JSP Records
Encyclopedia
JSP Records is a British
record label
, founded in 1978 by John Stedman (John Stedman Promotions), releasing recordings by blues
musicians such as Professor Longhair
, Buddy Guy
, Jimmy Witherspoon
, Louisiana Red
and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. The label is based in London, England.
JSP now predominantly releases remastered CDs
of public domain
jazz
and blues recordings. In the case of old Paramount
recordings (including those by Charley Patton and Blind Blake
), the original records were made from shellac
which made them susceptible to damage. JSP's releases from this material are remastered versions.
Their release of Louis Armstrong
's Hot Fives and Sevens recordings is often considered to be one of the most essential jazz releases available.
The label has an extensive catalog of original recordings, but their recording program continues to this day, with Lucky Peterson
and other contemporary artists.
Concerts have also been promoted at concert halls such as The New London Theatre, The Collegiate Theatre and at the 100 Club
. Several American musicians were brought to the UK
for concerts and tours, including rhythm and blues
artists such as Roy Brown
, Jimmy McCracklin
, Charles Brown
and Professor Longhair. Some musicians 'discovered' by JSP and have since moved to larger labels, for example Larry Garner
, Guitar Shorty
, Tutu Jones and Jr Boy Jones.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, founded in 1978 by John Stedman (John Stedman Promotions), releasing recordings by blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
musicians such as Professor Longhair
Professor Longhair
Professor Longhair was a New Orleans blues singer and pianist...
, Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
, Jimmy Witherspoon
Jimmy Witherspoon
Jimmy Witherspoon was an American jump blues singer.-Early life and career:James Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. He first attracted attention singing with Teddy Weatherford's band in Calcutta, India, which made regular radio broadcasts over the U. S. Armed Forces Radio Service during...
, Louisiana Red
Louisiana Red
Louisiana Red is an African American blues guitarist, harmonica player, and singer, who has recorded more than 50 albums...
and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. The label is based in London, England.
JSP now predominantly releases remastered CDs
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
of public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and blues recordings. In the case of old Paramount
Paramount Records
Paramount Records was an American record label, best known for its recordings of African-American jazz and blues in the 1920s and early 1930s, including such artists as Ma Rainey and Blind Lemon Jefferson.-Early years:...
recordings (including those by Charley Patton and Blind Blake
Blind Blake
"Blind" Blake was an American blues and ragtime singer and guitarist.-Biography:...
), the original records were made from shellac
Shellac
Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac bug, on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. It is processed and sold as dry flakes , which are dissolved in ethyl alcohol to make liquid shellac, which is used as a brush-on colorant, food glaze and wood finish...
which made them susceptible to damage. JSP's releases from this material are remastered versions.
Their release of Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
's Hot Fives and Sevens recordings is often considered to be one of the most essential jazz releases available.
The label has an extensive catalog of original recordings, but their recording program continues to this day, with Lucky Peterson
Lucky Peterson
Lucky Peterson is an American musician who plays contemporary blues, fusing soul, R&B, gospel and rock and roll. He plays guitar and keyboards...
and other contemporary artists.
Concerts have also been promoted at concert halls such as The New London Theatre, The Collegiate Theatre and at the 100 Club
100 Club
The 100 Club is a music venue in London situated at 100 Oxford Street, W1, originally called The Feldman Swing Club.The 100 Club attained legendary status in modern British music, having played host to live music since 24 October 1942....
. Several American musicians were brought to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for concerts and tours, including rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
artists such as Roy Brown
Roy Brown
Roy Brown may refer to:*Roy Brown , English professional footballer who was the first black player to play for Stoke City.*Roy Brown , English footballer...
, Jimmy McCracklin
Jimmy McCracklin
Jimmy McCracklin is an American pianist, vocalist, and songwriter. His style contains West Coast blues, Jump blues, and R&B. Over a career that has spanned seven decades, he says he has written almost a thousand songs and has recorded hundreds of them...
, Charles Brown
Charles Brown (musician)
Charles Brown , born in Texas City, Texas was an American blues singer and pianist whose soft-toned, slow-paced blues-club style influenced the development of blues performance during the 1940s and 1950s...
and Professor Longhair. Some musicians 'discovered' by JSP and have since moved to larger labels, for example Larry Garner
Larry Garner
Larry Garner is an American Louisiana blues musician best known for his 1994 album Too Blues.-Biography:...
, Guitar Shorty
Guitar Shorty
Guitar Shorty is an American blues guitarist. He is well known for his explosive guitar style and wild stage antics. Billboard magazine said, “his galvanizing guitar work defines modern, top-of-the-line blues-rock. His vocals remain as forceful as ever...
, Tutu Jones and Jr Boy Jones.
External links
- Official site
- Illustrated JSP discography (emphasis on albums)