduce the great artists of the Bluebird catalog at a great value. The series will feature informative notes and discographical details, and will appeal to people seeking an introduction to classic jazz and swing as well as jazz aficionados seeking to augment their collections.

Bluebird Swingbooks
This series will feature great big bands and the Great American Songbook, pairing the great bands with the great songwriters: Berlin, Gershwin, Porter, Carmichael and beyond.

Bluebird Series For the Casual Music Consumer
(Series Title TBD). Bluebird will launch a series designed for the casual music consumer, geared towards making jazz music accessible to a broad audience and providing new avenues for people to bring jazz into their lives.