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JULY
2010
Sunset signs
production and distribution deal with Memphis based
booker and live music promoter, Papa G. Records.
Memphis based record label, promoter, booker and
Production Company, Maverick Group Marketing Inc. (MGM)
/ Papa G. Records and Sunset Records / Sunset
Distribution Company have announced today an exclusive
worldwide distribution deal through Sunset Records /
Sunset Distribution Company. The multi year contract and
joint venture between the Memphis based multi-media
record company Papa G. Records and with the New York &
New Jersey based Sunset Records & Sunset Distribution
Company is a deal that will bring current artists like
Crushing Juliet and Chosen View to Sunset from the Papa
G. label/company.
Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset says that “Papa G.
himself (John Garrison) is one of the top A&R people in
the world, and my plan is to allow him and his staff to
go off to sign any artists he works personally in the
Memphis areas,” and “because he books and promotes one
of the best halls (The Minglewood) in one of the best
music areas in the world (on Beale Street in Memphis,
Tennessee), I look forward to having him deliver new
music to Sunset for many years.” (Don) Lichterman also
says that “he (Papa G.) Is on the pulse of picking up on
new trends in music” and that Papa G. is also “on the
pulse of hearing new bands that play live at the Memphis
venues he books live shows.” Lichterman goes on to say
that he is “thrilled to work with Papa G. as a great
extension to my company,” let alone “watching him do his
A&R for Sunset because he has brought me to hear some of
the best arrays of music collectively, that I have heard
in one sitting in many years.”
The new production and distribution deal will continue to
develop, license, and release recorded music and any
entertainment related product the Memphis based company
(Papa G. Records) delivers to Sunset in any genre and/or
in any format. Aside from the initial releases of the
alternative rock bands, CHOSEN VIEW (The Common Thread
is due in stores: September 21, 2010) and CRUSHING
JULIET (Broken Cadillac is due in stores: September 21,
2010) that are being released through the Sunset Record
label, Papa G. Records plans to deliver bands in a
variety of genres including Blues, Americana, Art Rock,
R&B/Soul, Rock N’ Roll, and World music. The first
projects through the new Papa G. / Sunset deal is slated
for Fall release in 2010 with two new albums, The Common
Thread (In Stores 9/21/2010) which is a brand new album
from the alternative rock band by CHOSEN VIEW (Sunset
Records) and the Broken Cadillac (In Stores 9/14/2010)
alternative album by pop rock act, CRUSHING JULIET
(Sunset Connect). "Both of these artists are an enormous
talent with key songs for radio so I want them out by
the end of September this year,” (Don) Lichterman says
about the first two Papa G. titles being released in the
Sunset Distribution system, “we (Sunset) are extremely
psyched to be able to bring his (Papa G.) music, his
bands and his sense of direction with music he works to
the next obvious level in this industry, I also want to
get his music and bands out to more of a mainstream and
global audience." The alternative sub modern rock song,
“Under The Swell” by the Chosen View’s The Common Thread
CD has already begun to impact radio in the US and radio
overseas in Italy, and the UK and “Here Today, Gone
Tomorrow” on the Broken Cadillac CD have already been
placed through two license (to be announced this month)
deals both in the United States and in Italy.
MAY 2010
I f
you could look deep within the soul of Vermont jazz
pianist Anthony Geraci, you would be able to envision to
what is laid down on his brand new jazz CD, The Gift.
Sunset Jazz sets up ?The Gift? for its worldwide release
by the legendary jazz pianist, Anthony Geraci.
There is a wonderfully classic feel about Anthony
Geraci?s s piano playing. His profuse ability to create
a traditional, classic and legendary sounding CD of
music is a throw back to the earlier eras of jazz music.
The full length CD, The Gift is set up for a June 8,
2010 release day. Aside from the jazz styled arrangement
of the Green Day song, ?Wake Me Up Before September
Ends, Geraci includes his own compositions on the (9)
nine songs compact disc set.
The first song is entitled ?Alyakim? and is a classic
ballad with major influences from old school jazz
artists. Flakey Foont, his composition with incredible
piano and organ work. This song is fittingly the next
(second) song on the record and is a great
representation of Anthony Geraci at his best. You can
the great influences of the best players and the likes
of Bill Evans, Gene Harris and Bud Powell, all the while
developing his own legendary sound. On this disc as a
solo artist, The Gift takes jazz fans back to hearing
that a renewed sense of melody to what are classic
tunes. The third song and eighth song on The Gift CD are
two of three songs (Alyakim) named after his (Anthony
Geraci?s) children, Jason? Lament and Toddicus Rex
envoking what was described to ?reveal new wonders? in
the liner notes written up by Michael ?Mudcat? Ward.
?The Gift? is/was intended to be a classic jazz sounding
album, and executive producer and Sunset Jazz label
head, Don Lichterman accepted the delivered album
without any technical overdubs, splicing and without
major editing. The end result is a full length CD of
traditional jazz styled songs with great melodies,
beautiful chordal structures and a classic jazz sound.
?This is one of the best albums I have heard in a long
time,? (Don) Lichterman said about the Gift? CD, and
that ?it is where I want the jazz (Sunset Jazz) label
today.?
(Anthony) Geraci can be heard on classic jazz works and
has played with legendary music artists like Chuck
Berry, Otis Rush, B. B. King, Muddy Waters, James
Cotton, Charles Musselwhite, and Ronnie Earl and is one
of the founding members of the classic band, Sugar Ray
Bluetones. Geraci had been nominated on two separate
occasions for the 2008 W.C. Handy Awards and was a
Grammy Nominee in 2000. Lichterman goes on to say that
he wants to ?create a prestigious label with Sunset Jazz
and the significance of Anthony?s (Geraci) influences in
the jazz community will be heard on the new album (The
Gift).? ?Geraci?s style of playing characterizes what
the popular jazz culture has grown over decades and to
this day, says (Don) LIchterman.
Geraci seems to also be a fine artist on his own. His
new album, ?The Gift.? is impressive modern day albums
that no doubt a timeless jazz album. The CD shows that
Anthony Geraci top pianists and arrangers on the jazz
scene. This CD presents the best opportunity for jazz
aficionados to become very familiar with the jazz styled
pianist. What is most impressive for jazz, Geraci?s use
of his piano, creating what sound like old-time jazz
classics. His obvious influences with Art Tatum and
other pianists of that early era, is easy to see on
songs like Neda and Provence, and you can also look for
other inspiring feelings such tunes as ?I Can?t Go Back
To You.? And, rounding off the nine (9) song CD set is
the third song, ?You Don't Know What Love Is,? another
times jazz ballad.
Anthony Geraci is fast becoming a fixture in the global
jazz scene playing countries like The Netherlands this
week, and playing jazz festivals around the United
States starting in June (Nebraska). Whether it?s
creating its own interpretations and arrangements of
modern rock tunes, like Green Days ?Wake Me Up Before
September Ends,? let alone his own composed material, e
is indeed a master at his craft. And, while he?s
(Geraci) performed on many albums, ?The Gift? is the
first full length recording released to a worldwide
target audience by a major Indy label (Sunset Jazz
Recordings), its great to hear the featured Geraci
exclusively in this solo context. (Don) Lichterman goes
on to say that ?it?s a mesmerizing album of music with
the kind of playing that?s impressive for jazz
aficionados and it?s an accessible album for all
newcomer?s that are just getting into jazz music.?
MARCH
2010
Indie Record
Label to open Merchandise Company this week offering
officially licensed product and band merchandise with
both new and established artists.
Online
Retail Company, Sunset Vending is being launched this
week by founder Don Lichterman.
New online
music merchandise retailer Sunset Vending
(www.Sunset-Vending.com) is being launched by Sunset
Records founder Don Lichterman. The new online merch
company is designed to accompany products made for his
new music artists signed to the Sunset labels, with
legendary branded music artists like The Beatles, The
Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Jimi
Hendrix and AC/DC. Sunset Vending has also signed
specific license deals to resell and offer popular
branded items by iconic organizations and estates like
Sesame Street, Star Trek, Marylyn Monroe, Star Wars,
John Wayne, Betty Boop, DC Comics (Batman, Superman,
Wonder Woman), Looney Tunes (Taz, Bugs Bunny, Tweeter
and Sylvester), Snoopy and the Peanuts gang along with
many more official licensed deals that are currently in
place. And along with many new license deals that are
coming to the company.
Sunset
Vending will set up its artists from its indie labels
with specific popular merchandise items that bands will
be able to sell online at Sunset Vending, at their own
websites, at the labels web sites, at Amazon?s store
along with being able to sell these products at their
live shows. Sunset distributes (Sunset Distribution
Company) an array of established and brand new acts like
Sekshun 8, Gina Thompson, Federal Moguls (QBall from
Bloodhound Gang), Anthony Geraci, TenPenny Joke, Down
From Zero, Capt. Crunk, Original Black Pantah, I Kong
along with Mark Simmons, Deon Cole, Kevin Hart and other
live recordings from shows at the Laff House Comedy
Club. ?I am in hope that the Sunset Vending Company will
give us the ability to showcase some cool band
merchandise," says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset
Vending, ?and that has already begun to pay off because
even just yesterday; I picked up a unique product line
hand made by a fan of the band Sekshun 8.?
(Don) Lichterman then says, that
he ?implemented the merch company?s business plan in the
same exact way that I started my other companies at
Sunset, which is to accompany my new signings with
established, branded and legendary music artists.?
Sunset Vending plans to allow bands to get their
merchandise into dedicated fans hands without having to
buy them at shows and Sunset Vending will also be
selling official licensed products by popular music
artists.
Sunset
Jazz signs one of the top jazz artists in music
history to a multi album recording deal.
Anthony
Geraci, whose career spanned more than two decades,
is now considered to be one of the most highly
regarded innovators in jazz, signed a brand new
recording deal this week, with Sunset Jazz.
There is
always a great distinction coupled with a deep
rooted sophistication when you hear Anthony Geraci
play his exceptional jazz style of music. Sunset
Jazz Recordings signs the prestigious artist to
release a brand new CD entitled The Gift. ?I could
not wait to announce this deal,? says Don
Lichterman, the head of Sunset Jazz, ?this is
exactly how I want the jazz label at Sunset to grow
its repertoire and Anthony?s new CD is by far one if
the best jazz CDs I have heard in years.?
(Anthony) Geraci can be heard on such classic
musical works and has played live with legendary
artists like Chuck Berry, Otis Rush, B. B. King,
Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Charles Musselwhite, and
Ronnie Earl and is one of the founding members of
the classic band, Sugar Ray Bluetones. Geraci had
been nominated on two separate occasions for the
2008 W.C. Handy Awards and was a Grammy Nominee in
2000. Lichterman goes on to say that he wants to
?create a prestigious label with Sunset Jazz and the
significance of Anthony?s (Geraci) influences in the
jazz community will be heard on the new album (The
Gift).? ?Geraci?s style of playing characterizes
what the popular jazz culture has grown over decades
and to this day, says (Don) LIchterman.
The jazz
label (Sunset Jazz) plans to release the newly
recorded Geraci CD (The Gift) before summer this
year.
JANUARY
2010
Sunset Live
(www.Sunset-Live.com) is honored to join OurStage, MTV
Networks and their partners to bring our community live
streaming coverage of ?Hope for Haiti?.
The live
concert downloads will also be available at iTunes after
the show ends tonight. The Hope For Haiti Concert
features live performances by Wyclef Jean, George
Clooney and CNN?s Anderson Cooper will host the two-hour
global telethon airing Friday, January 22 at 8 p.m.
ET/PT. And, the celebrities also scheduled to appear in
support of relief efforts include Bruce Springsteen,
Sting, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Shakira, Stevie
Wonder, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews,
John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Sheryl
Crow, Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Coldplay, Bono, The Edge,
Jay-Z, Beyonce, Rihanna...Go To Sunset-Live.com to see
the show!
DECEMBER
2009
Sunset moves its record label web sites
to the Secure Green Web Hosting Platform and Web Servers
Powered By Wind and Solar Energy
Sunset Records moved over 60 web sites
last week to its new web servers powered by wind
technology and solar energy
Sunset, the ?greenest? record company in
the world, takes its environmental campaigns to another
level by using Wind Powered Technologies' and Solar
Powered energies? to provide its? Web application
security, Storage for its web servers along with its PCI
compliance for its record label and artist hosted web
sites. Sunset will continue to provide the current and
the future artists signed to the label, their own
private portals providing security, SQL relational
databases and a Cross Platform Site Script. In addition,
Sunset now has their servers at their specific
co-location with dedicated hosting for its label web
sites and artists web sites.
Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset say
that "After using a few solutions over the last three
years, and considering my vision for my online
infrastructure at Sunset, dealing with this transition
now was an easy decision to make this month.? (Don)
Lichterman goes onto say that ?moving our content to our
new servers is not only the first step in becoming
environmentally sound at work, it is also long overdue
for us to be using
an environmentally conscious, carbon
neutral online business model,? and ?it starts with how
we house our content on its servers.? Lichterman also
feels that in doing this now at Sunset, ?we will always
be able to cater to
our growing company and this is just more
incentive and added value that our staff and artists get
when you work at the world's greenest record label".
Sunset is also known for starting one of
the most comprehensive and critically acclaimed digital
only record labels this last year with Sunset Connect
(www.SunsetConnect.com). "(Sunset) Connect became very
well known this year and the press has been over the top
great for us gaining the recognition after starting a
label like Sunset Connect this year,? says Lichterman,
and ?now, there is zero hypocrisy which is why I felt so
good after making that change this month.? Sunset will
also provide their staffers, labels and artists even
more secure and even more compliant to the digital
millennium Acts and ?without a huge investment in
resources and/or man hours,? and Lichterman ends the
conversation saying that ?I am so happy to have this
added value implemented to our online solution."
Sunset
is one of the forefront runners and one
of the most innovative record labels in the world. The
company?s web site infrastructure is powered with 100%
renewable wind and solar energy (90% wind, 10% solar)
rendering its servers and business operations carbon
neutral. Don Lichterman and his Sunset record Labels
take practicing social responsibility and its overall
Green Movement on its daily business operations, to
another level this month.
OCTOBER 2009
Celebrate the Holidays with Don Ward live
at the Clef Club Performing Arts Theatre in Philadelphia
on December 16th!
The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and
Performing Arts Theatre invites families, friends and
fans of jazz music to visit the theatre this holiday
season with a very special live performance by Sunset
Jazz recording artist, Don Ward.
The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and
Performing Arts Theatre is offering a variety of holiday
shows that will no doubt appeal to people of all ages
and to fans of jazz music. Don Lichterman, the head of
Sunset Jazz says, ?this is a great chance to enjoy this
magical time of the year and there is no better suited
artist for this prestigious venue than Don Ward.? The
performing arts center is one of the first facilities in
the nation constructed specifically as a jazz
institution and for jazz music. It strives to preserve
and promote jazz music through performance, education
and cultural services. The Clef Club of Jazz is a
nonprofit organization located on the Avenue of the
Arts, right at Broad Street and Fitzwater Street., in
Philadelphia, PA. The Club introduces audiences of all
ages to jazz through concerts and superior jazz
instruction at this very special facility.
Along with the December 16th Don Ward
live concert, the Philadelphia Clef Club presents the
Christmas JAZZ Celebration with the Bread of Life JAZZ
Ensemble featuring guest vocalists, Shannon Brown,
Willie Marshall & One Accord. Also performing is the
?Praise Dancer? Zola Edmonds-McLaurin and the night is a
Ray Wright/Mike Blackwell Production (Tickets: $10.00).
And, the performing arts center in Philadelphia is also
set to host the
Soul Sounds 1st Annual Toy Drive to
Benefit the National Comprehensive Center for Fathers on
December 18th and 19th and the
Art's on South Presents A Holiday JAZZ
Concert Featuring, Derrick Gardner & The JAZZ Prophets M
C. Jeff Duperon from WRTI.
Don Ward is set to perform songs from his
debut CD, Dreaming (Sunset Jazz) and the show will be
made available for sale as a ?live download? through
Sunset Live and Sunset Jazz. (Don) Lichterman says, that
he ?will also release the live show to the top retail
outlets like iTunes, REAL, Napster and every store that
sells music the digital way,? and he continues to say
that the live show from the Clef Club Performing Arts
center will be distributed via the ?Universal Republic
Digital distribution system.? The 7:30pm performance is
prmoted by J Zone Entertainment. Tickets to see the
Wednesday night show are $12 and tickets to this very
special live performances can be purchased at the Clef
Club Box Office (215) 893-9912. All information about
Don Ward can be found at his Sunset Jazz artist page
(www.DonWard.Sunset-Jazz.com).
OCTOBER 2009
Sunset Records Strikes Deal to Integrate
its Mobile Content with Vio Mobile
Agreement Will Enable Vio Mobile Users
and Vio Distribution Partners to Seamlessly Release
Sunset Records Contextually Relevant Ringtones
at Hundreds of Retailers and Mobile Carriers All Over
The World!
Sunset Records announced today it has
signed an agreement with Vio Mobile, one of the
industry?s leaders in mobile distribution, to provide
mobile ringtones across several mobile retail channels,
with hundreds of mobile carriers in territories all over
the world.
Under this newly signed mobile
distribution agreement, Sunset Records ringtones will be
integrated into the Vio Mobile distribution network,
enabling millions of users globally to effortlessly
discover Sunset?s mobile content. Vio Mobile is also
integrating its distributed ringtone catalog with the
popular electronics company, Acer, for branded purchases
so buyers of the new Acer MP3 Player, can discover its
music on the new Acer media player. Sunset Records will
also ensure that its links to the Vio Mobile website are
set up integrated on every artist page. The Sunset
artist pages are set up that when fans click through the
links off their artist pages, they will be offered
ringtones, playback tunes, wallpaper graphics and all
relevant mobile content.
?The Sunset Records partnership with Vio
Mobile emphasizes our continued expansion to get our
music placed in every worldwide distribution channel and
then also highlights how we can integrate our content
with ease,? says Don Lichterman, the Head of Sunset
Records. ?I was impressed right away with what Ivan
(Woodson) has built at his company,? says Lichterman
about this deal and that he is ?confident that Vio
Mobile partners and its users will be able to find our
mobile content in every network and all over the world.?
With this deal in place today, Sunset
will have its catalog of recorded music available
through the Vio Mobile network of over TWO HUNDRED (200)
mobile carriers around the world.
SEPTEMBER
2009
International music artists, LR-60 & Mr. Moods get ready
to release its Ultraviolence CD with Sunset Jazz
Recordings in November this year.
Sunset Jazz gets ready to release
Ultraviolence by the top downtempo, acid jazz artist in
the world, LR-60 & Mr. Moods in November.
From 4th Street to Waterloo
Park to the state Capitol building, Austin, Texas is a
city that is filled with right wing lobbyists, a major
University that in most part follows left wing partisan
politics, and is known a place to find roots music
artists and a music scene with a ton of down home rock n
roll. However, Austin has also become one of the best
music scenes in America becoming one of the more
important musical places to now discover many other
styles of music, partly due to the rise in popularity to
the downtempo acid jazz music duo, LR-60 & Mr. Moods and
their Sunset Jazz record label.
LR-60 & Mr. Moods is not so much an acid jazz music
group as it is the brilliant project between the man
known as Skip Warren (LR-60) and Christian Denis (Mr.
Moods). The duo manifested itself in 2008 with its
acclaimed release of the ?Coldest Memories? CD, and now,
the group will shape and grow this style of deep and
thoughtful downtempo dance and club music with a new CD
being released with Sunset Jazz Recordings. Don
Lichterman, the head of Sunset Jazz says that the duo
are ?great innovators in this format and with a music
style known as downtempo acid jazz,? The band certainly
knows how to infuse many styles and many accessible
monikers picking up right where they left off after
releasing their debut album, Coldest Memories
worldwide with Sunset Jazz this year. ?These guys were
some of our best successes at radio this year and not
only did they get play in every region in America, let
alone in areas around the world, we had 5 songs being
played at one time all over America,? says Lichterman.
This incredible duo certainly did not invent the
downtempo and acid jazz styles and genres of music;
however, it is easy to see that they will indeed help
this format grow to a more mainstream listener.
Lichterman says that ?not only do we have many of their
songs played at radio all year; these guys get played in
every format.? LR-60 & Mr. Moods saw radio play in
formats like jazz and in the club scene; the tandem has
songs being played at AAA, AC, HOT AC and at mainstream
college radio formats which is the pleasant surprise the
label head (Don Lichterman) saw this year.
Ultraviolence (due to hit stores on
November 17) is the next full length CD by LR-60 & Mr.
Moods showing off their gripping mellow dance music
style perfect for the likes of the UK. ?The club kids
listen to this style of music after partying hard all
night,? says Lichterman and it is no wonder why they can
be heard at sunrise as club goers come down from their
ecstasy-driven intense nights after dancing at clubs in
popular party cities in America let alone in worldwide
markets like Cannes and Ibiza. ?I knew it (the music on
the CD) worked when I heard it last year and what I also
noticed the most was the level of production on that CD.
The production was perfect on every song from beginning
to end on that Coldest Memories CD,? says (Don)
Licherman. ?And, so now they have carte blanche to
release more music and I welcome anything these guys are
willing to put out on CD,? Lichterman says about the
brand new Ultraviolence CD.
LR-60& Mr. Moods does make downtempo dance music that is
highly accessible to every listener and is, in fact, not
just club styled dance music. The duo's overall sound is
an intense and rhythmic combination of acid jazz, dub,
drum n bass, chill, ambient, house, club, lounge, and
what is loosely lumped into the "jazz"
format/style/genre of music. LR-60 & Mr. Moods evolution
is known in the acid jazz music scene with each of its
first two albums showing a huge amount of musical
talent. And, this newest album entitled Ultraviolence,
they picked up where it left off with Coldest Memories,
because both CDs are not only accessible for many types
of listeners, both CDs also show these artists will
always stay true to their downtempo style of music which
they are helping build in that community.
Once again, Ultraviolence has its afrobeat styling,
coupled with that downtempo beat and they have since
produced even more of an accessible overall sound in
this CD. There are also obvious signs of the duo showing
its influences outside of that acid jazz world. Along
with hearing elements of artists like Ennio Morricone
and the Thievery Corporation, if you take away her
(Morcheeba) vocals, this duo is almost reminiscent of
early Morcheeba. LR-60 & Mr. Moods are clearly poised to
become major players in the International music scene,
and they also seem to continue to crossover its overall
sound to that mainstream music scene for many years.
JULY
2009
Don Ward Plays with Cameo and Pieces of a
dream on saturday, august 1 in chester, pa!
Sunset Jazz and Don Ward play to
thousands of people in Chester, PA this week with legend
bands, Pieces of Dream and Cameo.
MAY
2009
Don Ward Plays Two Very Special Live
Shows at the beautiful Walt Whitman Arts Center Theatre
this weekend June 5th & 6th!
Sunset Jazz recording artist continues to
support his brand new acclaimed, Dreaming CD by playing
two very special shows at the world renowned theatre in
the new entertainment areas in Camden, New Jersey. Ward
will play his contemporary style of smooth jazz at the
world famous Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center in
Camden, New Jersey on Friday June 5th and on Saturday
June 6th.
These very special nights will be filled
with live smooth jazz music with Don Ward. He will
continue to showcase live, his songs from his brand new
full length CD ?Dreaming? released on Sunset Jazz. The
top selling jazz CD is produced by Rod Millwood (Gina
Thompson, Kevin Hart, Mykal Rose) and this 12 song CD is
the incredible debut by the first artist signed through
the Sunset Jazz record company. Sunset Jazz is the newly
created Don Lichterman record label at Sunset Records.
And, the two special shows this week are
a part of the Live! At The Walt ?Jazz and Java? series
playing live in concert at the beautiful Walt Whitman
Arts Center Theatre located in the middle of
entertainment district in Camden, New Jersey. Adjacent
to the Susquehanna Performing Arts center, the Walt
Whitman Theatre is the host to a variety of world-class
performers. Let alone the booking throughout the summer
and at the music series. Both shows begin at 8PM. The
tickets for both of these live concerts are $15 and are
now available at the Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Theatre
Box office. You can reserve your tickets online through
the theatre web site.
Sunset Jazz, founded in 2008, is the
Sunset Records jazz label that opened its doors last
year by distributing its licensed product. All Sunset
Jazz artists are distributed all over the world through
the Sunset records label system.
For all information about the label, its
artists and current releases that are currently in
stores, along with artist interviews with Don Ward,
please contact Don Lichterman at the Sunset Jazz offices
in New York City.
APRIL
2009
LR-60 & Mr. Moods releases its Coldest Memories CD
worldwide with Sunset Jazz.
Sunset Jazz releases one of the finest Acid Jazz CDs
with LR-60 & Mr. Moods on May 5th.
The 12 trip-hop cuts on the 2008 originally self
released ?Coldest Memories? CD is atmospheric with
accessible hooks throughout the entire CD. One half of
the Texas based tandem LR-60 (Skip Warren) has teamed up
with Mr. Moods (Christian Denis) are currently teaming
up producing even more brand new songs for a new album,
Ultraviolence, a new album slated to be released at
Sunset Jazz later on this year. The label has begun to
work the first single ?Mirage,? a smooth and chill jazz
song with a feel for the future trends in composition
writing, to college radio, clubs and specialty jazz
radio format stations. The mesmerizing down tempo groove
is a melting pot of mood, great texture, dense
composition and a fusion of jazz and electronic music.
LR-60 (Warren) again ventures out from his own music on
this exploratory blend of techno, house pop, funk and
acid jazz with none other than Mr. Moods (Denis). LR-60
& Mr. Moods takes you deep into the head of these two
fine musicians showing off heavy bass lines and
hallucinogenic horn playing, ?Coldest Memories? is a
captivating post-modern jazz, trip-hop, dub, chill out
of a CD. LR-60 plays his trumpet with an obvious new
sound collaborating with the electronic artist Christian
Denis ? o.k. Mr. Moods. What you hear now is a shared
sense of having the same musical goals and tastes
towards all future trends in music. The full
length CD is an amazing experimental edgy album of
music. Another great song on the CD is DeCollage,
an old world charmed melody with a percussive
back beat. Track number three, Hal & Dave is an
exciting track that makes you want tap your feet; Track
four, Word Problem has a reverberating vibe and a sharp
beat makes it accessible for the deep listener. Song
six, Groove Modulation shows off a perfect techno
sound with an elegant rolling melody playing side by
side with the perfect electronic beat. The blend of
jazz, blues and elctronica is a middle eastern sound
fused together by these two artists.
?Things have already paid off for Skip?s (LR-60) newest
project,? says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Jazz.
LR-60 has its music on the CNN Network this year the
National Geographic Channel has licensed a few tunes
from this Coldest Memories CD. Songs From this CD are
being played globally on over 60 FM radio stations,
internet radio stations and currently, the single is in
rotation at the Sirius XM Chill station & the Musical
Starstreams stations.
This CD is very much a mind altering and exciting CD.
This CD is for all acid jazz fans, lovers and
aficionados and/or other forms of extreme trip hop down
tempo music. This is great for the listener that wants a
brand new experience with music; LR-60 & Mr. Moods are
the wave of the future in music!
MARCH 2009
Don Ward releases his debut full length
?Dreaming? CD through Sunset Jazz Recordings on April 28th.
Smooth jazz saxophonist Don Ward?s debut
release Dreaming is a ten song delightful
symphonic jazz masterpiece with melodic grooves
interweave a blend of keyboard with constant bass beats.
His jazz-mood style of playing is similar to John
Coltrane and Miles Davis with magic carpet rides made up
of upbeat grooves of saxophone escalates smoothly
throughout the underlying support of drums. The
harmonious expressions have a pleasing flow that blends
sweet sounds with sonic perfection making for an amazing
magic carpet ride from song to song along with
quintessential festive jazz drive.
Produced, recorded and mixed by Rod
Millwood, Dreaming features ten songs making up
one of the top jazz records of the year. As an acclaimed
producer and composer for many popular music artists
today (Gina Thompson, Mykal Rose, L. Myers, Kevin Hart,
more), his latest production with Ward is proving to
develop yet another acclaimed solo artist with smooth
jazz over tones for his fans to admire. Don Lichterman,
the head of Sunset Jazz Recordings says he is still
looking to sign more ?jazz styled artists? this year at
the jazz record label. The brand new upstart jazz label
started last year by Lichterman (Don) has two releases
coming out this 2nd quarter in 2009 (LR-60 &
Mr. Moods release their Acid Jazz Trip Hop Coldest
Memories? CD on May 5th).
Ward begins with an upbeat predisposed
syncopation on ?Black Diamond? honing in on an old
school night club feel with great saxophone expressions
and joyful grooves. The CD proceeds with the track ?Loves
Amazing,?
which ignites foot stomping beats and funky horn grooves
along suave movements that show off excellent
transitional chord changes with a seamless pace
throughout the next few songs. ?Ride? then shows
us a smooth jazz melodic side of the jazz aficionado
while the upbeat funky rhythms off the song named for
the album title, ?Dreaming? is an easy jazz allurement
as far as accessibility.
The overtones of ?Tribute To Grover? are
a perfect fusion of horns and keyboards enticing some
vocals reciting the name of the song. Contrasting
the activity of ?Midnight Hazel? is the melodic ballad
although all the songs have a sense of melody. ?On The
Come Up? rounds of the full length CD with a soft and
flowy momentum led by incredible sax playing. The
flamboyant sax camber of the Dreaming CD has a definite
jazz club feel with smooth moves mixed in with toe
tapping beats that ride into the relaxing grooves of a
great jazz album.
Ward?s tribute if you will, to the legend
Grover Washington Jr. ?Tribute To Grover? is an elegant
with graceful sax based song representing long grooves
and a wonderful ride. Ward has an amazing offering
with this debut CD release showing off his jazz
overtones and elegance of the chord movements in every
song. All songs are original with upbeat funky
hooks, energetic horn action and soaring grooves that
bring in any jazz listener into its festive world. Ward
also uniquely presents a new vision in jazz by adding in
comfortable vocals on a few tracks that blend in every
so subtly, like on ?Dreaming,?? which is not only a
shroud in delicately enthused sax playing rising and
falling at a relaxed yet upbeat pace. His
compositions are a mouthwatering combo of a flowing horn
and bass riff coordinated by Ward and Millwood. The
album epitomizes smooth jazz with soothing ballads and
magic carpet rides making up beautiful melodies
throughout every song and the title track ?Dreaming?
with its deliberate style of horn playing into an
ultimate CD.
Don Ward?s debut album Dreaming
embraces the idealistic warmth of smooth jazz and brings
the listener into a satisfying sense of style. This CD
makes an easy introduction into the smooth jazz format
at its finest and shows an attraction for its inherent
splendor. Ward is the type of music artist that that is
not only perfect for ?chilling out,? seeing Ward live is
toe tapping experience. For the listener, this is a
record that is so accessible that you will want to
listen to it over and over many times. The CD is
available at every retail outlet around the world,
including Borders, Amazon, Target, CD Universe and every
retailer that sells downloads, streams and ringtones
(iTunes, Real/Rhapsody, eMusic, Napster, Verizon
Wireless, Myxer, etc.)
Tracks:
01 - Black Diamond (4:46)
02 - Loves Amazing (4:21)
03 - Midnight Hazel (4:05)
04 - Dreaming (3:27)
05 - Ride (3:49)
08 - Tribute To Grover (3:53)
09 - On The Come Up (4:22)
Record Label Website:
http://www.sunset-jazz.com
Artist's Website:
http://DonWard.Sunset-Jazz.com
Sunset Jazz, founded in 2008, is the
Sunset Records jazz label that opened its doors last
year by distributing its licensed product. All Sunset
Jazz artists are distributed all over the world through
the Sunset records label system and via CBuJ
Entertainment.
For all information about the label, its artists and
current releases that are currently in stores, along
with artist interviews with Don Ward, please contact Don
Lichterman at the Susnet Jazz offices in New York City.
Acid Jazz Duo Signs To Sunset Jazz
Recordings!
LR-60 is signed for a three-album deal;
brings his debut album with Mr. Moods to Sunset Jazz.
LR-60 & Mr. Moods are from in Texas and
have now become the Sunset Jazz first acid jazz signing
and what is the most innovative signing for the new jazz
related record label.
The men behind the music are Skip Warren (LR-60) and
Christian Denis (Mr. Moods). The acclaimed acid jazz act
has secured a potential three album with Sunset Jazz and
their debut album 'Coldest Memories' produced by the duo
themselves, is set to hit stores on May 5, 2009.
Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Jazz at Sunset
Records commented on the deal by saying "Signing these
guys is very important for the jazz label. They are some
of the most talented musicians for this unique style of
music. The label is determined to develop traditional
styled jazz artists like Don Ward. And, we also want to
work unique styles like acid jazz and trip hop music
within the jazz format."
LR-60 was first noticed after turning over the entire
self released debut album, ?Coldest memories? with the
Sunset A&R submittal tool. The acid jazz duo signed the
deal with Sunset to release the debut CD worldwide
through the Sunset Jazz record label. The A&R staff at
Sunset heard the entire CD one time which then lead to
the record deal for the Texas based band.
The full length album features the popular single,
Mirage? and will be made available at stores all over
the world on May 5th.
FEBRUARY
2009
The Founder of Sunset
Records Opens One of the World?s Most Extensive Animal
Friendly and Vegan Related Web Sites
Veg Hed opens its
online store providing products never used with animals
and strategic partners with activists that are against
all forms of animal cruelty.
A New Jersey based
organization with shared office space at Sunset in New
York City, Veg Hed is now the best resource for ?vegan?
product and related care products from top brands, and
is also set up as a very precise way to find out about
pivotal animal activist companies. The company also
extended its range of releasing music and video by
releasing organic and eco friendly related DVD titles.
Known for its quality of music and innovative record
label structure, Sunset is finding ways to use its
resources for various forms of activism and awareness.
Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset is also the founder
of the Sustainable Action Network and the Green Junkee
online retail store. Lichterman says, ?Veg Hed is an
extension within our office and we are doing a series of
special markets CDs with a concept of using only music
artists that eat veggie every day and artists that are
against animal cruelty. This is my way to fulfill my
larger dream of being able to do more for humans and
animals in this world. Having the ability to promote and
distribute products with top retail outlets like Amazon
and Target gives us an instant reach at 12% of the
online retail marketplace.?
Veg Hed not only will release its own product line, the
site brings together other vegan product lines and links
to vegan fashion stores. Veg Hed also has up to date
information with a few of the top animal activist
companies in the world. Without many great resources for
shopping for vegan items online, and to gain information
about vegetarian living and organizations that do
incredible things for wildlife, Veg Hed brings this
together on one web site.
Lichterman says, ?Unless you are looking for a specific
item that you use all the time, using products not
tested on animals and using products, let alone products
that have no animal product could be difficult to find
online and in stores. I am trying to find ways to make
this so easy for people to buy these types of products
all together in one order. I am also trying to use top
brands that manufacturer product without any animals.
And, I want to make sure people know they have easy
choices to buy every type of product that does not use
animals. This is more about awareness and reaching out
to a more mainstream consumer while explaining this to
them in a very easy way.?
Consumers are able to buy Sunset DVDs and Sunset CDs
that are related to wildlife as well as strategically
partnered companies with products that manufacturer
vegan styles clothing, cosmetics, and clothing along
with products from the PETA (People For The Ethical
Treatment Of Animals) Mall, the ASCAP store, the Sea
Sheperd online store and items from the North Shore
Animal League. The store is also affiliated with the Dr.
Foster and Smith Company to resell their product line.
FEBRUARY 2009
February 24,
2009 -
Don Ward makes a very special live
appearance to play his contemporary smooth
style of jazz early next month on March 6
and March 7.
Sunset Jazz recording artist is tapped to
play two shows playing his contemporary
style of smooth jazz at the world famous
Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center in Camden,
New Jersey on Friday March 6th and Saturday
March 7th.
These very special nights will be filled
with live smooth jazz music with Don Ward.
He will premier songs from his brand new
full length CD ?Dreaming? being released
with Sunset Jazz Recordings on April 7,
2009. Produced by Rod Millwood (Gina
Thompson, Kevin Hart, Mykal Rose), the 12
song CD is the incredible debut by the first
artist signed through the Sunset Jazz record
company. Sunset Jazz is the newly created
Don Lichterman record label at Sunset
Records.
These two very special shows are a part of
the Live! At The Walt ?Jazz and Java? series
playing live in concert at the beautiful
Walt Whitman Arts Center Theatre. The Walt
stage will be the platform for the theatre
to host a variety of world-class performers
in the music series. Don Ward brings his
legendary sax playinhg to the The Walt on
frioday March 6th and Saturday March 7th.
Both shows begin at 8PM. The tickets for
both of these live concerts are $15 and are
now available at the Walt Whitman Cultural
Arts Theatre Box office or you can reserve
your tickets online through the theatre web
site (www.WaltWhitmanCenter.org).
Sunset Jazz, founded in 2008, is the Sunset
Records jazz label that opened its doors
last year by distributing its licensed
product. All Sunset Jazz artists are
distributed all over the world through the
Sunset records label system and via CBuJ
Entertainment.
For all information about the label, its
artists and current releases that are
currently in stores, along with artist
interviews with Don Ward, please contact Don
Lichterman at the Sunset Jazz offices in New
York City.
JANUARY 2009
January 16, 2009 -
Don Ward Joins Sunset Jazz Recordings ? the
label is Dreaming about this next CD release!
New York based independent jazz record label, Sunset
Jazz recordings, announces the signing of their first
artist at the label, Philadelphia-based jazz artist, Don
Ward. The record deal sets up the release of his brand
new debut full length CD, Dreaming, with a street date
of February 17, 2009.
?We are obviously a very lucky label to have someone at
the level of Don ?Juan? (Ward) as the first artist
signed and first CD release,? says Don Lichterman,
founder and president of Sunset Jazz. ?This inaugural
album for the label beyond doubt validates the work of
Don Ward with a full album of stylish and expressive
arrangements on every song.? The new Lichterman jazz
record label has once again teamed up with Rod Millwood,
a Sunset Staff Music Producer (Gina Thompson, L. Myers,
Kevin Hart) and Laff House Comedy Club owner, to work
with Ward in the studio.
Saxophonist Don ?Juan? Ward is one of the leading sax
players in the world. His playing has been described as
a picture perfect blend of sound, and is one of the
premier signings in the jazz music world. The tandem is
currently putting the finial mixes down on the final 6
songs for the label. Sunset jazz aim is to build this
into a legendary jazz label with analogous love for
classic music styles of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and
Charles Mingus, among other legends in jazz. ?He
is a major addition to the Sunset Jazz artist roster,?
added Lichterman, ?which should attract more great
players to the label.?
The new Ward CD, Dreaming highlights the labels devotion
to that classic style of jazz music showing of its
melodies, textures, and great grooves. The sax artist
and the jazz label are poising themselves to create many
journeys into this deep style of inspirational musical
discovery. (Rod) Millwood has even included the use of
light vocals as an instrument presenting the direct way
to show tribute to the legendary jazz artist, Grover
Washington, Jr.
Sunset Jazz, founded in 2008, is the Sunset Records jazz
label that opened its doors last year by distributing
its licensed product. All Sunset Jazz artists are
distributed all over the world through the Sunset
records label system and via CBuJ Entertainment.
January 14, 2009 -
Sunset Continues To Develop Music Through Its Digital
Record Label
Sunset has just launched a digital record
label this month, finding, signing and developing music
artists with the overall objective of breaking them
through its distribution system, licensing network,
radio promotion, press and media departments along with
its live download company and radio network.
Sunset Connect is the now the backbone
for the Sunset Records digital division and moreover,
this is one of their best ways for the label to find new
music. The label will function as a newly created
division at the Sunset record label based in New York
City. The label started this month by releasing full
length albums by D?Cyple, Obka, Ric Laue, Kan?Nal, Starr
Cullars, Cryout, a Cracker / David Lowery type of
songwriter from England named Clayton Road; and many
compilations that feature popular music artists (The
Crystal Method, Fatboy Slim, Sneaker Pimps, Gavin
Friday, Eve Gallagher, Boy George, Leftfield, Death In
Vegas and more), and will now begin to sign more music
every month during this first year.
Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset
Records, will run the digital only label during the key
launch stages in the first few months, finding new
talent and implementing the A&R and lead time
administration. The Sunset Connect digital label is set
up to develop bands working everything to major radio,
press, retail and for licensing opportunities in film,
TV and commercials in an automated way. Lichterman?s
Sunset Live download company will be run through the
Sunset Connect distribution system although it will be a
standalone company run by its own staff. The live
concert download company has just released a very
special live concert by the world famous comedian, Roz
(Last Comic Standing, Laff House Live).
Lichterman said about the digital label
that it is a convergence of many factors with regard to
the landscape of distribution and working music today--
including promotional mailings and mailings for
music-licensing opportunities, and today, every aspect
of a record label can be distributed to radio, retail,
press and licensing companies all digitally -- made it
the perfect climate to start Sunset Connect. The label
will provide the ability to purchase physical CDs for
placement at Amazon, Target and its own CD / DVD Store,
through its On-Demand system powered by Amazon?s Create
Space.
"We have every aspect of what a record
label does for its music artists at Sunset Connect, and
working music this way is cost effective for artists
that it will no doubt be the standard model for record
labels," Lichterman said in a press release with
Billboard Media Wire. "We are poising Sunset for that
time by starting the label today and at the same time,
this label pays its artist 70/30 splits on net sales,
which will keep everyone recouped making money every pay
period.? Sunset Connect will look to hire a label head
and other staff members for A&R acquisitions with the
label feeding off the Sunset Records divisions for its
promotion, licensing, marketing and administration.
While Sunset Records has made great
progress in the last year with its new music ? the
Federal Moguls (QBall from Bloodhound Gang and Troy
Walsh (MTV.com) new project and platinum recording
artist Gina Thompson?s new project as run through the
main label (Sunset Records and Sunset Urban accordingly)
-- the Sunset Connect record label will be committed to
developing new talent and up-and-coming music artists.
Each of the artists on the label has already released
indie albums and Sunset Connect distributes the entire
catalogs of these artists. "We have great lee way now to
develop new music without getting them thousands of
dollars in the unrecouped column, and we can take on so
many more projects today," Lichterman said.
Sunset Connects business plan has taken
the same shape as the rest of the Sunset labels. There
is a perfect mix of brand new talent in with established
artist signings that are legends in the industry. Of the
new bands, Kan?Nal?s ?Gypsy? was the number one
song played on the Radio Italia Network last year for a
few weeks and D?Cyple?s two songs ?My Life? and ?Don?t
Wanna Be? have broken the top 50 on the Indy Record Pool
charts last year and is still being featured in clubs
charting every month. Clayton Road also now has two
songs in Pure Play?s Music Network and every artist is
featured at Pandora. Sunset Connect has digital deals
with every top online retailer including iTunes,
Real/Rhapsody, eMusic, Amazon MP3, Napster, Shockhound
and over 40 outlets. The digital only label does make
physical product via Amazon?s On-Demand system making
CDs available at Amazon, target and the Sunset Store,
however, it will not carry any stock inventory.
Top industry people at major labels and
at Indy labels admit there is no set formula for a
digital only record label. Lichterman says that he has
?found the perfect way to make everyone money and work
this music at Sunset Connect as close to what you would
do for an artist that has a traditional record deal.? He
also was quick to say that the idea of doing this now is
almost ?overdue, but for us at Sunset, this the perfect
time for this type of label considering our label wide
rosters at this time. Our traditional label is working
like a machine and our artists and staff producer (Rod
Millwood) were named on the Grammy Nomination Ballot 68
times leading up to December 5th. We now have the
formula to make sure this label works like a cost
effective machine and ironically speaking, I could see
this label being the one that is the main label as the
industry phases out physical DVDs and CDs."
Sunset Live Will Presents The Laff House
Comedy Tour in 2009 along with a brand
new live Comedy CD by one of the worlds
top comedians, Kevin Hart!
Kevin Hart (Soul Plane, Scary Movie,
Epic Movie, 40 Year Old Virgin) will
release a brand new Full Length comedy
album in Spring 2009. The Laff House and
Sunset Live are planning a nation wide
tour with comedians from BET's Comic
Review, Def Jam Comedy Show ion HBO and
with Kevin on the bill. Hart is playing
three nights at the world famous
Punchline Comedy Club in San Francisco
from 2/5 to 27/. Kevin's last comedy CD,
I'm A Grown Little Man is a top selling
CD at Sunset!
all Sunset artists chart on the aol
powered our stage last month!
Thirteen
(13) Sunset artists broke the Top 100 at
AOL's Our Stage for December 2008. Eight
(8) Sunset artists broke the Top 50 and
four (4) Sunset artists broke the Top 25
for the last month in 2008!
Back To
The Top
Sunset Corporate Communications & News Archives - Newsroom
2008 - Click Here.
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