Arkadia Jazz All-Stars & Nigel Clark & Ewen Vernal & Mike Bradley & Guy Nicolson - A Summer Affair (feat. Ewen Vernal, Mike Bradley & Guy Nicolson)

The Arkadia Jazz All-Stars is a group established in 1996 as the brainchild of Bob Karcy, Producer, musician, Founder and CEO of Arkadia Records. Karcy’s original goal was to harness the creative brilliance of the Artists who recorded on its Arkadia Records labels, along with select guest musicians representing some of Jazz’s biggest stars, to create an unparalleled series of newly recorded, thematically unified studio albums.

“....unique jazz collections for both the jazz aficionado or novice. These collections aren't the usual retrospective of jazz's past Dukes, Counts and Princes.” -- Jazz Times

So far, ten albums have been recorded and three more are in production. One group of albums, the Thank You series, are tributes to the most revered artists in the history of Jazz, including John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Joe Henderson and Gerry Mulligan. The next group of albums were conceived as thematically-driven group collections of singles, representing the best-of-our-best.

These Arkadia Jazz All-Stars releases have been honored with three Grammy Award Nominations.

Some of the Lead Members of the Arkadia Jazz All-Stars include Benny Golson, Billy Taylor, Joanne Brackeen, David Liebman, T.K. Blue, Eric Reed, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Ted Rosenthal, Lee Konitz, Bob Brookmeyer, Randy Brecker, Reggie Workman, Nigel Clark and Uli lenz.

A few of the Special Guests are Pat Metheny, Claudio Roditi, Bob Mintzer, Mulgrew Miller, Randy Weston, Chris Potter, Branford Marsalis, Gary Peacock, Bill Frisell, Steve Kuhn, Al Foster, Michael Brecker, Dave Holland, Monty Alexander, Gary Bartz, Jack Dejohnette, James Carter, Stefon Harris, Kurt Elling, Nicholas Peyton, Ravi Coltrane, and John Abercrombie.

Arkadia Records continues to create new releases from the Arkadia Jazz All-Stars. Albums currently in production are tributes to Thelonious Monk (Thank You, Thelonious!) and Miles Davis (Thank You, Miles!), as well a suite of lively standards and compelling original songs for the holiday season.

Bob Karcy’s ultimate aim is that the Arkadia Jazz All-Stars will emerge as an artistically successful recording group in its own right. In addition to creating new, exciting and stellar music, the All-Stars will showcase the Artists on Arkadia Records, creating greater awareness and recognition of their talent, and helping them reach a new generation of listeners far beyond their core fans.

“Exceptional...entraps your senses and focus throughout the entire statement. An artistic triumph and should be award-bound.” -- Dr. Herb Wong, Jazz Educators Journal

***** Five Stars. "The variety of performers produces a range of approaches. This is an album that will leave you humming- and respecting Coltrane” -- Bob Karlovits, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review