The Savoy Label Group (SLG) is a division of Japan's oldest record company, Columbia Music Entertainment (formerly Nippon Columbia) which began its revival in 2001 under the leadership of industry-veterans Steve Vining and CEO Strauss Zelnick.
SLG has grown into a full service record company specializing in the creation and marketing of adult music worldwide. The Savoy Jazz catalog, synonymous with jazz excellence since the 1940's, represents the early landmark recordings of legends Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Erroll Garner, Cannonball Adderley and many, many others. In addition to managing these historic jazz recordings, the company also boasts the SLG label featuring Jim Brickman (R&R's Top Charting A/C of all time), award-winning classical and classical crossover recordings in Denon Classics, Kin Kou Music - home to Andreas Vollenweider and recognized for adventurous world and new age music and 429 Records specializing in Indie rock and adult alternative with an artist roster featuring Joan Armatrading, The Roches, Steve Forbert, The Young Dubliners, newcomer Steve Reynolds and the recent all star celebration of The Band - Endless Highway - featuring Jack Johnson, Bruce Hornsby, Death Cab for Cutie, Rosanne Cash and many others. Endless Highway debuted in the Billboard Top 200, the first chart debut for 429 Records.
New signings to Savoy Jazz have included Andy Bey, Ravi Coltrane (son of John), The Basement Boys, pianist/composer Vijay Iyer as we as world music icon Milton Nascimento, jazz/dance/pop mainstay St. Etienne and Groove Collective. Grammy Nominations have included; both Ravi Coltrane (for his Savoy debut "In Flux") and Vijay Iyer, Andy Bey in 2005 for his debut release, "American Song," The Groove Collective for Best Contemporary Jazz album in 2006 for "People, People, Music, Music" and Andreas Vollenweider for "The Magical Journeys of Andreas Vollenweider ".
In 2005, SLG announced an exclusive distribution agreement with Warner-Elektra-Atlantic (WEA). Under the agreement, WEA will provide US distribution services for all of SLG's labels. Internationally SLG is distributed in Canada by Koch, in Japan by the parent Columbia Music and through out the rest of the world via a network of licensors and distributors including EMI Music (UK/Eire), Milan (Europe), Union Square Music (Europe) Shock (Australia), Rock Records (Taiwan), WEA International (Singapore/Malaysia) and Sony/BMG (Philippines). SLG was one of the first labels to sign with Apple's iTunes store and manages the labels worldwide sales with the site via the market leading online stores staff in Cupertino, CA.
In addition to reviving Savoy Jazz, Denon Classics has emerged as the leading independent classical label in the U.S. with the signing of Dutch violinist, Andre Rieu. A star at PBS for his many successful TV programs and a Pollstar Top 5 touring act worldwide, Andre Rieu has been the #2 Top Selling Classical Artist on the Billboard charts with his past five releases, "The Flying Dutchman", "Tuscany", "The Homecoming", "Christmas Around the World" and "New Years Eve in Vienna". Two new Denon Classical projects are in partnership with PBS - "From Italy with Love" by new vocal sensation Andiamo and "Northern Lights" featuring internationally renowned vocalist Sissel and her guest the incomparable Jose Carreras.
Formed as a boutique company specializing in the creation and marketing of music aimed at the burgeoning adult market worldwide, SLG will continue it's impressive growth through aggressive and effective marketing and partnerships with outstanding artists from all musical genres.
