SteeplecChase Records

[sonnymax]

As a longtime fan of Denmark's SteepleChase jazz label, I've been frustrated by my inability to get any information from their website for the past few months. The links don't seem to work, and their catalog doesn't appear to have been updated in almost a year now. I know they continue to issue new releases, such as Peter Zak's The Decider, but there seeming lack of accessibility has me concerned.

Is there a newer, updated website that I'm unaware of (a Google search failed to reveal one)? Does anyone have information about the current status of the label? Any help would be appreciated. Waiting for new releases to just show up on Amazon isn't much fun.

[king ubu]

Have you sent them an email? Don't know anything, myself, but that's what I'd try.

[brownie]

Now that the SteepleChase site is idle, I check the Jazz Messengers store site to know about the label's releases.

[Dan Gould]

Peter Crawford is the US distributor and I get regular emails with new releases by Steeplechase (and other) labels he carries.

stateside@prodigy.net

[relyles]

The label is still actively releasing new recordings. By coincidence just this week I received the new Chris Byars Octet recording, Lucky Strikes Again, which features Lucky Thompson compositions. I agree the website is frustrating.

[Van Basten II]

Jazz Loft is having a sale of their recordings, any suggestions among the must have from this label

[king ubu]

Some of the Johnny Dyanis for sure - probably "Witchdoctor's Son" and "Song for Biko" first, but they're all fine!

Also anything by Walt Dickerson - not sure which one to recommend first, maybe "Peace"?

Other favorites:

Contemporary Jazz Quartet - Action (2CD)

The Vonskis (Never Let Me Go, Lester Leaps In, Dedicated to You)

Pierre Dorge's New Jungle Orchestra (I've got the self-titled one, "Brikama" and "Johnny Lives", like them all)

Sadik Hakim - Witches, Goblins, etc.

Lee Konitz - Jazz à Juan (w/Martial Solal)

Jackie McLean - Live at Montmartre

Horace Parlan's one with Frank Strozier and Frank Foster and the two by Strozier

You might also consider some Buck Hill, Clifford Jordan ("Half Note" maybe? bootleg quality but darn fine music!)

Then anything by Ken McIntyre... "Home" with Jaki Byard, "Hindsight" and "Open Horizon" with Kenny Drew, "Chasing the Sun" in a trio setting or "Introducing the Vibrations" with a larger band (incl. Terumasa Hino)

And then I've got two fine ones by Ernie Wilkins, "Montreux" and "On the Roll".

But hey, this is just the tip of the iceberg... don't really know the Gordon catalogue yet, and don't feel up to recommending any Tete, but there's plenty of Steeplechase Tete recommendations in the Tete thread.

[Van Basten II]

Might as well put my own, really digged Harold Danko's work on this label

[Dan Gould]

Michael Cochrane is a Talent Deserving Wider Recognition who has recorded a number of albums, piano trio and in a quartet, for the label. Gesture of Faith and his Shorter tribute discs are particular favorites.

[paul secor]

Flurin has already mentioned some of my favorite Steeplechases - the Von Freemans, Walt Dicksersons, Johnny Dyanis, and the Sadik Hakim. But here are some others:

Albert Dailey: That Old Feeling

Chet Baker: The Touch of Your Lips; Diane (w. Paul Bley); No Problem (w. Duke Jordan)

Kenny Drew: Everything I Love

Any of the Ferré Brothers recordings - Django's true heirs, at least to my ears

Khan Jamal: Dark Warrior

Lee Konitz/Red Mitchell: I Concentrate on You

Claude Williams: The Fiddler

Archie Shepp/Horace Parlan: Goin' Home

Archie Shepp/NHOP: Looking at Bird

Jimmy and Doug Raney: Stolen Moments; Duets

Brew Moore: Zonky

Sheila Jordan: Sheila

Horace Parlan: Musically Yours; The Maestro

Jimmy Knepper; Cunningbird

Duke Jordan: Flight to Denmark; Live in Japan; Midnight Moonlight

There are a few of these that I haven't listened to recently, so I'm going on memory with them. However, the memories are good ones.

[Peter Friedman]

I would recommend the following on Steeplechase;

Any of the CDs by:

Ronnie Cuber

Junior Cook

Duke Jordan

Horace Parlan

Kenny Drew

Bertha Hope

Johnny Griffin

Teddy Edwards

Jimmy Knepper

There are also many very good things by:

Dexter Gordon

George Cables

Tete Montoliu

Michael Cochrane

[BFrank]

Dexter, definitely.

Also:

Billy Harper

Clifford Jordan (anything by the Magic Triangle)

[brownie]

Other MustHave albums from SteepleChase would include the Kenny Dorhams, Andrew Hills, Walt Dickersons...

What a great label it is!

[John L]

I would also give a strong recommendation for the two live Jackie McLean albums from the same concert: Tune Up and Dr. Jackle.

[romualdo]

Just ordered

Bill Barron live (x2), Kenny Dorham Double, Billy Harper live (x3), Jackie Maclean live (Dr Jackle), Tete Monteliou ("I Wanna Talk About You" with Hank Mobley on one title), Baker/Bley (Diane) & Parlan (Blue Parlan)

I've read reviews of the other live Maclean CD from the same session (Baltimore 66) & the sound quality is very poor - any other comments from the board

[cliffpeterson]

anybody have any comments on the two phineas newborn jam session cds on steeplechase?

[king ubu]

anybody have any comments on the two phineas newborn jam session cds on steeplechase?

look here:

[Tom 1960]

Not to be impatient, but how long would one normally wait for a shipment to arrive from Jazz Loft? It's been almost 2 weeks.

[kh1958]

Not to be impatient, but how long would one normally wait for a shipment to arrive from Jazz Loft? It's been almost 2 weeks.

Yesterday, I finally received an email notifying me of shipment of my order placed two weeks or so ago.

[alankin]

Both Paul Bley and Stanley Cowell have some excellent recordings on the label. Surprised no one has mentioned them.

[Tom 1960]

Not to be impatient, but how long would one normally wait for a shipment to arrive from Jazz Loft? It's been almost 2 weeks.

Yesterday, I finally received an email notifying me of shipment of my order placed two weeks or so ago.

I just received an email confirmation yesterday for 1 shipment. The other order which was supposed to be shipped first class since it was a single item also ordered Feb. 1, no confirmation as of yet. I guess I'll wait things out.

[.:.impossible]

I don't have a bad Steeplechase, though maybe the Joe Bonner took me a listen or two. Proceed with confidence.

[jlhoots]

Not to be impatient, but how long would one normally wait for a shipment to arrive from Jazz Loft? It's been almost 2 weeks.

Almost always slow.

[.:.impossible]

So slow.

[Head Man]

So slow.

Always slow...often needs to be reminded.