| Owl Studios | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | J. Allan Hall |
| Genre | Jazz, R&B, jam band |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Official website | www |
Owl Studios is a jazz record label founded in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2005. In 2013 the label was sold and renamed Owl Music Group.
Owl Studios was started in 2005 by Al Hall, an Indianapolis businessman, to promote local jazz musicians. He grew up playing trumpet in northern California and moved to Indianapolis in 1981. The label began as a basement studio for his sons. Hall said he intended Owl to be run differently from other labels. He said that usually a record label will pay for an album's recording costs, but the musician doesn't see much money until the label has recovered the additional cost of making and promoting the album. His plan was to have the label pay little or nothing in recording fees but immediately share revenue with musicians. He said that this approach gave an incentive for musicians to help promote their work. [1]
Owl's roster includes Indianapolis saxophonist Rob Dixon, jam band Garaj Mahal led by Chicago guitarist Fareed Haque, and a new version of the Headhunters, a jazz fusion band active in 1970s that featured Herbie Hancock; [1] drummer Mike Clark, vocalist Cynthia Layne, trumpeter Derrick Gardner, Indianapolis pianist and composer Steve Allee, clarinetist and saxophonist Frank Glover, the Busselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra; Chicago trumpeter Pharez Whitted, and New York City groups Bill Moring & Way Out East, and the Rick Germanson Trio.
In 2009 Owl purchased the rights to the Indy Jazz Fest from the American Pianists Association and took ownership of the annual festival, turning it into a non-profit organization and a way to promote jazz in Indianapolis. The following year Owl started the Emerging Jazz Artist Project to promote new musicians. The first release was the album Blocks (2011) by the Jeff McLaughlin Quartet.
In 2013 Owl Studios was sold to Kenny and Valerie Phelps and renamed Owl Music Group. [2] Kenny Phelps is a drummer who toured with Dee Dee Bridgewater from 2012 to 2014. [3]
Garaj Mahal is a jazz fusion band formed in 2000 that combines jazz, rock, Indian music, and funk. The band consists of Fareed Haque (guitar), Kai Eckhardt (bass), Sean Rickman (drums), and Eric Levy (keyboards). Garaj Mahal allows its music to be recorded at concerts.
Fareed Haque is an American jazz guitarist, based in Chicago, Illinois.
Pharez Whitted is an American jazz trumpeter and educator from Indianapolis.
Kai Eckhardt is a German born musician and composer who plays bass, best known for his work with John McLaughlin, Vital Information, Torsten de Winkel, Billy Cobham and Garaj Mahal—a band he co-founded. Educated at the prestigious Berklee College of Music Eckhardt has also collaborated on projects with guitarist Larry Coryell as well as keyboardist Tom Coster. Eckhardt is known for his fast chordal slap-style abilities, and for his unique combination of funk, jazz, and world music.
Melvin Rhyne, was a jazz organist best known for his work with Wes Montgomery.
Virtue Hampton Whitted was an American jazz singer and bassist who is best known for her performances during the 1940s and 1950s as a member of the Hampton family band and The Hampton Sisters, a musical group she formed during World War II with her siblings, Aletra, Carmalita, and Dawn Hampton.
Man-Child is the fifteenth studio album by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock. The record was released on August 22, 1975 by Columbia Records. It was the final studio album to feature The Headhunters, and a number of guest musicians including saxophonist Wayne Shorter, a full brass section, three different guitarists, and Stevie Wonder on harmonica.
Mondo Garaj is the debut studio album and fourth album by jazz fusion band Garaj Mahal.
Cynthia Layne was an American jazz and neo soul singer. Layne performed around the world singing in many styles. She signed with Indianapolis jazz label Owl Studios in 2006. She worked with Rob Dixon and Reggie Bishop.
Steve Allee is an American jazz musician and composer.
Derrick Gardner is an American jazz trumpeter from Chicago, Illinois.
Kenny Baker was an English jazz trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn player, and a composer.
The Jazz Kitchen is a prominent jazz club and restaurant in Indianapolis, Indiana. The club showcases local, regional and national jazz acts. The Jazz Kitchen opened in 1994 at the former location of The Place to Start at 54th Street and College Avenue in the Meridian-Kessler/South Broad Ripple neighborhood. Voted one of the top 100 jazz clubs in the world in 2009 by Down Beat magazine, the Jazz Kitchen is owned by David Allee, son of jazz musician and composer Steve Allee.
Vincent Gardner is an American trombonist and composer.
Rob Dixon is an American jazz saxophonist.
Platinum is an album by the jazz fusion band The Headhunters that was released in 2011. The album combines jazz and hip hop.
Bill Moring is an American jazz bassist.
The Dixon-Rhyne Project is an American jazz group from Indianapolis, Indiana.
More Mr. Nice Guy is a studio album by United States-based fusion band Garaj Mahal, released in 2010.