Press Releases

441 RECORDS LAUNCHED
INNOVATIVE NEW INDEPENDENT LABEL TO FEATURE SUPERIOR JAZZ, BLUES, R&B, DANCE AND ELECTRONICA MUSIC

Harvey J. Rosen, President/COO and Kirk Imamura, Chairman/CEO have announced the formation of 441 RECORDS CORPORATION (www.441Records.com). Housed within renowned Avatar Recording Studios in New York City, 441 RECORDS promises to establish a solid foothold in the music industry by releasing top quality recordings of superior jazz, blues, R&B, dance and electronica music. "Our artists are real musicians playing real music," states Rosen.

With more than 30 years experience in virtually all facets of the recording industry, Rosen takes the reins of leadership for the new label. He also remains as Director of Sales and Marketing for Avatar Studios. Rosen's long and distinguished industry career includes posts as Director of Sales Administration for PolyGram Distribution, Director of Marketing for PolyGram Classics & Jazz, and National Sales Director for Gramavision. Rosen has also worked as Regional Sales Manager at MS Distributing, National Sales Manager for Fantasy Records and DNA Distribution, and National Sales Director for Valley Entertainment in New York. Some of the more notable projects he helped to spearhead include Grease, Saturday Night Fever, albums by Donna Summer, The Village People, and catalogues that include Deutsche Grammophon, Philips, London Classical, Verve, Original Jazz Classics and Island/Mango.

Imamura, who took over ownership of Avatar Studios in 2001, says of Rosen: "Harvey is the spark plug to our growth. We are excited about having him on board. His wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm and humor are infectious, and he gets things done that most people find impossible." Rosen adds: "It's a privilege to be a member of the Avatar family. We're looking forward to doing great things with 441 Records, and releasing some amazing albums."

Rosen explains: "For years, Avatar's management was astonished that dozens of great world-renowned jazz artists recorded at Avatar Studios were never made available for sale in the U.S. However, they did well in foreign markets. That said, 441 Records' initial mission is to market in the U.S. much of the aforementioned jazz music recorded or mixed at Avatar.

"By creating a label headquartered in a recording studio environment," he continued, "our goal is to take the enormous care that goes into recording and extend it to the process of packaging, marketing and distribution." Following the classic model of a "boutique label," 441 RECORDS plans to work very closely with the artists from project conception to final product distribution.

441 RECORDS' staff members are all seasoned industry veterans who welcome the task of creating a business scaled appropriately and run professionally with realistic expectations. Rosen is responsible for label operations, and heads up a team of knowledgeable experts. Staff members include CFO Chris Hennelly, a classically trained ballet performer who went on to work in musical theater before handling financial affairs for companies with an artistic bent; Director of Sales and Marketing Janet Figueroa, former Marketing Director for Bayside Music Distribution, MS Distributing and Wild Cat Distributing, Media Buyer at J&R Music, and Regional Manager at the Sam Goody Organization; and Production Manager Laura Marzec, who is in charge of all of 441 Records' artwork, inventory manufacturing orders, and liaison between the pressing plants and Navarre purchasing.

Rosen comments: "The opportunities are right here in front of us. We are returning to the 'old fashioned way' of doing things right. With the label and studio in harmony, we can take a recording project from the start of the process with the very first note played, and go right through to the placement of a finished album on the streets.

He continues: "By first releasing albums licensed back from the labels that recorded them here at Avatar, we get a much quicker start. We also have plans to release original titles created here at Avatar specifically for 441 Records."

The first releases for the label are: Urban Grooves by heralded "post-Bop" jazz drummer Joe Chambers and his trio; Waltz For Debbie by critically acclaimed pianist Don Friedman and his Trio; Itacuruca by Brazilian jazz/AC vocalist Pamela Driggs; Rio de Janeiro Underground by Drigg's husband Romero Lubambo, himself a celebrated Brazilian jazz musician; Once I Love by the Ronnie Mathews Trio; Michel Sardaby in New York by jazz musician Michel Sardaby; and Live at the Village Vanguard by famed jazz group the David Murray Quartet. Now shipping are releases by former Tonight Show band drummer Grady Tate, internationally heralded jazz vocalist Marlena Shaw, a two-CD package Blues Is Black featuring some of the greatest blues songs performed by the original artists; and electronica CDs by groups such as Snocone, and Proteen. Furthermore, 441 will shortly announce the first artist signing to the label, with a CD release slated for October.

Imamura says: "441 Records is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of quality in all aspects of the music business, including craft of artists and musicians, excellence of recording, fine artistic album graphics, full national retail coverage, professional principles of selling records, and ethics of business conduct. We hope music lovers everywhere will enjoy the music on 441 Records, packaged with such loving care."

Over 400 Gold and Platinum albums have been recorded in the Avatar Studios building, formerly known as The Power Station. They are located at 441 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019 (212-765-7500).