Candid Records Is Doing It Again July 21, 2023

Reissues Five More Titles from Its Legendary Jazz Catalog

Originally Released During the Nat Hentoff Years  

Remastered by World-Renowned Award-Winning Engineer Bernie Grundman

 Charles Mingus - Mingus

Toshiko Mariano Quartet - The Toshiko Mariano Quartet

Steve Lacy - The Straight Horn of Steve Lacy

Phil Woods - Rights of Swing

Don Ellis - How Time Passes

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In April of 2022 the iconic jazz label Candid Records began an ambitious relaunch campaign with five classic titles released and produced by the label’s legendary A&R chief and producer Nat Hentoff. To date, Candid has reissued sixteen titles, covering a broad spectrum of its illustrious history, and featuring great jazz musicians who have defined the genre. On July 21, the reissue campaign turns 21, with five more classic remasters.

These five latest titles, all from the Nat Hentoff era, demonstrate the extraordinary breadth and width of this important catalog. Featured here are releases from the genius Charles Mingus, the pioneering woman of jazz Toshiko Akiyoshi (Mariano,) the master of the soprano saxophone Steve Lacy, one of the greatest saxophone players of the post-bop era Phil Woods, and the debut album from a genre pushing trumpeter and composer Don Ellis. All recorded at the Nola Penthouse Studios in New Your City circa 1960/61.

A standout of the label’s reissue campaign, in addition to the great albums and artists being reintroduced, is the high-quality fidelity of the recordings. These albums have been carefully remastered from original tapes by the renowned Bernie Grundman, and are available on 180-gram vinyl, CD and on all streaming services. To quote jazzweekly.com: “Candid Records has reissued a series of vintage albums (gloriously remastered) that are all true classics both musically and culturally. Get one, get them all.”

Mark Wexler head of Candid Records states: “The depth of the Candid jazz catalog provides us with a wealth of recordings to reissue. With these titles we turn again to the splendor of the Nat Hentoff years, all of which were amazingly recorded within a one-year period. These artists represent the best of the best and we are proud to carry the banner that reintroduces them to the public at large.”

Exceleration Music Partner and producer John Burk states: “During the early 1960’s Nat Hentoff recorded some of the greatest jazz artists during their heyday. Over 30 recordings were released during his tenure, and we have now released 15. They are all considered treasures and we have respectfully rereleased them in the highest quality audio remastered by award-winning engineer Bernie Grundman.”

CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS

At the time of this recording, Mingus had been working regularly with the piano-less quartet of Eric Dolphy, Ted Curson and Dannie Richmond. The same group featured on the 1960 Candid release, Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus. The Mingus album, also recorded that year, features one track, "Stormy Weather," recorded with that same quartet, and two tracks recorded with a larger group featuring piano and additional horns.
Of note, "MDM (Monk Duke & Me)” consumes the majority of this album. The piece consists of three intertwining themes - Duke Ellington's “Main Stem”, Thelonious Monk's “Straight, No Chaser”, and Mingus' “Fifty First Street Blues.”

            TOSHIKO MARIANO - THE TOSHIKO MARIANO QUARTET

Toshiko Mariano Quartet is the 1961 album from fourteen-time GRAMMY nominated pianist and composer Toshiko Akiyoshi - then known as Toshiko Mariano. While she was later to compose using themes, harmonies, and instruments connected to her Japanese heritage, this album captures the pianist early in her career playing a straight ahead, harp bop style. This was already her 7th album as a band leader, and it is a shining example of her confidence and mastery of her instrument and as a band leader.

STEVE LACY - THE STRAIGHT HORN OF STEVE LACY

The “straight horn” referred to in the title of this superb album from 1961 is the soprano saxophone, and Lacy is recognized as one of the greatest to ever play the instrument, ranking alongside John Coltrane and Sidney Bechet. Because of the difficulty involved in mastering its pitch challenges, very few jazzmen concentrated on it. Lacy is widely considered the first “modern” musician to specialize on the instrument.

PHIL WOODS - RIGHTS OF SWING 

When he first came on the scene, Phil Woods was often referred to as “The New Bird,” in a nod to the legendary Charlie Parker. This recording, his 9th album as a band leader, consists entirely of Woods’ five-part “Rights of Swing” Suite. Arguably considered one of Woods finest recordings, the record features a stellar section made up of Wood’s fellow Quincy Jones band members.

DON ELLIS- HOW TIMES PASSES

A fascinating blend of jazz and contemporary classical influences, How Time Passes is the debut album from the envelope pushing trumpeter and composer Don Ellis. Known for his extensive musical experimentation, particularly in the area of time signatures, Ellis began his long career in the New York City’s post-bop and avant-garde jazz scenes of late 1950s. Most notably he appeared on Charles Mingus’ Mingus Dynasty, and albums by George Russell and Maynard Ferguson. But he also worked with, among others, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Lionel Hampton, and Woody Herman.

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