Terry Callier (1945 – 2012)

At the age of 67 Terry Callier, the great singer and songwriter from Chicago, passed away. His songs have been performed by many, but he was for sure underrated as a musician and performer. I met him around 1998 when he released Timepiece, one of his most successful recordings and later worked with him as Executive Producer on the Lookin’ Out album and Live in Berlin DVD. What a great, warm and humble human being. We met and talked a few times, I saw him perform in London often and he always captured me emotionally with his warm voice and deep lyrics. His last recording was Hidden Conversations (2009), a collaboration with Massive Attack and a superb album by any standard.

He will be surely missed. R.I.P

Madrid Jazz

A few days ago the program for the XXIX version of the Madrid Jazz Festival was announced – a bit late for a festival that starts on November 6th …but it seems there has been a lot going on behind the scenes to make this edition happen at all and it seems, unfortunately, that not much has changed (yet), as a lot of the performing artists (the local ones for sure) will have to play for what is taken at the door … sometimes not enough to cover costs … and marketing and promotion still is something the Madrid Festival will have to improve on!! But let’s have a look at some of the highlights of the festival – Omar Sosa with Paolo Fresu, should be one; Albert Sanz with bassist Javier Colina and drummer Al Foster for sure is another one; Stacey Kent and Jorge Prado are rounding up the best of what is going to happen at the Teatro Fernan Gomez. At the Teatro Circo Price we’ll have another chance to see the wonderful Silvia Perez Cruz, an all star Flamenco project, Oscar D’Leon and Patti Smith and finally Incognito. At the Conde Duque we can enjoy the best of the Spanish jazz scenw, like Perico Sambeat and a focus on Italy’s women in Jazz, like Rita Marcotulli or Maria Pia de Vito. Interesting, but the program is far from what Barcelona is offering at the same time. Maybe next year – a bit less, a bit better promoted and announced, a bit more interesting in the mix of international and local and a bit better for the performing acts as well.

All Change

Berlin/New York, October 1, 2012

“Sony Classical announces the appointment of Wulf Müller as an exclusive Jazz A&R consultant. Working with the Sony Classical teams in Berlin and New York, he will be bringing new and established artists to the company, overseeing product development and supporting the international marketing of the releases.

Wulf Müller has 29 years of experience in the music business, most of them in jazz marketing and A&R for PolyGram and later Universal Music International in London where he has been responsible for all signings on the Emarcy label. He has been Executive Producer on countless recordings, including albums by Michael Brecker, Dee Dee Bridgewater, John Scofield, James Carter, Jane Monheit and Charlie Haden and has worked closely with or signed artists like Sonny Rollins, Madeleine Peyroux and Sergio Mendes.

Bogdan Roscic, President Sony Classical, said: “Wulf is one of the most experienced and respected executives in the jazz world and I have wanted to bring him to Sony for a long time. As the Sony Classical labels steadily broaden their scope in terms of musical genres, he will contribute to the depth of the roster and projects that we deliver. The last years have shown how many great opportunities the many facets of today’s jazz present – it’s a great time for Wulf to be joining our team.”

Wulf Müller commented on the appointment: “I am honoured and excited to be asked to start jazz activities within Sony Classical and look forward to working with the Sony teams on some of the greatest artists in today’s music world.”

The appointment is effective immediately. Mr. Müller will remain based in Madrid where in 2010 he founded All-In Music Service, an independent company whose core business is international consulting for artists, sponsors, touring agents, music festivals and managements in the world of Jazz and related music genres.”

All change – I had a great many years with PolyGram and Universal and have great memories of that time – but it is a good moment for change, to start something new and fresh. It will all be jazz as usual, but this time on the OKeh label, founded in 1918 and home to many jazz greats at the time – Louis Armstrong among them. Watch this space for some exciting new signings!