Cadillac (record label)

Cadillac
Founded1971
FounderJohn Jack, Mike Westbrook
StatusActive
Distributor(s)Cadillac Jazz Distribution, Cadillac Distribution
GenreJazz
Country of originUnited Kingdom

Cadillac is a jazz record company and label in the United Kingdom. It has released recordings by notable jazz artists. It has been in operation since the early 1970s and continues info the present day.

Background

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It was established in 1971 by John Jack and Mike Westbrook[1][2][3] and its first release was in 1973.[2] Its catalogue includes Harry Beckett, Mike Osborne, Stan Tracey, Trevor Watts, and Bobby Wellins.[1]

History

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Joy was a jazz group who recorded an album, Joy for Cadillac in 1976. The group was made up of members from the UK, US, Caribbean and South Africa. The musicians on the album were James Dvorak on trumpet, Frank Roberts on piano, Ernest Mothle on bass, Keith Bailey on drums, and Chris Francis on alto saxophone.[4] Years later, Cadillac Records got in touch with the surviving members of the band. Unfortunately, Ernest Mothle, the South African bassist had since died. However, Cadillac discovered that drummer Keith Bailey was already working on a reissue. Getting hold of the master tapes turned out to be well worth the effort. In addition to the vinyl record album being re-released, there were additional recordings for the compact disc's release.[5]

In October 2023 the label celebrated its fiftieth year. The event was held at the Cafe OTO where some of the key people in UK jazz were in attendance. A film, The Real McGregor, a 1967 film about Chris McGregor and his group, The Blue Notes had been unearthed by Dr Paul DJ Moody, and for the first time in about a half a century was shown at the event. The event was filmed at the cafe which was full to capacity.[6]

On Thursday 7 December 2023, Cadillac Records received a Presto award for the Joy album re-release for the "Best Archive/Reissue" of the Year album. Due to Mike Westbrook being unable to attend, Matthew Wright accepted it on his behalf. There to present the award was Barney Whittaker of Presto Music.[7]

CDs

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Catalogue number Artist Album title Release date
SGC/MELCD201 Christie Brothers Stompers Christie Brothers Stompers
SGC/MELCD202 Crane River Jazz Band Crane River Jazz Band
SGC/MELCD203 Joe Harriott Quintet Swings High
SGC77CD02 Ken Colyer The Real Ken Colyer
SGCASCD1 Phi Lee and Jeff Clyne Twice upon a Time
SGCCCD02 Dave Holdsworth/Liane Carroll Quartet Ten Day Simon 8 May 1990
SGCCD04 Stan Tracey Quartet For Heaven's Sake
SGCCD05 Bobby Wellins Quartet Don't Worry 'Bout Me 1997[8]
SGCCD06 Stan Tracey Solo:Trio
SGCD007 Dudu Pukwana/ Bob Stuckey/ Phil Lee/ John Marshall/ Terry Smith/ Martin Hart Night Time is the Right Time
SGCCD08/09 David Murray The London Concert[9]
SGCCD010/011 Mike Osborne Trio The Birmingham Jazz Concert
SGCCD12/13 Johnny Mbizo Dyani Rejoice + Together 2014
SGCCD14/15 Stan Tracey & Mike Osborne Alone & Together – Wigmore Hall 1974
SGCCD16 The Mike Westbrook Concert Band The Last Night At The Old Place 25 May 2018
SGCCD 022 Joy Joy 2023[10][11]

See also

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Notes and references

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  1. ^ a b Adams, Simon (2002). Barry Kernfeld (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, vol. 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries Inc. p. 369. ISBN 1561592846.
  2. ^ a b "Jack, John, founder and director of Cadillac Records". Oral history of recorded sound. British Library. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  3. ^ Wall, Tim (14 June 2007). "Interview with John Jack owner of Cadillac Records in London". Wall of Sound. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  4. ^ WTJU 91.1 FM - New Jazz Releases – 06/12/2023 Joy – Joy (Cadillac Records, 05/26/2023)
  5. ^ UK Jazz News, 10 August 2023 - Reissue of 1976 album ‘Joy’: (Chris Francis, James Dvorak, Frank Roberts, Ernest Mothle, Keith Bailey)
  6. ^ Jazzwise Magazine, October 11, 2023 - Ogun and Cadillac Records – 50th Birthday celebration at Cafe OTO, London - Kevin Whitlock
  7. ^ Jazz Journal, 08 December 2023 - Cadillac’s Joy reissue gets Presto award
  8. ^ "Bobby Wellins Quartet – Don't Worry 'Bout Me". Discogs. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  9. ^ Recorded at London's Collegiate Theatre. Wall, Tim (14 June 2007). "Interview with John Jack owner of Cadillac Records in London". Wall of Sound. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  10. ^ UK Jazz News, 10 August 2023 - Reissue of 1976 album Joy: (Chris Francis, James Dvorak, Frank Roberts, Ernest Mothle, Keith Bailey)
  11. ^ Bandcamp - Joy by Joy
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