The president of blue note records, bruce lundvall, will auction his jazz memorabilia. Bruce lundvall, whose fivedecade music business career found him helming the storied blue note records jazz label as well as the domestic division of columbia records, died may 19. Rip bruce lundvall, beloved former ceo of blue note records. Record executive bruce lundvall, who revived the iconic blue note records label in the mid1980s and turned it into a major influence on the contemporary jazz. Bruce lundvall creates sunrise senior living jazz festival. Author dan ouellette paints the portrait of one of the most notable figures in the record industry based on an exciting series of interviews with bruce himself. Alfred lion, the founder of blue note records, passed away on 2 february 1987, aged 78 years old. Lundvall bruce september, 1935may 19, 2015 its with great sadness that we announce the passing of beloved music man and longtime president of blue note records, bruce lundvall. An astonishing collection of jazz memorabilia assembled by blue note records label boss bruce lundvall will. New york bruce lundvall, a record executive whose 25year run at the helm of blue note, preceded by top positions at cbs and elektra, made him one of the most influential figures behind the. Lots has been written about blue note records and its seminal importance to the jazz scene. Blue notes chairman emeritus bruce lundvall, credited with discovering norah jones, among others, looks back at his 50year. Originally dedicated to recording traditional jazz and small group swing, the label switched its attention to modern jazz around 1947.
Blue note jazz collection to sell through doyle new york. This final edition looks at the rise of modern jazz and lion and wolffs struggles to keen an indie label solvent, ultimately selling up in 1969. In addition to his work at blue note, lundvall was president of cbs records during the heyday of the lp business, and was responsible for signing many of that labels major artists, and for. Bruce lundvall september, 1935 may 19, 2015 was an american record company executive, best known for his period as the president and ceo of the blue note label group, reporting directly to eric nicoli, the chief executive officer of emi group career. Shes tough, but shes charming and shes wonderful and shes smart as. But after a quiet 1970s, the back catalogue of riches caught the ears of club djs and purveyors of hiphop sampling.
Duke ellington money jungle lp tone poet series gregory porter all rise. The most powerful man in jazz sits in his office six floors above fifth avenue, new york. Excellent history of blue note records from its earliest years, the author mostly writes about what matters, the music. The cause was complications from a prolonged battle with parkinsons disease. Bruce lundvall, chairman emeritus at blue note records. Bruce was a fledgling jazz fan when blue note came on the scene, loved. The song list includes originals by each of the band members, including two elegies for lundvall which open and close the album, as well as two renderings of shorter compositions.
My only complaint is the authors obvious bias against the 70s. To my ear it doesnt have the energy and punch of the original recordings. When blue note was revived in the 80s, with bruce lundvall at the helm, the label became more inclusive. The label effectively disappeared in the late 60s, but was revived by emi in 1985, when producer bruce lundvall started resigning old blue note artists such as mccoy tyner and new players like. Bruce lundvall, former ceo of blue note records, has passed away at the age of 79. Lundvall died tuesday at the valley hospital in ridgewood, new jersey, of complications from a prolonged battle with parkinsons disease, blue note publicist cem. One night with blue note is a 1985 feature length jazz film directed by john charles jopson to celebrate record executive bruce lundvall having relaunched the defunct blue note records label in 1985 under the parent label emi manhattan records, he and music director michael cuscuna staged a concert on february 22, 1985 at the town hall in new york city, bringing together some of.
Bruce lundvall, the distinguished president of blue note records, who played a major role in the world of jazz, died may 19 in ridgewood, n. Bruce lundvall, whose resuscitation of blue note records in 1984 began the apex of a nonpareil career, deserved adoration, and he got it, both during his lifetime and after it ended in may of this year, following a battle with parkinsons disease. My knowledge of blue note in the 50s and 60s is pretty good but prior to that time it is pretty shaky. Lundvall was born in englewood, new jersey in a career spanning half a century, bruce lundvall signed a wide array of artists. Record executive bruce lundvall, who revived the iconic blue note records label in the mid1980s and turned it into a major influence on the contemporary jazz scene during his 25 years as president, h. Yes, blue note records went into decline after the retirement of alfred lion.
Playing by ear book directly from the author through artistshare. One night with blue note, volume 1 1985, vinyl discogs. In 1984, the current blue note owners, capitol records, secured the considerable talents of bruce lundvall, in part to reactivate the label as a major force in jazz. Bruce lundvall, the longtime president of blue note records who supported many top jazz artists over the last four decades, died tuesday, may 19. Bruce lundvall, a record executive whose 25year run at the helm of blue note, preceded by top positions at cbs and elektra, made him one of the most influential figures behind the scenes in. Keeping blue note in the green the famed jazz label is riding high, thanks in large part to its ceo. Jamie cullum celebrates jazz label blue note records, started in 1939 by alfred lion, with francis wolff. Bruce lundvall, a record executive best known among fans of jazz music as blue note records president for 25 years, died yesterday at the age of 79.
This book filled that gap very well, going into nice detail about the earlier recording sessions and how blue note slowly moved away from new orleans. Bruce lundvall, blue note records veteran, beloved jazz. Bruce lundvall, former blue note records president, dead. The art of legendary jazz label blue note records udiscover. Bruce lundvall, a former president of blue note records now in an assistedliving center, has brought music to his turf with the sunrise senior living jazz festival. Impressed, lundvall realized the range of ferrell s talents and arranged an unusual contract with blue note and its parent company, capitol, that called for one pop and. Cook, we thought it would also be timely and interesting to get the perspective of the current ceo of the label, bruce lundvall. Bruce lundvall who began his career at columbia records with a hip young miles davis has been heading the famous blue note jazz label for 20 years. He founded blue note in 1939 with a view to releasing the very best in jazz records. He was a key player in the jazz music industry and beloved by many. Lundvall, a legend in his field, has seen, heard, and lived it all. This is a pickup group of highly competent jazz musicians who recorded eight blue note classical tunes in 2008. Lorraine gordon, owner of legendary jazz club village.
Bruce lundvall born september, 1935 died may 19, 2015, wycoff, new jersey, usa was an american record company executive. The worlds most famous jazz label celebrated for its striking use of design as much as for its groundbreaking recordings is 75 this year. Playing by ear is the authorized biography of the record business legend whose astounding career spans more than 50 years. Shes a real new york character, the late bruce lundvall, the former presidentceo of blue note records, told npr in 2012.
Record executive bruce lundvall, who revived the iconic blue note records label in the mid1980s and turned it into a major influence on the contemporary jazz scene during his 25 years as. It is a blue note record, but its not the original tunes. W hen bruce lundvall got a message that a woman in accounts was looking for him his first thought was that he had another royalty payment problem to. A blog supreme the longtime president of blue note records, a lifelong jazz fan, signed artists. Lundvall signed songwriter norah jones, whose 2002 blue note debut sold more than 20 million copies. Whats the secret to signing great musical talent to a record label. Author dan ouellette has painted the portrait of one of the recording industrys most notable figures, who has been responsible for signing an array of topflight artists from his years at columbiacbs, elektraelektra musician and blue note, where he. Longtime blue note records president and lifelong jazz champion bruce lundvall died tuesday after a battle with parkinsons disease. Established in 1939 by alfred lion and max margulis, it derived its name from the blue notes of jazz and the blues. This interview was originally conducted in may 2003. He then moved to elektra in 1982, where he became president of elektra records and the newly created elektra musician. Today, the label is overseen by record producer don was rolling stones, bonnie raitt, b52s, currently around town playing with bob weir in the wolf brothers. Bruce lundvall, who helped revive blue note records, dead. Our selection of favorite tracks from the blue note vaults, updated monthly so.
Beyond the notes, a stylish and engaging new documentary by sophie huber, opens in the recording studio, with a toptier crew of. President of blue note records, bruce lundvall, poses for a picture in his office in new york city on march 26, 2009. Bruce lundvall revived the famous blue note label in the mid1980s and turned it into a huge influence on the contemporary jazz scene during his 25 years as president. Herbie hancock the prisoner lp tone poet series duke ellington money jungle lp tone poet series blue note records. Blue note records is an american jazz record label owned by universal music group and operated under capitol music group. He began his music career in marketing at columbia where he remained for 21 years, becoming president of the domestic division of cbs in 1976. Lundvall, who became a deeply influential and highly visible executive at columbia records, blue note records and other major labels, died monday at valley hospital in ridgewood, n. That changed after executive bruce lundvall of the jazzoriented blue note label heard a demo tape of her pop compositions and sought out one of her live jazz performances. Bruce lundvall obituary wyckoff, nj lawrence journalworld. In 1985, when blue note was raised from the dead by bruce lundvall and michael cuscuna, they recorded a townhall concert, featuring an all.