Peak Records is a record label that was co-founded by The Rippingtons leader and guitarist Russ Freeman & Andi Howard in 1994. The early years, Peak founded as a production for Russ' group The Rippingtons in GRP Records. Now, Peak is a part of Concord Records.
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History
- 1994 Peak Records is co-founded by Russ Freeman & Andi Howard in GRP Records.
- 1997 Peak transferred to Windham Hill Records.
- 2000 Peak transferred to Concord Records.
Peak's first recording was "Time Slipping By" from Mark Williamson in 1994, and "Sahara" by Russ Freeman and the Rippingtons. During the late 1990s, Peak became a fully self-sufficient independent label under Windham Hill/RCA, and the Rippingtons' released "Black Diamond" to commemorate the then 10-year anniversary of the group. When the label became part of Concord Records, Peak signed saxophonists Paul Taylor and Eric Marienthal to the label as well as vocalist Phil Perry, who has since shifted to Shanachie. Early on, the label put out the Rippingtons' second live recording called "Live! Across America" in 2002 and an album from critically-acclaimed saxophonist Gato Barbieri called "The Shadow Of The Cat." Former American Idol contestant LaToya London came out with an album on Peak Records in September 2005 called "Love and Life." Others who have put forth product on the label include former Ambrosia vocalist David Pack, R&B stylist Regina Belle and Denver-based contemporary jazz act Dotsero. In the middle of the decade, Howard and the label became very aggressive in signing talent, bringing David Benoit in 2004, Lee Ritenour (2005), Gerald Albright (2006), Will Downing, Paul Brown, Norman Brown, Peabo Bryson and Marc Antoine (the last five all in 2007). In 2006, Peak released the Rippingtons' "20th Anniversary Celebration," which also included a commemorative 25-minute DVD. The CD included new hit songs "Bingo Jingo," "City of Angels," "Costa Del Sol," and "Anything," which also featured singer/songwriter Brian McKnight. During the summer of 2007, Peak Records' artists Paul Brown and Norman Brown both rocketed to No. 1 on the smooth jazz chart from Radio and Records magazine. The label also released the debut of Marc Antoine called "Hi-Lo Split." For the fall of 2007, Peak Records will be releasing a new CDs from Eric Marienthal called "Just Around the Corner," Peabo Bryson's "Missing You" and Will Downing's label debut "After Tonight." In the winter of 2007-08, new saxophone talent Jessy J will release her debut recording on the label titled, "Tequila Moon." In addition, on Sept. 26, 2007, it was reported the label had also signed Mindi Abair to a deal and her debut will come out in April, a compilation titled "Stars." Two mainstays of the contemporary jazz record business also work behind the scenes for Peak in Mark Wexler and Deborah Lewow.
Artists
- Mindi Abair
- Marc Antoine
- Gerald Albright
- Gato Barbieri
- Regina Belle
- David Benoit
- Braxton Brothers
- Paul Brown
- Norman Brown
- Peabo Bryson
- Will Downing
- Russ Freeman
- Chanté Moore
- Eric Marienthal
- O'2L
- David Pack
- The Rippingtons
- Lee Ritenour
- Paul Taylor
- Jessy J
2007 Release Schedule
- Oct. 2 — Peabo Bryson, "Missing You"
- Oct. 16 — Eric Marienthal, "Just Around the Corner"
- Oct. 30 — Will Downing, "After Tonight"
2008 Release Schedule
- Feb. 26 — Chanté Moore, TBD
- March — Jessy J, "Tequila Moon"
- April — Mindi Abair, "Stars"
- April — David Benoit, "Heroes"
Gerald Albright is slated to release a new CD in the first half of 2008. A new Rippingtons release is expected in the first quarter of 2009, according to contemporaryjazz.com and the Quad City Times newspaper out of Iowa.
