Verse Music Group & Naxos of America are happy to announce the reissue of iconic 1950’s Jazz catalog, Bethlehem Records.

Bethlehem Records’ lengthy discography contains over 250 albums that freshly and ambitiously captured an era of music, including West Coast Cool Jazz and East Coast Bop. Bethlehem Records roster of artists includes Nina Simone, Carmen McRae, Chris Connor, Mel Torme, Dexter Gordon, Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, and Duke Ellington. For some of these legendary artists, the Bethlehem recordings represent their classic debuts, and still for others, their greatest recorded work to date.

Each track has been restored from the original analog sound recording & digitally remastered to meet the highest level of clarity and quality standards. For the first time in decades, each of the titles will be available in their original configuration in LP vinyl, CD and digital formats.

Titles slated for an August 27th, 2013 release include Oscar Pettiford “Modern Quintet,” Chris Connor “Chris Connor Sings Lullaby’s For Lovers,” Dexter Gordon “Daddy Plays The Horn,” Charles Mingus “The Jazz Experiments of Charles Mingus,” Nina Simone “Little Girl Blue,” and Booker Ervin “The Book Cooks.”

Bethlehem Records progressive cover art truly revolutionized the jazz market. Each release includes fully restored, original artwork and liner notes.

In support of the relaunch, limited edition apparel, vinyl bundles and pre-sales will be available at select retailers and the Bethlehem Records webstore Facebook tab in an exclusive partnership with leading international merchandise & licensing company, Backstreet Merch. Follow Bethlehem Jazz on Instagram here for the latest Burt Goldblatt inspired T-Shirt designs and join the Jazz Exclusives community here.

Twenty select titles will be exclusively available in the Bethlehem Records iTunes store at 8/27 launch including:

• Art Blakey –“Art Blakey Big Band”
• Bobby Scott – “Great Scott”
• Booker Ervin – “The Book Cooks”
• Booker Little – “Booker Little and Friend”
• Charles Mingus – “The Jazz Experiments of Charles Mingus”
• Chris Connor – “Sings Lullabys For Lovers”
• Donald Byrd & Pepper Adams – “Motor City Scene”
• Dexter Gordon – “Daddy Plays The Horn”
• Mel Torme & Frances Faye – George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess”
• Howard McGhee – “Dusty Blue”
• John Coltrane – “In The Winners Circle”
• Johnny Hartman – “Songs From The Heart”
• Mel Torme – “Songs For Any Taste”
• Nina Simone – “Nina Simone And Her Friends”
• Nina Simone – “Little Girl Blue”
• Oscar Pettiford – “Modern Quintet”
• Paula Castle – “Lost Love”
• Sam Most – “Sam Most Plays Bird, Bud, Monk and Miles”
• Stan Levy – “Grand Stan”
• Zoot Sims – “Down Home”

Releases that will be part of the 12-month relaunch in LP, CD and Digital format include:

August 27, 2013

BCP 1003: Oscar Pettiford – “Modern Quintet” (CD & 10”)
BCP 1002: Chris Connor – “Sings Lullabys For Lovers” (CD & 10”)
BCP 36: Dexter Gordon – “Daddy Plays The Horn” (CD & 12”)
BCP 65: Charles Mingus – “The Jazz Experiments” (CD & 12”)
BCP 6028: Nina Simone – “Little Girl Blue” (CD & 12”)
BCP 6048: Booker Ervin – “The Book Cooks” (CD & 12”)

October 29, 2013

BCP 6051: Zoot Sims – “Down Home” (CD & 12”)
BCP 6056: Donald Byrd & Pepper Adams – “Motor City Scene” (CD & 12”)
BCP 1030: Bobby Troup – “The Songs of Bobby Troup” (CD & 10”)

January 29, 2014

BCP 1027: Helen Carr – “Down In The Depths Of The 90th Floor” (CD & 10”)
BCP 43: Johnny Hartman – “Songs From The Heart” (CD & 12”)
BCP 6040: Mel Torme & Frances Faye – George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” (CD & 12”)
BCP 6041: Nina Simone – “Nina Simone and Her Friends” (CD & 12”)

March 26, 2014

BCP 6045: Mal Waldron – “Left Alone” (CD & 12”)
BCP 6055: Howard McGhee – “Dusty Blue” (CD & 12”)
BCP 6061: Booker Little – “Booker Little and Friend” (CD & 12”)

May 28, 2014

BCP 71: Stan Levey – “Grand Stan” (CD & 10”)
BCP 6064: Roland Kirk – “Third Dimension” (CD & 12”)
BCP 6031: Mel Torme – “Songs For Any Taste” (CD & 12”)

July 29, 2014

BCP 1004: Bobby Scott – “Great Scott” (CD & 10”)
BCP 6069: Eddie Davis – “The Best of Eddie Lockjaw Davis” (CD & 12”)
BCP 6024: John Coltrane – “In The Winners Circle” (CD & 12”)
BCP 6027: Art Blakey – “Art Blakey Big Band” (CD & 12”)
BCP 1010: Vinnie Burke – “East Coast Jazz 2” (CD & 10”)
BCP 1036: Paula Castle – “Lost Love” (CD & 10”)

About Bethlehem Records: Formed by Gus Wildi in the 1950s, Bethlehem Records includes an impressive roster of artists such as Nina Simone, Carmen McRae, Chris Connor, Mel Torme, Dexter Gordon, Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, and Duke Ellington. Bethlehem Records’ legacy is a lengthy discography that freshly and ambitiously captures and preserves an era of truly great music, including West Coast Cool Jazz and East Coast Bop. For more information about releases and merchandise visit the Bethlehem Records website here.

About Verse Music Group:
Verse Music Group is a global entertainment company based in New York City founded by award-winning music industry veterans Curt Frasca and Sabelle Breer in 2010.
Verse Music Group owns over 50,000 copyrights through the acquisition of iconic brands and music catalogs such as, Salsoul Records, West End Records, Bethlehem Records and Golden Records and featured songs by artists Rod Stewart, Nina Simone, Jennifer Lopez, John 5, Avril Lavigne, Commodores, Tupac, and Celine Dion among many others. Read more about Verse Music Group here.

About Naxos of America: Naxos, the world’s leading classical music label is known for recording exciting new repertoire with exceptional talent. The label has one of the largest and fastest growing catalogues of unduplicated repertoire available anywhere with state-of-the-art sound and consumer-friendly prices. The catalogue includes classical music CDs and DVDs as well other genres such as jazz, new age, educational and audiobooks. Visit the Naxos of America website here.