Album: The Very Best Of Prestige Records
Label: Concord Music Group
Release Date: March 24th, 2009

On March 24th Concord Music Group launched a yearlong 60th anniversary celebration of Prestige Records, with a full slate of assorted CD releases and other special bonuses, including the new album The Very Best Of Prestige Records.

The Very Best of Prestige Records is a 2-CD set of classic tracks from the legendary label’s catalog featuring the iconic Jazz artists of the ‘50s and ‘60s; John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, and more. The new ‘must have’ collection features 25 essential Prestige tracks, and is packed with classic photographs covering a 20-year span from 1949-1969, truly representing Prestige’s golden era.

Background:

Founded by producer Bob Weinstock in 1949, Prestige Records became iconic in documenting the golden age of jazz, known as the label that stood for high-premium jazz throughout its active history. Its legacy continued firstas a reissue imprint with Fantasy Records and today with the Concord Music Group.

The 60th anniversary celebration continues withthree series of Ryan Van Gelder remasters (March 3rd, June 2nd, and September 8th), as well as audio podcasts with the legendary engineer. In addition, Concord will issue two new sets of vital music from the Prestige catalog:

(1) Sidesteps
- A 5-CD boxed set of John Coltane’s appearnaces as a sideman on Prestige recordings (to be released on September 8th, 2009)
(2) Miles Davis & Sonny Rollins: The Classic Prestige Session 1951-1956
- A 2-CD collections to beissued in later summer or early fall, 2009)

Also planned for later this year is Prestige Records: The Collected Album Covers. This is a coffee table book, published by notes music historian Geoff Gans.

Streaming Media:

Quicktime:
(1) Sonny Rollins/John Coltrane (Tenor Madness)
(2) Eric Dolphy (Les)
(3) Red Garland Trio (Hey Now)
(4) Pat Martino (Waltz For Geri)

- Check out the entire album, available through streaming media at music.aol.com.
- See more information about the album at On Target Media Group.
- Concord Music Group’s Official Site.

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