Seriously, there was a CTI/KUDU lighter – This one belong to someone important in jazz history and not Creed. Also, no, it’s not me, I don’t own it and can’t sell it to you – but I know a man who does own one.
Seen Online: CTI Records Swag
Ever wanted some CTI Swag?
This post is for you. Share the love, love the brand, dig the music – Keep the groove going
Seen Online: 3D CTI Printing
Want to 3D printed CTI logo?
Apparently this is all you need!
The Brecker Brothers
The Brecker Brothers, Mike and Randy were both first calls for CTI/KUDU in their own way. My introduction to them came their 1975 jazz-funk hit “Sneakin’ Up Behind You.” The piece reflects on club culture, acid jazz revival, a 2018 VIP encounter with Randy Brecker, and their prolific CTI/KUDU legacy. Here are two good reads on the brothers.
On This Day: Pete Turner’s Birthday
Today marks Pete Turner’s birthday; he was born on May 30th, 1934. Pete lived until he was 83. Pete was hugely influential in the photography field, way beyond the beautiful photographs that Creed used for his album covers starting in 1959.
Pete was one of the people whose images drove the stock image revolution. In those days large catalogues of stock images were published and held by newspapers, marketing and ad agencies, and magazines. Some were fixed price, others priced by license.
Freddie Hubbard on Jazzwise
Jazzwise, which offers a monthly digital edition not available for download. The website is accessible without a subscription and features quality articles, including reviews of new jazz albums. A notable piece includes Stuart Nicholson’s review and interview with Freddie Hubbard from April 2025.
Farewell Winston “Buzz” Willis
Winston “Buzz” Willis, who passed away on March 25, 2025, at 89, was a pioneering Black music executive influential in combating racial discrimination in the industry. Known for significant contributions at various labels, including CTI and RCA, he managed Kool & the Gang, helping them achieve widespread success. A lifelong advocate for Black artists, Willis left a lasting legacy through his work and commitment to social justice.
Peak Creed Taylor, 1974?
Today, May 13th, marks what would have been Creed Taylor’s 96th birthday. While I continue to organize and catalog my archive, I frequently come across articles I think are worth sharing. I’ve used and quoted Mary Campbell before. She is known as a music reporter for the Associated Press. Campbell had transferred to the AP headquarters in New York in […]
Born Day: Ron Carter – The Early Years
For Maestro Carter’s birthday this year, I have an April 1964 article written by Don Heckman and published in Down Beat magazine’s April 9th, 1964 issue. Heckman was a longtime Down Beat contributor and Los Angeles Times jazz critic. Mr. Carter is more than generous with his time; he regularly holds Zoom calls that Reddit users would know as AMAs […]
Kathy McCord
The beloved 1970 album by Kathy McCord is seeing renewed interest with recent CD and vinyl reissues by King Records and BGP/Ace Records. Priced affordably, these releases promise to capture the charm of the original, inviting fans new and old to experience McCord’s enchanting sound.
King Records: CTI Alltime Collection
Doug Payne got in touch to point out that many of these series releases can be purchased through Dusty Groove in Chicago. [1]A link to some of the available releases https://www.dustygroove.com/item/201559/Jim-Hall:Concierto?cat=jazz [2]This is a short video about the store https://vimeo.com/333772940 Re-issues of CTI and KUDU albums come and go every decade and a few in between, often only on specialist […]
JATMH by CTI-successor to JATP?
The article by Bernard Lairet reflects on a 1972 CTI All-Stars concerty. Lairet compares them to Norman Granz’s Jazz At The Philharmonic, emphasizing their success and influence in jazz. The upcoming Winter Jazz Concert aims to promote CTI Records, showcasing talents like Freddie Hubbard and Hubert Laws. With ticket prices ranging from $4.50 to $6.50, the concert promises an exciting gathering of notable musicians.
On This Day – Red Clay – 55 Years ago
This post is a minor update of one written in 2020 to celebrate the 50th anniversary. Including below is a link to all the major streaming services version of “Red Clay”. On this day in 1970, a group of preeminent jazz musicians and a young drummer assembled at Rudy Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, to record what […]
On This Day: Sold Not Sold!
On November 4th, 1985, an auction to sell CTI’s master tapes was scheduled. CBS Records initially forced the sale to recover a debt but opted to reissue the recordings on CDs instead, generating significant revenue. Subsequently, Creed Taylor, Inc. filed lawsuits alleging CBS sabotaged them, but these claims were rejected. Today, Sony owns most CTI masters after acquiring CBS Records. The story of how that went down…
Chet ‘live in ’75
I was prompted to write this post after Doug Payne wrote about the Creed Taylor produced, Chet Baker, comeback album. It’s such an interesting review I wanted to make sure you’d seen it. Chet Baker first entered the popular zeitgeist in 1952 for a trumpet solo on a Gerry Mulligan recording of “My Funny Valentine”. Some 20-years later, Baker would […]
On This Day: “If Jazz Is Dead…”
A while back I received a question from a reader that asked – Listening to the “Live at the Hollywood Bowl” CTI Summer Jazz series and I’m curious who the man is at the beginning who says “If jazz is dead, this is the biggest funeral I have ever seen.”
I had meant to answer it straight away, since I knew it was jazz journalist, musician Leonard Feather, especially since his name appears on the credits, printed top left on the inside left of the gatefold sleeve. This was complicated only by the fact that the credits list two “M.C. ‘s” and include Rick Holmes as well. I knew I’d read a good review of the concert that included that opening…