Dreyfus Records founder Francis Dreyfus will receive the International Association for Jazz Education’s (IAJE) Lifetime Achievement Award tomorrow evening at the IAJE’s 33rd Annual Conference in New York City.
Dreyfus began his career in music in his native suburb of Paris, starting three weekend jazz clubs with two friends and later establishing Dreyfus Jazz in 1991 with the signings of Steve Grossman, Michel Petrucciani, Richard Galliano, Didier Lockwood and Biréli Lagrène. He began the American counterpart, Dreyfus Records, in 1993 and the label has featured a roster including Mingus Big Band, Roy Haynes, Benny Golson and Marcus Miller.
Following the awards ceremony, Dreyfus recording artist Bireli Lagrene will take the stage will labelmates WDR Big Band for a performance titled “Djangology.” Other Dreyfus artists performing at the IAJE conference include the Jean-Michel Pilc Trio on Friday with Thomas Brameri on bass and Ari Hoenig on drums.
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