Black Jazz Records

Black Jazz Records was founded in 1969, and released its first four albums on August 1, 1971.[5][6] The founders were Gene Russell, a veteran jazz pianist, and Dick Schory, a Grammy-nominated percussionist also known for his development of the stereo recording techniques quadraphonic sound, Dynagroove, and RCA Victor's Stereo Action.[16][17] Schory started Ovation Records in 1969, after leaving RCA.[16] Ovation financed and distributed Black Jazz Records, while Russell served as an A&R executive. Russell also produced and engineered the label's initial releases, while maintaining complete artistic control through his production company, GR Productions.[6][18]

Russell's vision for Black Jazz Records was for it to be geared towards the Black community, and all of the artists recording for the label were African American.[6] The label was created as an alternative to traditional jazz, invoking a more political and spiritual tone, often with funk overtones.[5] Black Jazz released various types of music including, funk, free jazz and soul jazz. Black Jazz Records was also known for its unique album cover concept, which was copyrighted by the label. The concept included a design that allowed the title to be shown regardless of how the albums were positioned in the browsing rack at record stores. All of the albums had white lettering on a black background, with the liner notes and personnel listed in the same place on each of the label's releases.[6] Russell organized a promotional tour for the label in September 1971. In addition to promoting the first four Black Jazz albums, Russell and his marketing consultant Ray Lawrence did radio, television and newspaper interviews to showcase the label and its artists.[19] A 1974 Billboard Magazine article noted that Doug Carn, one of the label's more successful artists, sold more records than Dave Brubeck and Ramsey Lewis at that time.[5][7] The label existed for six years during its first run, folding in 1975.[5][4]

The legacy of Black Jazz Records has been kept alive by reissues of its albums, remixes and samples by DJ's and hip-hop artists. There have also been occasional tours and concerts where former Black Jazz artists have performed music from their recordings with the label. Doug Carn, Rudolph Johnson and Henry Franklin joined other veteran musicians as the Black Jazz Allstars, and performed a series of shows at the Center for African and African American Art and Culture in San Francisco, California, from April 29 to May 7, 2000.[23] Guitarist Calvin Keys joined former label mates Henry Franklin and Carl Burnett in "Heroes of Black Jazz, a Tribute to Gene Russell", on July 14, 2011 at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center in Leimert Park, Los Angeles.[30] Calvin Keys' first album, Shawn-Neeq, originally recorded with Black Jazz Records in 1971, was re-issued by Tompkins Square Records in 2012.[31] Keys celebrated the re-issue of "Shawn-Neeq" by performing the entire album at Yoshi's jazz club in San Francisco, California on January 5, 2012.[32] Doug Carn and his ex-wife Jean Carne played together at the 2013 Savannah Jazz Festival in Savannah, Georgia on September 28, 2013.[33]

[22]

• Gene Russell - Piano
• Calvin Keys - Guitar
• Walter Bishop, Jr. - Piano
• Henry Franklin - Bass
• Doug Carn - Piano, Organ, Keyboards
• Jean Carn - Vocalist
• Cleveland Eaton - bass
• Kellee Patterson - Vocalist
• The Awakening - Instrumental Group
• Chester Thompson - Organ
• Rudolph Johnson - Saxophone

• Article covering e-mail conversation between DJ Prestige (Jamison Harvey) of Flea Market Funk and James Hardge.
• Black Jazz Records on Myspace.
• Discogs.com: Black Jazz Records.
• Talkin' All That Jazz Part 10: A Tribute to Black Jazz Records (featuring 2 hours of music).
• Snow Dog Records.
• Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center.