A broad sweep of titles from Don Schlitten’s 1970s-era Xanadu label are to be reissued, many on CD for the first time beginning in the summer.
The Xanadu Master Edition Series, reissue producer Zev Feldman of Elemental Music explains in brochure marketing material “is a collection of 23 highlights from the Xanadu catalogue on CD and LP, including several out-of-print titles being reissued for the first time since their initial LP release and others having been primarily available only digitally since the late-90s by way of eMusic and The Orchard acquisitions.”
The first six releases are Albert “Tootie” Heath’s Kwanza (The First) recorded in June 1973; the second a 1975 trio session Barry Harris Plays Tadd Dameron; next Jimmy Heath’s Picture of Heath again from a 1975 session; Al Cohn and Jimmy Rowles’ Heavy Love from 1977; Sam Most’s From the Attic of My Mind dating to 1978, the flautist leader joined by Kenny Barron on piano, George Mraz bass, Warren Smith percussion, and Walter Boden drums; and, finally, the 2-CD Xanadu All-Stars Night Flight to Dakar/Xanadu in Africa recorded in Senegal drawn from recordings made on a tour of West Africa coordinated by the US State Department that included Al Cohn, Billy Mitchell, Frank Butler, Leroy Vinnegar, and Dolo Coker. SG
The cover of Kwanza (The First), above
