Motéma Music

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Motéma Music
Motemalogo.jpg
Founded2003 (2003)
FounderJana Herzen
Distributor(s)The Orchard
Genre
Country of originU.S.
LocationNew York City
Official websitewww.motema.com

Motéma Music is a jazz and world music record label. The label's catalog spans genres, cultures, and generations and has received Grammy recognition for over twenty-five albums in jazz, Latin-jazz, reggae, and R&B. Founded by label president and recording artist Jana Herzen, it was Motéma that first brought soul/jazz musician Gregory Porter to international attention with his Grammy-nominated first albums, Water and Be Good and his hit song "1960 What?" The label launched international careers for jazz piano star Joey Alexander, modern soul singer Deva Mahal, and Cuban musician Pedrito Martinez, among others. Also in the label’s catalog are recordings by established performers such as Randy Weston, Geri Allen, David Murray, Monty Alexander, and Charnett Moffett, alongside releases by younger players including Donny McCaslin, Mark Guiliana, Jihye Lee, and NEA Jazzmaster Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science, whose much-talked-about Grammy-nominated activist album Waiting Game garnered 2020 Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Artist of the Year accolades from Downbeat among other awards and recognition. [1]

History[]

Motéma Music was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area. A production company since 1997,[2] it became a label after signing Babatunde Lea for his album, . Jana Herzen, a singer-songwriter who composed and performed on "'Round the World" on Soul Pools, was trying to get out some records and created the label to do so, never intending to be a CEO.[3] Herzen chose the name because of its similarity to the sound of "Motown".

Herzen moved the label to New York in 2005. At one time, the label was based in the third floor of the Langston Hughes House.[4] The label has since changed locations but remains in Harlem. The Motéma logo was designed by Winston Smith.[5]

The label is very artist-centric and focuses on each artist's individual development. It is because of this reputation that such artists as Geri Allen and Rufus Reid came to the label.[5]

Jazz Therapy[]

Roni Ben-Hur and Jana Herzen founded the Jazz Therapy series as a benefit for the of the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Foundation in Englewood, New Jersey, which underwrites medical care for uninsured jazz musicians who are unable to pay for medical care. The series so far has included CDs by Ben-Hur and Ithamara Koorax and Juarez Moreira. Ben-Hur met Nilson Matta in the performance lounge of Englewood Hospital, which led to their collaboration on the third release in the series.

Awards and honors[]

Grammy Awards[]

  • 2011: 53rd Grammy Nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album – Water - Gregory Porter
  • 2012: 54th Grammy Nominated for Best Regae Album – Harlem Kingston Express Live! – Monty Alexander
  • 2012: 54th Grammy Nominated for Best Jazz Vocal – The Music of Randy Newman – Roseanna Vitro
  • 2013: 55th Grammy Nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance – Real Good Hands, from Be Good – Gregory Porter
  • 2015: 57th Grammy Win for Best Latin Jazz Album – The Offense of the Drum – Arturo O'Farrill
  • 2015: 57th Grammy Nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album – I Wanna Be Evil – René Marie
  • 2015: 57th Grammy Nominated for Best Instrumental Composition and Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album – Quiet Pride – The Elizabeth Catlett Project – Rufus Reid
  • 2015: 57th Grammy Nominated for Best Latin Album – The Pedrito Martinez Group – Pedrito Martinez
  • 2016: 58th Grammy Win for Best Instrumental Composition and Latin Grammy Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album – Cuba: The Conversation Continues - Arturo O'Farrill
  • 2016: 58th Grammy Nominated for Best Large Ensemble Jazz Album – Cuba: The Conversation Continues – Arturo O'Farrill
  • 2016: 58th Grammy Nominated for Best Jazz Improvisation and Best Instrumental Jazz Album – My Favorite Things – Joey Alexander
  • 2016: 58th Grammy Nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album – Many A New Day – Karrin Allyson
  • 2017: 59th Grammy Nominated for Best Improvised Jazz Solo – Countdown – Joey Alexander
  • 2017: 59th Grammy Nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album – Sound of Red – René Marie
  • 2017: 59th Grammy Won Best Large Ensemble Jazz Album and Best Instrumental Composition – Presidential Suite: Eight Variations on Freedom – Ted Nash
  • 2018: 60th Grammy Win for Best Instrumental Composition – Familia: Tribute to Bebo and Chico – Arturo O'Farrill and Chucho Valdes
  • 2019: 61st Grammy Nomination Best Contemporary Instrumental Album – Beat Music! Beat Music! Beat Music! – Mark Guiliana
  • 2019: 61st Grammy Nomination Best Instrumental Improvisation – La Madrina – Melissa Aldana


Discography[]

2003[]

  • Babatunde Lea – Soul Pools with Ku-umba Frank Lacy, Hilton Ruiz, , Mario Rivera, Kevin Jones, Jana Herzen, Raul Midon, Ernie Watts, Geoff Brennan 7-09363-7136-2
  • Babatunde Lea – Level of Intent with Jon Faddis, Charnette Moffett [sic], Hilton Ruiz, Frank Colón, John Purcell, Frank Lacy, Tommy James, Santi Debriano, Kenny Barron, 8-20320-0047-2 (reissue of a 1996 Diaspora Records album)
  • Lynne Arriale Trio (Jay Anderson, Steve Davis) – Arise MTM71372

2004[]

  • Babatunde Lea – Suite Unseen: Summoner of the Ghost with , Richard Howell, Glen Pearson, Geoff Brennan, , Bujo Kevin Jones MTM 00002
  • Jana Herzen – Soup's on Fire MOTEMA 6681-2
  • Discomind – The Fresh Turnout unnumbered [digital download; physical CDs are promotional items only]
  • DJ Jackie Christie – Made 4 U RAD 90079-2

2005[]

  • Lynn Arriale Trio (Jay Anderson, Steve Davis) – Come Together MTM 00001

2006[]

  • Marc Cary – Focus with , Sameer Gupta MTM-00005
  • Bujo Kevin Jones with Kelvin Sholar, , , , , – Tenth World MTM 0000-3
  • Kit McClure Band – Just the Thing: The Sweethearts Project Revisited RH 9005
  • Lynne Arrialle Trio (Jay Anderson, Steve Davis) – Live MTM-00007

2007[]

  • Marc Cary & – XR Project: AbStraKt|BlaK MTM-00004
  • Pete Levin – Deacon Blues featuring Joe Beck, , Danny Gottlieb, Tony Levin, , Carlos Valdez MTM-0008
  • Roni Ben-Hur – Keepin' It Open with Jeremy Pelt, Ronnie Mathews, Santi Debriano, Lewis Nash, 232537
  • Rufus Reid Quintet (Sumi Tonooka, Tim Horner, , Rich Perry) – Live at the Kennedy Center MTM-00009 (CD+DVD)
  • Ryan Cohan – One Sky with Bob Sheppard, , , James Cammack, , Kobie Watkins, , MTM-00012
  • Amy London – When I Look in Your Eyes featuring John Hicks, Lee Musiker, Roni Ben-Hur, Rufus Reid, Leroy Williams, MTM-00011
  • KJ Denhert – Lucky 7 MTM-00014

2008[]

  • Antonio Ciacca Quintet (, , , Joe Magnarelli) – Rush Life 232536
  • Bujo Kevin Jones – Bujo Kevin Jones & Tenth World Live! with Kelvin Sholar, , , , MTM-00020
  • KJ Denhert – Dal Vivo a Umbria Jazz with , , Mamadou Ba, , and featuring Aaron Heick MTM - 00017
  • The New Jazz Composers Octet – The Turning Gate MTM-00019
  • Roni Ben-Hur, Gene Bertoncini – Smile: Jazz Therapy, Volume 1 MTM - 00018

2009[]

  • Lynne Arriale – Nuance: The Bennett Studio Sessions featuring Randy Brecker, George Mraz, MTM-00022
  • Charnett Moffett – The Art of Improvisation with Will Calhoun, , Pat Jones MTM-21
  • Sertab Erener, Demir Demirkan – Painted on Water MTM23
  • Oran Etkin – Kelenia MTM - 24
  • Tessa Souter – Obsession MTM-27
  • Babatunde Lea's Umbo Weti: A Tribute to Leon Thomas with , Ernie Watts, Patrice Rushen, MTM-25
  • Alexis Cole – The Greatest Gift MTM-26
  • N.E.D. – No Evidence of Disease MTM-29
  • Ithamara Koorax, Juarez Moreira – Bim Bom - The Complete João Gilberto Songbook (Jazz Therapy, Vol. 2) MTM-30
  • Roni Ben-Hur – Fortuna with Ronnie Mathews, Rufus Reid, Lewis Nash, MTM-28
  • 2009 Motéma Summer Sampler
  • Antonio Ciacca Quintet (Kengo Nakamura, Ulysses Owens, Stacy Dillard, Steve Grossman) – Lagos Blues MTM-32
  • 2009 Motéma Winter Sampler

2010[]

  • Rufus Reid featuring Steve Allee & Duduka da Fonseca – Out Front MTM-36
  • Tomoko Sugawara – Along the Silk Road with Robert Dick and MTM-31
  • Geri Allen – Flying Toward the Sound MTM-37
  • Lynne Arriale – Solo MTM-38 [unreleased]
  • Sertab Erener, Demir Demirkan – Love (EP) MTM-44 [digital download; only promo CDs exist]
  • Marc Cary – Focus Trio Live 2009 MTM-33
  • Patrick Stanfield Jones – A Heart and an Open Road with , Don Gardner, , , Jana Herzen, Kit McClure, , MTM-39
  • Gregory Porter – Water MTM-41
  • Charnett Moffett – Treasure MTM-43
  • Geri Allen and – Live MTM-42
  • Ryan Cohan – Another Look MTM-45
  • Motéma Music Summer Sampler 2010
  • Oran Etkin – Wake Up Clarinet! MTM-TMB-46-1
  • Sameer Gupta – Namaskar with Marc Cary, , Srinivas Reddy, , , , MTM-49
  • Randy Weston – The Storyteller MTM-51
  • KJ Denhert – Album No. 9 MTM-47
  • – The Bitter Mirror: Songs by Bob Dylan and Bertolt Brecht MTM-50 (reissue of 1975 album)

2011[]

  • Lynne Arriale – Convergence MTM-54
  • Rondi Charleston – Who Knows Where the Time Goes with Dave Stryker, James Genus, Clarence Penn, Lynne Arriale, , MTM-55
  • Amy London – Let's Fly featuring Roni Ben-Hur, Santi Debriano, Steve Williams, , , , Richard Wyands MTM-56
  • T.K. Blue – Latin Bird featuring , , , Theo Hill and special guests Lewis Nash, Steve Turre MTM-57
  • 2011 Motéma Music Sampler
  • Rufus Reid & Out Front (Steve Allee & Duduka da Fonseca) featuring Toninho Horta, Bobby Watson, , – Hues of a Different Blue MTM-58
  • René Marie – Voice of My Beautiful Country MTM-59
  • Malika Zarra – Berber Taxi MTM-60
  • Nilson Matta and Roni Ben-Hur with Victor Lewis and Café – Mojave - Jazz Therapy, Vol. 3 MTM-64
  • Jean-Michel Pilc – Essential MTM-61
  • Roseanna Vitro – The Music of Randy Newman, arranged by Mark Soskin with Sara Caswell, Dean Johnson, Tim Horner, Jamey Haddad, Steve Cardenas MTM-65
  • Monty Alexander – Harlem - Kingston Express Live! with Karl Wright, , , . Robert Thomas, , MTM-67
  • JC Stylles featuring Pat Bianchi and Lawrence Leathers – Exhilaration and Other States MTM-68
  • Geri Allen – A Child Is Born MTM-69
  • A Moving Sound – A Moving Sound [compilation from their second and third albums] MTM-71
  • Pilc Moutin Hoenig – Threedom MTM-72
  • David Murray Cuban Ensemble – Plays Nat King Cole en Español with special guests Daniel Melingo, Juanjo Mosalini, The Sinfonieta of Sines MTM-73
  • René Marie – Black Lace Freudian Slip with Kevin Bales, , , , , , , MTM-74
  • – Threedom
  • Gregory Porter – 1960 What? The Remixes
  • Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio – The 11th Gate

2012[]

  • Elio Villafranca, Arturo Stable – Dos y Mas
  • Gregory Porter – Be Good
  • Lynne Arriale – Solo
  • Joe Locke / Geoffrey Keezer Group – Signing
  • Ablaye Cissoko / Volker Goetze – Amanke Dionti
  • Tessa Souter – Beyond The Blue
  • Brazilian Trio – Constelação
  • The Cookers – Believe
  • Lakecia Benjamin – Retox
  • Roni Ben-Hur, Santi Debriano – Our Thing
  • Alexis Cole, Jeremy Kahn, Frank Basile, Kevin Bales, et al. – Joy Road: The Complete Works of Pepper Adams, Volumes 1-5

2013[]

  • David Murray Infinity Quartet featuring Macy Gray & Gregory Porter – Be My Monster Love MTM 112
  • Marc Cary – For the Love of Abbey MTM 122
  • Geri Allen – Grand River Crossings MTM 128
  • 'The Joe Locke Quartet with Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra – Wish Upon A Star

2014[]

  • Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra – The Offense of the Drum[6]
  • Ginger Baker – Why?
  • Kellylee Evans – I Remember When
  • Omer Avital – New Song
  • Oran Etkin – Gathering Light
  • – Time and Time Again
  • – Evolutionary Minded, furthering the Legacy of Gil Scott-Heron

2015[]

  • Joe Locke – Love Is A Pendulum
  • Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra – Cuba: The Conversation Continues[7]
  • Shai Maestro Trio – Untold Stories

2016[]

  • Jaimeo Brown Transcendence – Work Songs
  • René Marie – Sound of Red
  • Motema Compilations – The Same Heart (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
  • David Murray, Gerri Allen, and Terri Lyne Carrington Power Trio – Perfection
  • The Pedrito Martinez Group – Habana Dreams
  • Ben Wendel – What We Bring
  • Will Calhoun – Celebrating Elvin Jones
  • Joey Alexander – Countdown
  • Ted Nash – Presidential Suite: Eight Variations on Freedom
  • Donny McCaslin – Beyond Now

2017[]

  • Kneebody – Anti-Hero
  • Petros Klampanis – Chroma
  • Gerald Clayton – Tributary Tales
  • Charnett Moffett – Music From Our Soul
  • Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, John Medeski, Larry Grenadier – Hudson
  • Chucho Valdés and Arturo O'Farrill – Familiar: Tribute to Bebo and Chico
  • Mark Guiliana – Jersey
  • Joey Alexander – Joey.Monk.Live!
  • Deva Mahal – EP

2018[]

  • David Murray – Blues for Memo
  • Deva Mahal – Run Deep
  • Playing for Change – Listen to the Music
  • Kneebody – How High feat. Inara George
  • Joey Alexander – Eclipse
  • Gilad Hekselman – Ask for Chaos
  • Stefon Harris – Sonic Creed
  • Donny McCaslin – Blow
  • Ben Wendel – The Seasons
  • – Legion of Peace
  • Joey Alexander – A Joey Alexander Christmas
  • , Jana Herzen, Charnett Moffett – Overtones

2019[]

  • Mark Guiliana – BEAT MUSIC! BEAT MUSIC! BEAT MUSIC!
  • Melissa Aldana – Visions
  • Gilad Hekselman – Further Chaos
  • Charnett Moffett – Bright New Day
  • Deva Mahal – Goddamn/Your Only One
  • Donny McCaslin – Head of Mine/Tokyo
  • Terri Lyne Carrington – Waiting Game

2020[]

  • Jana Herzen – Nothing But Love
  • Jana Herzen and Charnett Moffett – 'Round the World
  • Jana Herzen – Kapolioka'ehukai
  • – Party of Four

References[]

  1. ^ "Motema Music. Artists of power and distinction since 2003".
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2011-08-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ Alex Henderson. "Motéma Music" All About Jazz, November 2010, pp. 12 & 39
  4. ^ Arcynta Ali Childs. "Lawsuits and the Langston Hughes House." The Village Voice, August 27, 2008. http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-08-27/news/lawsuits-real-estate-relics-and-the-langston-hughes-house/
  5. ^ a b "Winston Smith News - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE". 11 April 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra｜The Offense of the Drum". Motéma Music. May 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra｜Cuba: The Conversation Continues". Motéma Music. August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.

External links[]

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