David Sutter’s authorized biography of Creed Taylor is now available for pre-order, set for release on October 29, 2026. The book details Taylor’s influential role in jazz history, drawing on extensive research and interviews. Pre-orders are available in multiple countries, with formats including hardback, eBook, and audiobook.
The Untold Story of CTI Summer Jazz Albums – 1972
The Curious Case of “CTI Summer Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl” – Doug tackles the details, many you won’t know, we have a track by track playlist from the All-Stars live also 1972.
Seen Online: The CTI Lighter
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.
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.
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: 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…
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…
On This Day: CTI Chart Takeover
In 1973, Creed Taylor, Inc. dominated the Jazz charts with multiple albums, including Deodato’s “Prelude” and Grover Washington Jr.’s “Soul Box.” Jazz sales surged, influenced by CTI’s success. Prominent events included Ron Carter’s West Coast concerts and the release of notable albums like Esther Phillips’ “Black-Eyed Blues.” John Rosica assumed full marketing responsibilities at CTI.
The Other MJQ Conquers Japan: David Matthews
David Matthews, a prolific New York pianist and arranger, found unexpected success with his Manhattan Jazz Quintet in Japan. Originating from a desire to refresh the jazz scene, the band’s traditional jazz approach captivated Japanese audiences, earning several awards despite never performing in the U.S. Matthews continues his multifaceted career.
Creed Taylor in 1979
Today marks what would have been the 95th birthday of Creed Taylor, a producer celebrated for his subtle yet impactful influence in the jazz music industry. Despite facing significant challenges, including CTI’s bankruptcy in 1978, Taylor’s dedication to crossover music has left a lasting legacy, exemplified by his nurturing of artists like Wes Montgomery. His approach, blending commercial elements with jazz, aimed to broaden the genre’s appeal without compromising its essence, a reflection of his deep commitment to both the art and its artists.
The 2024 Reissue List
The post discusses various 2024 vinyl reissues of Creed Taylor productions, spotlighting artists like Idris Muhammad, Nina Simone, and Stan Getz among others. Each entry details the vinyl quality, special editions, and availability across different regions, with mentions of both European and U.S. sources. The author, not owning most releases, encourages reader input to keep the music legacy alive. Links to past posts on older reissues are provided for readers seeking more information.
Grover Washington, Jr – Kudu Live!
In April 1973, Grover Washington Jr. was preparing for the big stage at the 20th Newport Jazz Festival with performances at Boston’s Jazz Workshop. This live broadcast set includes early collaboration with bassist Charles Fambrough. Washington, a soul-jazz pioneer, filled in for Hank Crawford on “Inner City Blues” and had just recorded “Soul Box” featuring top jazz musicians. The album’s release coincided with the Newport Festival. Following the festival, he continued to perform, including a notable CTI All-Stars concert in Boston.
Remembering Esther Phillips
December 23rd marks the anniversary of Esther Phillips born day, Esther was born on this day in 1935. She’d have been 88-years old this year, but sadly died just 48-years old, in 1984. I was able to talk to Tim Hinkley earlier in 2023. Tim, a fellow ex-pat Brit’ had some great memories of working with Esther on her 1973 […]
Body Music Longmont – Mix + setlist
I had a great time Saturday May 20th doing my third ever DJ/Selector set playing exclusively CTI / KUDU tracks on vinyl. I made a number of changes from the first two sets, in total now I have a potential pick list of 54-tracks. Thanks to Body Music Longmont, Absolute Vinyl & Disco Witch for giving me a chance to […]
Remembering Creed Taylor On His Born Day
It’s late on May13th, 2023. I didn’t want today to pass without remembering Creed Taylor on the anniversary of his birth in 1929. The feedback, comments and subscriptions to this website from social media have far exceeded the original number I thought might be interested in Creed Taylor’s work. More than 2,000 receive notifications and emails for each post. I’m […]