Chesky Records
{{short description|US record label}}
{{Infobox record label
| name = Chesky Records
| image = Chesky Records.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| parent =
| founded = {{start date|1978}}
| founder = David Chesky
Norman Chesky
| status =
| distributor = E1 Music
| genre = Various
| country = U.S.
| location = New York, New York
| url = {{URL|www.chesky.com}}
}}
Chesky Records is a record company and label founded in 1978 by brothers David and Norman Chesky.{{cite web|url=http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/manufacture/1109/|title=A Few Moments With David Chesky|author=Nels Ferre|publisher=Enjoy the Music|date=November 2009|accessdate=October 11, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/making-dr-cheskys-sensational-fantastic-and-simply-amazing-binaural-sound-show|title=The making of "Dr Chesky's Sensational, Fantastic, and Simply Amazing Binaural Sound Show!"|author=Steve Guttenberg|publisher=Inner Fidelity|date=May 25, 2012|accessdate=October 11, 2013}} The company produces high-definition recordings of music in a variety of genres, including jazz, classical, pop, R&B, folk and world/ethnic.{{cite web|url=https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=browse_music&type=label&id=13|title=Chesky Records|publisher=HDTracks|accessdate=October 11, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.davidchesky.com/biography.html|title=Biography|publisher=David Chesky|accessdate=October 11, 2013}} Chesky artists include McCoy Tyner, Herbie Mann, David Johansen and the Harry Smiths, Joe Henderson, Macy Gray, Chuck Mangione, Paquito D'Rivera, Ron Carter, Larry Coryell, John Pizzarelli, Bucky Pizzarelli, Babatunde Olatunji, Ana Caram, and Rebecca Pidgeon.{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/label/Chesky+Records|title=Chesky Records|publisher=Discogs|accessdate=October 11, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/herbie-mann-mn0000678408/biography|title=Herbie Mann|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=October 11, 2013}}
Chesky Records also offers binaural recordings, which seeks to replicate 3-D stereo sound so that the recording sounds as if the listener is in the same room with the musicians.{{cite web|url=http://www.stereophile.com/content/chesky-goes-binaural|title=Chesky Goes Binaural|author=Jason Victor Serinus|publisher=Stereophile|date=July 31, 2012|accessdate=October 11, 2013}} They capture this sound using dummy head recording. For its recordings, Chesky Records uses acoustically vibrant spaces, including the Hirsch Center in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and St. Paul the Apostle Church located in Manhattan.
The company has a mastering studio in New York City, New York.
History
Studio musician and composer David Chesky founded Chesky Records with his brother Norman in 1978. They began the label to preserve the sound of live-in-the studio recordings, without overdubbing original records. In 1990, they switched from recording in studios to recording in churches. One of the company's first attempts at improving sound quality was the re-issue of classical pianist Earl Wild's recordings of Rachmaninoff for Reader's Digest.{{cite web|url=http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_david_chesky/|title=David Chesky: Eclectic Producer, Outspoken Audiophile|author=Blair Jackson|publisher=Mix Magazine|date=February 1, 2005|accessdate=October 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061024102110/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_david_chesky/|archive-date=October 24, 2006}}{{cite web|url=http://www.stereophile.com/content/david-chesky-portrait-artist-his-own-man-page-2|title=David Chesky: A Portrait of the Artist as His Own Man Page 2|date=30 October 2005|publisher=Stereophile|accessdate=October 11, 2013}}
In 1990, Chesky Records released its Jazz Sampler & Audiophile Test Compact Disc, with the first nine tracks devoted to music and the remaining twenty devoted to listening and technical tests for headphones and loud speakers.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/chesky-records-jazz-sampler-audiophile-test-compact-disc-vol-1-mw0000308300|title=Chesky Records Jazz Sampler & Audiophile Test Compact Disc, Vol. 1|publisher=All Music|accessdate=October 11, 2013}} Other test discs include Dr. Chesky's Sensational, Fantastic, and Simply Amazing Binaural Sound Show and the Ultimate Demo Disc.
In 2007, David and Norman Chesky also started an audiophile music download website called HDtracks. HDtracks allows customers to download high-resolution versions of albums in numerous formats (FLAC, AIFF).{{cite web|url=http://www.hdtracks.com|title=HDTracks|publisher=HDTracks|accessdate=October 11, 2013}} The site contains many varied artists and labels.{{cite web|url=http://www.berkleegroove.com/2010/04/29/david-chesky-hd-tracks/|title=David Chesky & HD Tracks|author=Julie Hill|publisher=The Berklee Groove|accessdate=October 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014225327/http://www.berkleegroove.com/2010/04/29/david-chesky-hd-tracks/|archive-date=October 14, 2013|url-status=dead}} In 2012, Crosby, Stills, and Nash announced that they would be releasing HD versions of its first three albums through HDtracks, and the company also released remastered titles from the Blue Note label, including John Coltrane's Blue Train, Eric Dolphy's Out To Lunch, Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage, Wayne Shorter's Speak No Evil, Horace Silver's Song for My Father and Larry Young's Unity.{{cite web|url=http://jazztimes.com/articles/45353-blue-note-releases-six-classics-in-high-definition-audio|title=Blue Note Releases Six Classics in High Definition Audio|publisher=Jazz Times|author=Jeff Tamarkin|date=July 26, 2012|accessdate=October 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505014813/http://jazztimes.com/articles/45353-blue-note-releases-six-classics-in-high-definition-audio|archive-date=May 5, 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.audiostream.com/content/new-old-blue-note-hdtracks|title=New (old) Blue Note on HDtracks|date=17 June 2010|publisher=AudioStream|accessdate=October 11, 2013}} Other notable artists include Carole King, Janis Joplin, Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan.
In 2011, Chesky Records incorporated High Resolution Technology in their label{{cite web|url=http://www.rockian.biz/new/2007arc.htm|title=David Chesky nominated for a Grammy Award|publisher=Rockian Trading|accessdate=October 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222206/http://www.rockian.biz/new/2007arc.htm|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=dead}} and introduced binaural recordings.{{cite web|url=https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=artistdetail&id=9541|title=Two albums in one: Binaural & Soundfield|publisher=HDTracks|accessdate=October 11, 2013}} The Binaural+ masters are captured in high-resolution (24-bit/192 kHz) sound using a binaural dummy head nicknamed "Lars". David Chesky collaborated with Princeton professor Edgar Y. Choueiri to begin producing binaural recordings.{{cite web|url=http://www.goodsound.com/index.php/music-and-movie-reviews/featured-releases/407-david-chesky-dr-chesky-s-sensational-fantastic-and-simply-amazing-binaural-sound-show|title=David Chesky: "Dr. Chesky's Sensational Fantastic and Simply Amazing Binaural Sound Show!"|publisher=SoundStage! Access|accessdate=October 11, 2013}} The purpose of the technology is to capture three-dimensional sound and imaging.
In 2016, Chesky Records released the critically acclaimed jazz debut of Macy Gray, Stripped, which debuted No. 3 on the Billboard Jazz Charts.{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/macy-gray/chart-history/jls/|title=Macy Gray Chart History |author= |date= |website=Billboard |publisher=Billboard |access-date=Jan 25, 2018}} The label also released the debut album from City of the Sun, which debuted No. 12 on the Billboard Jazz Charts, would go on to garner over 17 million album streams on Spotify and peak at No. 2 on the Spotify US Viral 50.{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/city-of-the-sun/chart-history/jls/|title=City of the Sun Chart History |author= |date= |website=Billboard |publisher=Billboard |access-date=Jan 25, 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Shirvell|first1=Bridget|title=Fall in Love with the Acoustic Music of City of the Sun {{!}} Long Island Pulse Magazine|url=http://lipulse.com/2016/05/11/fall-in-love-with-the-acoustic-music-of-city-of-sun/|website=Long Island Pulse Magazine|accessdate=6 February 2018|date=11 May 2016}}
In 2018, Casey Abrams and Meiko signed with Chesky Records. Abrams' debut album for the label, Put a Spell on You, hit #5 on the Billboard Jazz Charts,{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/casey-abrams|title=Casey Abrams Chart History|website=Billboard|access-date=2020-02-09}} and Meiko hit #23 on the Billboard Folk Charts with Playing Favorites.{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/Meiko|title=Meiko Chart History|website=Billboard|access-date=2020-02-09}}
In 2019, Anna Nalick signed with Chesky Records and released her label debut The Blackest Crow that December.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-blackest-crow-mw0003330292|title=The Blackest Crow - Anna Nalick {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=2020-02-09}}
Chesky Records uses custom recording equipment and experiments with recording techniques and formats.{{cite web|url=http://www.monoandstereo.com/2009/07/interview-with-david-chesky.html|title=Matej Isak interview with David Chesky|publisher=Mono Stereo|accessdate=October 11, 2013}}
Artists
Awards and recognition
- 1997 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Performance – Portraits of Cuba, Paquito D'Rivera{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6837258/a/portraits+of+cuba.htm|title=Paquito D'Rivera – Portraits of Cuba|publisher=CD Universe|accessdate=October 11, 2013}}
- 1998 Nominated: Grammy Award for Best World Music Album – Love Drum Talk, Babatunde Olatunji{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/13/obit.olatunji.reut/|title=World music pioneer Olatunji dead|publisher=CNN|date=April 13, 2003|accessdate=October 11, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6745203/a/love+drum+talk.htm|title=Love Drum Talk|publisher=CD Universe|accessdate=October 11, 2013}}
- 2000 Latin Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album – Tropicana Nights, Paquito D'Rivera{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=Paquito+D%E2%80%99Rivera+&field_nominee_work_value=&year=All&genre=All|title=Past Winners Search|publisher=Grammy.com|accessdate=October 11, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.paquitodrivera.com/bio/more-awards/|title=Complete List of Honors|publisher=Paquito D'Rivera|accessdate=October 11, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1768693&style=music|title=Paquito D'Rivera – Tropicana Nights|publisher=CD Universe|accessdate=October 11, 2013}}
- 2005 Nominated: Grammy Award for Best Engineered Classical Recording – Area 31, David Chesky{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Grammy-Award-Nominees-Engineered-Classical/lm/R3D175CBAW2CPQ|title=48th Grammy Award Nominees, Best Engineered Album, Classical|publisher=Amazon|accessdate=October 11, 2013}}
- 2005 Nominated: Latin Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album – The Body Acoustic, David Chesky{{cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/latingrammys/2005/nominees.html|title=Bebe Leads Latin Grammy Nominations|publisher=The American Society of Composers|accessdate=October 11, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2005-11-02-latin-grammy-list_x.htm|title=Complete list of 6th annual Latin Grammy nominations|publisher=USA Today|accessdate=October 11, 2013|date=November 2, 2005}}
- 2007 Nominated: Grammy Award for Best Classical Contemporary Composition – Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, David Chesky{{cite web|url=http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/Baldwin-Artist-David-Chesky-No.aspx|title=Baldwin Artist David Chesky Nominated for Grammy!|author=Ellen Mallernee|publisher=Gibson|date=December 7, 2007|accessdate=October 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402042017/http://www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/Baldwin-Artist-David-Chesky-No.aspx|archive-date=April 2, 2016|url-status=dead}}
- 2013 Independent Music Award – Contemporary Classical Album – String Theory, David Chesky{{cite news |last=Serinus |first=Jason Victor |date=July 24, 2015 |title=David Chesky Scores His Second IMA Award |url=https://www.stereophile.com/content/david-chesky-scores-his-second-ima-award |location=New York |access-date=January 25, 2018 }}
- 2015 Independent Music Award – Contemporary Classical Album – Rap Symphony, David Chesky
- 2016 Independent Music Award – Jazz Vocal Album – Stripped, Macy Gray{{cite web |url=http://independentmusicawards.com/the-15th-independent-music-awards-nominees/ |title=The 15th Independent Music Awards Nominees |author= |date= |website=Independent Music Awards |publisher=Music Resource Group LLC |access-date=January 25, 2018}}
- 2016 Nominated: Independent Music Award – Contemporary Classical Album – The Venetian Concertos, David Chesky
- 2019 Nominated: Independent Music Award - Contemporary Classical Album - Piano Concertos 2,3, David Chesky{{cite web |url=https://independentmusicawards.com/17th-independent-music-awards-nominees/ |title=The 17th Independent Music Awards Nominees |author= |date= |website=Independent Music Awards |publisher=Music Resource Group LLC |access-date=November 13, 2019}}
- 2019 Nominated: Independent Music Award - Tribute Album - Playing Favorites, Meiko
- 2019 Nominated: Independent Music Award - Cover Song - "Super Freak" (Meiko)
See also
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.chesky.com/}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:American jazz record labels