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| Peak Records | |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Concord Music Group |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Russ Freeman, Andi Howard |
| Distributor(s) | Universal Music Group |
| Genre | Jazz fusion |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
Peak Records is an American record label that was founded by The Rippingtons leader and guitarist Russ Freeman and Andi Howard in 1994.
Peak's first recording was Time Slipping By from Mark Williamson in 1994, and Sahara by Russ Freeman and the Rippingtons. During the late 1990s, Peak became a fully self-sufficient independent label under Windham Hill/RCA, and the Rippingtons' released Black Diamond to commemorate the then 10-year anniversary of the group.
When the label became part of Concord Records, Peak signed saxophonists Paul Taylor and Eric Marienthal, and Regina Belle to the label as well as vocalist Phil Perry. In 2001, Belle released This Is Regina! , which went gold and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Traditional Soul/R & B Vocal category.
Early on, the label put out the Rippingtons' second live recording called Live Across America in 2002, and an album from Gato Barbieri, called The Shadow Of The Cat. LaToya London released an album on Peak Records in September 2005 called Love & Life Others who have released material on the label include former Ambrosia vocalist David Pack and Denver-based contemporary jazz act Dotsero. In 2004, Lazy Afternoon from Regina Belle made No. 9 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart.
In the middle of the decade, Howard and the label became aggressive in signing talent, bringing David Benoit in 2004, Lee Ritenour (2005), Gerald Albright (2006), Will Downing, Paul Brown, Norman Brown, Peabo Bryson and Marc Antoine (the last five all in 2007). In 2006, Peak released the Rippingtons' 20th Anniversary, which also included a commemorative 25-minute DVD. The CD included new songs including "Bingo Jingo," "City of Angels," "Costa Del Sol," and "Anything," which also featured singer-songwriter Brian McKnight. During 2007, Peak Records' artists Paul Brown and Norman Brown both peaked at No. 1 on the Smooth Jazz Chart from Radio & Records magazine. The label also released the debut album from Marc Antoine called Hi-Lo Split. In 2007, Peak Records released albums from Eric Marienthal (Just Around the Corner), Peabo Bryson (Missing You) and Will Downing (After Tonight).
In 2008, Jessy J released her debut recording on the label, Tequila Moon. In addition, saxophonist Mindi Abair signed to a recording contract and her debut, Stars, was released in May that year. Jeff Lorber's album Heard That was issued in September. Leigh Jones also signed to the label, during a ceremony in mid-March. In the latter stages of 2008, it was announced that Wayne Brady had joined Peak and released his debut, A Long Time Coming, on September 16. Peak also signed Peter White and All-4-One.
In 2011, Peak began a partnership with eOne Music. [1]
Robert Peapo "Peabo" Bryson is an American singer and songwriter. He is known for singing soul ballads including the hit singles "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love", "You're Looking Like Love To Me" and "As Long As There's Christmas" with Roberta Flack, "A Whole New World" with Regina Belle, and "Beauty and the Beast" with Canadian singer Celine Dion. Bryson has contributed to two Disney animated feature soundtracks. Bryson is a winner of two Grammy Awards.
GRP® Records is a jazz record label founded by Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen in 1978. Distributed by Verve Records, GRP® was originally known for its digital recordings that focuses on its jazz genre.
The Rippingtons are an American contemporary jazz group, mainly relating to the genres smooth jazz, jazz fusion, jazz pop, and crossover jazz. Formed in 1985 by guitarist and band leader Russ Freeman, their career has spanned more than three decades. With a revolving door of musicians, Freeman has been the only consistent member.
Regina Belle is an American singer-songwriter who started her career in the mid-1980s. Known for her singles "Baby Come to Me" (1989) and "Make It Like It Was" (1990), Belle is most notable for three hit duets, all with Peabo Bryson: "Without You", the love theme from the comedy film Leonard Part 6, recorded in 1987; "A Whole New World", the main theme of the Disney's animated feature film Aladdin recorded in 1992, with which Belle and Bryson won a Grammy Award; and "I Just Can't Imagine". The theme song "Far Longer than Forever" from the animated movie The Swan Princess, performed with Jeffrey Osborne, was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1995 for Best Original Song.
Russ Freeman is a smooth jazz guitarist who is the founder and leader of The Rippingtons.
Paul Taylor is an American smooth jazz alto and soprano saxophonist who has released twelve albums since his debut On the Horn in 1995. He is a graduate of University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where he attended with a full music scholarship. He is signed to Peak Records. Although originally from Denver, Colorado, he is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He has worked extensively with Keiko Matsui and played as a special guest with the Rippingtons for a short time in 1999 and 2000, after Jeff Kashiwa left the group and before Eric Marienthal joined them.
The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II is a 2008 compilation by Midas Records. It was the second album from the Weather Channel and included their most requested music from the Local on the 8s segments. It peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz charts in the same year.
Sahara is the eighth album by American Jazz group The Rippingtons, released in 1994 on the GRP label. The album reached number two on Billboard's contemporary Jazz chart. It is also the first of two studio albums to be released under the name Russ Freeman & The Rippingtons, with the next being Brave New World.
Brave New World is the ninth album by American jazz group The Rippingtons, released in 1996 for the GRP label. The album reached No. 4 on Billboard's contemporary jazz chart. It was the group's final release on the GRP label.
Black Diamond is the tenth album by American Jazz group The Rippingtons. Released in 1997, it was their first project for the Windham Hill label after the transfer of Peak Records from GRP earlier that year. The album reached number one on Billboard's contemporary jazz chart.
Topaz is the 10th studio album by the American jazz group The Rippingtons. It was released in 1999 for the Windham Hill label. The album reached No. 2 on Billboard's contemporary jazz chart.
Life in the Tropics is the 11th album by the American Jazz group The Rippingtons. It was released in 2000, and was the group's first release for Peak label. The album reached No. 3 on Billboard's contemporary jazz chart.
Live Across America is The Rippingtons' second live album which was released in 2002.
Wild Card is The Rippingtons' thirteenth album, which was released in 2005.
The Hampton Jazz Festival is a major musical event started in 1968, and features many of the world's major jazz artists. It is held during the last full weekend in June each year, with the primary venue being Hampton, Virginia's Hampton Coliseum. Festival organizers describe it as "the best available jazz, R&B and blues artists that are on tour during the time of the festival... packaged at a reasonable price." In 2024 it was re-branded as the Hampton Jazz & Music Festival, with an emphasis on a broader range of musical acts.
Côte D'Azur is The Rippingtons' sixteenth album which was released in 2011. The album features French, Latin, Gypsy and Euro rhythms. Saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa is featured on the album, returning for the second album in a row.
Drive is an album by the American guitarist Russ Freeman, released in 2002 for the Peak label. This album reached #7 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart.
All My Love is the fourteenth studio album by American singer Peabo Bryson. It was released by Capitol Records in May 1989 in the United States. The album marked Bryson's first release with the label after four years with Elektra Records.
Missing You is the twentieth studio album by American singer Peabo Bryson. It was released by Peak Records on October 2, 2007. The album reached number 41 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, becoming Bryson's highest-charting album since Can You Stop the Rain (1991).
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