As 2024 unfolds, it's clear that Craft Recordings is one major destination for jazz.  The label's various imprints have readied a number of titles due over the next couple of months from such luminaries as Joe Henderson, Sonny Rollins, Cannonball Adderley, Ron Carter, and many others.  Here's a rundown of what's on the schedule!

Out March 15 from Jazz Dispensary is an all-analog reissue from tenor saxophone great Joe Henderson (1937-2001).  The 1969 classic Power to the People blended hard bop, funk, and jazz, becoming the first Henderson album to incorporate electronic textures.  Those came courtesy of Herbie Hancock's Fender Rhodes and Ron Carter's electric bass.  Drummer Jack DeJohnette and, on two tracks, trumpeter Mike Lawrence rounded out the band for this hard-hitting, socially conscious record.  Among the repertoire, Henderson introduced his future standard "Black Narcissus," Carter contributed "Opus One-Point-Five," and the group reimagined the Jerome Moross/John LaTouche standard "Lazy Afternoon."  Power to the People is arriving as part of Jazz Dispensary's Top Shelf series.  It was cut from the original tapes (AAA) by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Audio and has been pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI.  The LP is housed in a gatefold tip-on jacket which replicates the original artwork.

The recently-relaunched Original Jazz Classics line is rolling out another trio of titles, too.  Julian "Cannonball" Adderley teamed with his Miles Davis Sextet bandmate Bill Evans for a series of albums including 1962's Know What I Mean?  Adderley's alto sax and Evans' piano were supported by Percy Heath on acoustic bass and Connie Kay on drums for a remarkable set of standards including Evans' own "Waltz for Debby," the Gershwins' "Who Cares," Gordon Jenkins' "Goodbye," and Phil Silvers and Jimmy Van Heusen's "Nancy (With the Laughing Face)."

Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers' Caravan was the drummer-bandleader's 1963 debut for Riverside Records, and he pulled out all the stops with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, trombonist Curtis Fuller, pianist Cedar Walton, and bassist Reggie Workman.  Recorded (like Know What I Mean?) with producer Orrin Keepnews, Caravan featured Juan Tizol's title track as well as cuts from Shorter ("Sweet 'n' Sour," "This Is for Albert") and Hubbard "(Thermo").  Renditions of Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer's "Skylark" and David Mann and Bob Hilliard's "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" added to the album's eclectic spirit and accessible sound.  Both the Cannonball Adderley/Bill Evans and Art Blakey titles are out now.

From the same era comes the March 29 reissue of Ron Carter's Where?  The most underrated of this trio, Carter's 1961 debut as a leader was recorded with producer Esmond Edwards at New Jersey's Van Gelder Studio.  Carter, on bass and cello, was joined by pianist Mal Waldron, woodwind player Eric Dolphy, bassist George Duvivier, and drummer Charlie Persip for a set which opened with two of his own compositions before moving onto standards such as Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II's "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" and Sy Oliver's "Yes, Indeed."   It was an auspicious debut for the man recognized today as the most-recorded bassist of all time.

All three OJC titles are derived from lacquers cut from the original tapes (AAA) by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Audio and pressed at RTI on 180-gram vinyl.  All are housed in tip-on jackets replicating the original album artwork.  Digital editions in high-res 192/24 audio will also be made available.

Lastly (for today, anyway), Craft is also partnering with Acoustic Sounds to continue its Contemporary Records audiophile series.  This slate of a dozen classic titles from the Contemporary archives kicks off on February 23 and runs through the entire year.

Originally engineered by Roy DuNann and/or Howard Holzer, each LP in the Acoustic Sounds series offers lacquers cut from the original master tapes (AAA) by Bernie Grundman.  Every title has been pressed on 180-gram vinyl at QRP and is housed in a Stoughton-printed tip-on jacket.

an audiophile favorite who also happens to be a Contemporary Records alum. All are pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings (QRP) and presented in Stoughton old-style tip-on jackets.  Here's the full list with release dates:

Art Pepper Quintet, Smack Up (February 23)

• Recorded by Roy DuNann and featuring Jack Sheldon (trumpet), Pete Jolly (piano), Jimmy Bond (bass), and Frank Butler (drums)

Shelly Manne & His Men, At the Black Hawk, Vol. 1 (March 1, 2024)

• Featuring Shelly Manne (drums), Joe Gordon (trumpet), Richie Kamuca (tenor sax), Victor Feldman (piano) and Monty Budwig (bass)

Harold Land, The Fox (April 12)

• Produced by David Axelrod

Hampton Hawes, For Real! (May 17)

• Produced by Lester Koenig

Howard McGhee, Maggie's Back in Town!! (June 14)

• With Shelly Manne, Phineas Newborn, Jr., and Leroy Vinnegar

Teddy Edwards & Howard McGhee, Together Again!!!! (July 12)

• With Phineas Newborn, Jr., Ray Brown, and Ed Thigpen

Prince Lasha Quintet, The Cry! (August 16)

• Featuring Prince Lasha (sax), Sonny Simmons (sax), Gary Peacock and Mark Proctor (bass), and Gene Stone (drums)

Ben Webster, At the Renaissance (September 13)

• Produced by Lester Koenig
• With Red Mitchell, Frank Butler, Jim Hall, Jimmy Rowles, and Ben Webster

Art Pepper, Gettin' Together! (October 11)

• With Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Jimmie Cobb plus Conte Condoli

Art Pepper, Intensity (October 11)

• Featuring Art Pepper, Dolo Coker, Jimmy Bond, and Frank Butler

Helen Humes -- Songs I Like to Sing! (releasing November 8)

• Arranged and conducted by Marty Paich
• Featuring Art Pepper, Leroy Vinnegar, Jack Sheldon, Andre Previn, Shelly Manne, and more
• Produced by Lester Koenig

Sonny Rollins, Way Out West (December 6)

• With Ray Brown and Shelly Manne
• Produced by Lester Koenig

You'll find order links and track listings for the Joe Henderson, Cannonball Adderley and Bill Evans, Art Blakey, and Ron Carter titles below!  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Joe Henderson, Power to the People (Milestone LP MSP 9024, 1969 - reissued Jazz Dispensary, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Black Narcissus
2. Afro-Centric
3. Opus One-Point-Five
4. Isotope
5. Power to the People
6. Lazy Afternoon
7. Foresight and Afterthought (An Impromptu Suite in Three Movements)

Cannonball Adderley with Bill Evans, Know What I Mean? (Riverside LP RLP-433, 1962) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Waltz for Debby
2. Goodbye
3. Who Cares?
4. Venice
5. Toy
6. Elsa
7. Nancy (With the Laughing Face)

Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, Caravan (Riverside LP RLP-438, 1962) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Caravan
2. Sweet 'n' Sour
3. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
4. This Is for Albert
5. Skylark
6. Thermo

Ron Carter, Where? (New Jazz LP NJ 8265, 1961) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Rally
2. Bass Duet
3. Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise
4. Where?
5. Yes, Indeed
6. Saucer Eyes