Did the holidays leave you with a stack of gift cards that are now burning a hole in your wallet? I know how it is, the distant relatives send you money to spend at places like Borders and Barnes & Noble and you quickly go out and spend it on the stuff everybody else forgot to get you. You may want to wait on cashing that plastic in, however. Take a minute to look at Concord Records’ early 2003 release schedule and see if holding onto that gift card will make it pay off bigger for you in the spring (all street dates are tentative):
January 27:
Michael Feinstein Scott Hamilton and Friends With Michael Feinstein (DVD of the NBC skating special)
Tito Puente Party at Puente’s Place (2 for 1 CD featuring On Broadway and Mambo Diablo)
Rosemary Clooney (pictured) From Bing to Billie (2 for 1 CD featuring Rosie Sings Bing and Tribute to Billie Holiday)
February 10:
Braxton Brothers Rollin’ (to be released on Peak Records)
George Shearing Lullabies of Birdland: A Musical Autobiography (Two-CD set)
Mary Lou Williams Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz
February 24:
Marian McPartland Windows (2 for 1 CD featuring A Portrait of Marian McPartland and At the Festival)
Monty Alexander Trio Steaming Hot (2 for 1 CD featuring Full Steam Ahead and Steamin’)
March 9:
Various Artists Concord Jazz SACD Sampler, Volume 2
March 23:
Monica Mancini Ultimate Mancini (re-recordings of Henry Mancini classics, featuring Stevie Wonder, Take 6, Joey DeFrancesco)
Cal Tjader Best of the Concord Years (2-CD set)
Art Blakey Blakey’s Beat (2 for 1 CD featuring In This Komer and Straight Ahead)
Charlie Byrd Byrd & Brazil (2 for 1 CD featuring Sugarloaf Suite and Brazilville)