Otis Redding News

Craft Recordings is excited to announce a new deluxe reissue of Isaac Hayes' GRAMMY® Award–winning album Shaft. Set for a June 14th street date and limited to 5,000 copies worldwide, the two-CD collection will offer the newly remastered, classic soundtrack—as originally released in 1971—plus all of the original music from the film, which did not appear on the best-selling LP. In-depth liner notes from Ahmir “Questlove” Thompsonround out the set. A single-disc version consisting of only the remastered soundtrack will also be available.

THE BROTHERS SIZE, directed by Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu and produced by Soulpepper, is a look into the lives of two brothers following the youngest's return home from prison. Tarell Alvin McCraney's 2000 work is an emotional examination of brotherhood and redemption in the deep south.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

1969 marked a year that was full of both trepidation and excitement for Stax Records. Just one year before, the Memphis soul outlet ended its relationship with musical giant Atlantic Records, effectively leaving the label as an independent entity, without a music catalog (which had previously included a formidable collection of hits by Otis Redding, Carla Thomas and Sam & Dave, among others). Under the guidance of co-owner Al Bell, the label proceeded to rebuild and release an impressive collection of 27 albums and 30 singles in just a handful of months—a period known as “Soul Explosion.” The gamble paid off, and at the 1969 Stax sales summit—themed “Getting It All Together”—the label reaffirmed its place as a soul powerhouse. Craft Recordings celebrates the 50th anniversary of this prolific, make-or-break moment for Stax—and its enduring legacy—with a wide selection of physical and digital reissues. Additionally, Craft will pay tribute to the label throughout the year with a series of playlists, original content, contests and more.

Next month, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

1999 marked a momentous year for Scottish rock band Travis. Singer/songwriter Fran Healy, guitarist Andy Dunlop, drummer Neil Primrose, and bassist Dougie Payne had been together since the beginning of the decade, and were gearing up for the release of their sophomore album, The Man Who, following the release of their 1997 debut, Good Feeling. Though the album found moderate success in the UK and set the band up for extensive touring—opening for the likes of Oasis—Travis were still reasonably unknown internationally. All of that was about to change.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Beres Hammond on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 8:00 p.m.

Craft Recordings is pleased to announce the first-ever vinyl edition ofJames Taylor's 2007 live album, One Man Band. Available June 7th, the double-LP set is pressed on 180-gram vinyl, and housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket. Mastered by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound and pressed at RTI, this uniquely intimate performance captures Taylor at his best—paired only with his guitar, drum machine and esteemed keyboardist Larry Goldings (John Mayer, Sia, John Scofield) plus pre-recorded accompaniment of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus on “My Traveling Star” and “Shower The People.” Full of his signature wit and warmth, Taylor's anecdotes—interspersed throughout the evening—offer background on some of his most popular songs.

Today, Thursday, April 11, NPR Music's First Listen premiered Daniel Norgren's highly-anticipated forthcoming album Wooh Dang, calling it “welcoming with a careful touch of ambiance and mystery in the playing.” The April 19 release of Wooh Dang will be the first worldwide release for the Swedish artist and Superpuma Records.

2019 marks the 70th anniversary of Prestige Records, one of the most revered jazz labels in the world. Throughout the '50s and '60s, Prestige was at the forefront of modern jazz, releasing sessions from some of the most influential names in music, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Stan Getz, and Sonny Rollins. To honor the history of this pioneering label and its exceptional output, Craft Recordings will release a variety of content throughout the year, including deluxe box sets and vinyl reissues, as well as video content and curated playlists.

Husband and wife duo Ida Mae (Chris Turpin and Stephanie Jean), have announced new U.S. tour dates opening for Greta Van Fleet this May. 'We were a little shocked when we were invited to play with them, but then it quickly made sense,' Turpin says. 'Their dad was in a blues band, plays harmonica. They grew up with Stax and Otis Redding, all the same blues things I did. A lot of their heroes are British rock 'n' roll bands, who during the 60s fell in love with blues coming out of Chicago. So it makes sense that Greta would be into us, and those shows really work out well.' Ida Mae are currently on the road with Blackberry Smoke on their Break It Down tour. See below for a full list of 2019 U.S. dates. The group will release their debut album Chasing Lights for June 7th via Thirty Tigers. 

In Elevate: A Triple Bill of Female Choreographers three seasoned choreographers from NYC, NJ/NYC, and Pittsburgh come together to explore female empowerment in a compelling evening-length triple bill performance presented as part of a 3-city tour. In this production, three distinct powerhouses, Heather Bryce (Bryce Dance Company, NYC), Erin Carlisle Norton (The Moving Architects, NJ/NYC), and Shana Simmons (Shana Simmons Dance, PA) elevate each other and their collective voices by bringing the strength, individuality, and power of the female voice into the spotlight. This triple bill is a unique opportunity to see how three unique voices interpret fearless femininity. Performances are April 17-18, 2019 at Actors Fund Arts Center (Brooklyn), April 19-20, 2019 at The Dance Complex (Boston), and May 4, 2019 at Point Park University's George Rowland White Performance Center (Pittsburgh).

John Coltrane's breakout year, when his mature saxophone sound first grabbed ears and his own recordings began to sell consistently, was 1958. The upcoming box set Coltrane '58: The Prestige Recordings (out March 29 (5-CD & digital formats) and April 26 (8-LP format) on Craft Recordings), chronicles that exciting year session by session, featuring all 37 tracks Coltrane recorded as a leader or co-leader for the independent Prestige label in those 12 months. The collection captures Coltrane in creative high gear—developing the signature improvisational style that journalist Ira Gitler famously dubbed “sheets of sound.” In addition, Coltrane '58: The Prestige Recordings comes on the heel of the 60th anniversary of that breakthrough year, and serves as the cornerstone release marking the 70th anniversary of Prestige Records.

The Music Business Association (Music Biz) today announces this year's inductees for its Music Business Hall of Fame, including the late Sir George Martin, who will be inducted by his son Giles Martin. This year's honorees will be recognized during the Music Biz 2019 Awards & Hall of Fame Dinner -- sponsored by BuzzAngle Music, City National Bank, Cracker Barrel, Jammber, and TiVo -- as part of Music Biz's Annual Conference on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 pm.

Renowned guitarist Tab Benoit embarks on a year-long 'Whiskey Bayou Revue' Tour (named after Benoit's Louisiana-based record label) with a local performance in Nashville at City Winery, 609 Lafayette St., Tuesday, April 2. Showtime: 8:00pm. Tickets: $35.-$48. Info: (615) 324-1010 or visit  https://citywinery.com/nashville. Also appearing; guitarist Eric McFadden, whose Pain By Numbers album was released on Whiskey Bayou Records in 2018.        

Following the recent announcement that Frank Iero has signed to UNFD and formed his latest band FRANK IERO AND THE FUTURE VIOLENTS, the first track from his upcoming album BARRIERS (out May 31, 2019) “Young and Doomed” is now available today via DSPs and streaming services.

The McCallum Theatre welcomes the return of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain on Sunday, March 31, at 7:00pm. Since selling out the McCallum in 2016, audiences have eagerly awaited their return.With a repertoire ranging from Lady Gaga to "The Ride of the Valkyries," The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain tackles an ambitious range of music-on just four strings. This group of genre-benders performs covers (with vocals!) of pop, jazz, country, and classics from film, along with anything else they think is ripe for the picking. Formed in 1985, the group has become something of a national institution in the UK.

Roger Wright the first man to play the role of the adult 'Simba' in the West End production 'The Lion King and ITV Superstar finalist will perform, 'The Feel Good Show' at 'The Other Palace' Theatre with a live orchestra in central London.

Craft Recordings has revealed the full details on their upcoming title, Poppies: Assorted Finery from the First Psychedelic Age, a compilation of 1960s-era psychedelic rock featuring cult-classic artists such as Buffy Sainte-Marie, Circus Maximus and Southwest F.O.B.

Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures has dated the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect for Aug. 14, 2020, according to Deadline.