JAZZ IS DEAD, the label founded by composer and arranger Adrian Younge, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest has an enviable track record. Aficionados will know that the label aims to make available music from veteran jazzers alongside newer artists. Younge says: ”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, the COVID pandemic caused the label a raft of issues. Muhammad this time “Due to the pandemic, we weren’t able to have live events, which are such a foundational part of what we do. We launched the label during the pandemic, unsure how we would be able to promote the music when the world was in chaos and turmoil and suffering such loss. We weren’t even sure if the music mattered. But what we discovered was these albums helped ease some of the pain of theadversities and difficulties. There’s no greater prize than your music having a positive impact on a person.”
As the pandemic seems to ease Jazz Is Dead is re-emerging with added vigour with a series of exciting releases on acclaimed artists like Lonnie Liston Smith, Jean Carne, and Tony Allen and lesser-known names, Henry Franklin, Phil Ranelin, Wendell Harrison, Garrett Saracho, & Katalyst. For more information on the releases and the label’s other activities – concerts and subscription services go to https://jazzisdead.co/
