Sonic Portraits Entertainment, Artist-Friendly Independent Label, Debuts in May 2007

Press release
Source: DL Media

Sonic Portraits Entertainment is a new independent label officially debuting this month with its first release and with performances by Sonic Portraits artists at the Atlanta Jazz Festival. Sonic Portraits calls itself artist-friendly because the label was founded on the proposition that the most interesting recordings will be made when they are artist-directed--when the label collaborates with mature artists and documents them as they pursue their own musical journeys. The label was founded with two veteran artists, Robert Irving III and Terri Lyne Carrington, as co-producers and co-directors of A&R.

Sonic Portraits will produce recordings in the genres of Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Urban Contemporary Jazz, Urban Adult Contemporary and Adult Contemporary. Each project will be artist-directed, in order to support the artists' vision and concept and enable the artist to attain a standard of excellence beyond the expected industry standard.

The label's first release is Robert Irving III's New Momentum, which has already been selected by Billboard as a Critic's Choice. Irving, who collaborated for many years with Miles Davis as keyboardist, arranger, producer, and music director of Davis' touring band, has on this recording, brought all of his musical ideas and pianistic accomplishments to the revealing context of an acoustic jazz trio. Irving is accompanied on New Momentum by Buster Williams on bass, Marlene Rosenberg on bass, and Yusef Ernie Adams on drums.

Sonic Portraits' other founding artist, Terri Lynne Carrington, has been in the studio, too, recording with guest artists who include Nancy Wilson, George Duke, Patrice Rushen, Christian McBride, Jimmy Haslip, Kirk Whalum, Everette Harp, Dwight Sills, Anthony Wilson, Danilo Perez, and Ray Fuller. Her album, titled More To Say (Real Life Story: Next Gen), is a follow up to her very successful, Grammy-nominated 1989 recording Real Life Story. Currently in post-production, More To Say will be released later in 2007.

On Saturday May 26, Sonic Portraits artists will be performing at the 30th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival as Terri Lyne Carrington and Friends (on the main stage in Piedmont Park). In addition to Robert Irving III, the Friends include Patrice Rushen, Everette Harp, Chris Walker, and Munyungo Jackson.

For more information, please visit www.sonic-portraits.com.