Riverside Records
| Company type | Record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Founder | Orrin Keepnews, Bill Grauer, Jr. |
| Defunct | 1964 |
| Fate | Filed for voluntary bankruptcy; catalog acquired by ABC Records, later by Fantasy Records |
| Successor | ABC Records, Fantasy Records, Concord (current owner of catalog) |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Orrin Keepnews (artistic director), Bill Grauer, Jr. (commercial and administrative head) |
| Products | Jazz and folk music recordings |
| Parent | Bill Grauer Productions |
Riverside Records was a prominent American jazz label established in 1953 by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer, Jr., operating under the umbrella of Bill Grauer Productions. Headquartered at 553 West 51st Street in New York City, Riverside made a notable impact on the jazz scene throughout its ten years of activity.
History
Riverside initially concentrated on reissuing early jazz recordings from labels such as Paramount, Gennett, and Hot Record Society (H.R.S.). The label brought back to the public works by artists including Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Ma Rainey, and James P. Johnson. Beginning in April 1954, Riverside shifted towards producing new jazz sessions, launching this phase with pianist Randy Weston. In 1955, the label secured a five-year contract with Thelonious Monk after acquiring his agreement from Prestige Records. Influential musicians like Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Charlie Byrd, Johnny Griffin, and Wes Montgomery became key contributors to Riverside’s extensive catalog.
Creative direction was primarily overseen by Keepnews, who acted as the artistic leader, while Grauer handled the commercial and administrative aspects. Riverside also operated subsidiary imprints, including Jazzland Records for jazz-focused releases and Judson for non-jazz genres.
The label expanded its repertoire to include a broad folk collection featuring traditional artists such as Bascom Lamar Lunsford, Obray Ramsey, George Pegram, and Walter Parham, alongside folk interpreters like Ewan MacColl, Jean Ritchie, Paul Clayton, Billy Faier, Oscar Brand, Cynthia Gooding, and Bob Gibson.
In 1956, Bill Grauer produced an exceptional recording capturing audio from the Florida International Twelve-Hour Grand Prix of Endurance, which included interviews with racing icons such as Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio.
Living Legends
Between 1960 and 1961, Riverside released the celebrated "Living Legends" series, highlighting seasoned jazz and blues performers like Jim Robinson, Sweet Emma Barrett, and Alberta Hunter. This initiative sought to document musicians who were often inactive professionally and no longer affiliated with the union; consequently, the American Federation of Musicians temporarily relaxed union restrictions to facilitate the project. Initial sessions were recorded in New Orleans at Societé des Jeunes Amis Hall, chosen for its authentic acoustic qualities and familiar environment; subsequent recordings took place in Chicago. Producer Chris Albertson remarked on the hall’s atmosphere, praising its live sound that evoked the feel of 1940s jazz recordings. Louis Cottrell, Jr. led a trio with McNeal Breaux and Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau, accompanied by Emanuel Sayles on guitar and banjo. Their performances were recognized for a sophistication surpassing typical New Orleans jazz, described as an intimate and understated pleasure. Cottrell’s 1961 album, New Orleans: The Living Legends, which was reissued in 1994, remains an important archival recording within jazz history.
Riverside Wonderland
Riverside Wonderland, a subsidiary imprint of Riverside, specialized in producing children's records. Its catalog featured the Grandpa Magic series with performances by Ed Wynn, two albums by Alec Templeton, a narrated version of Arabian Nights read by Martyn Green, and an uncommon six-disc complete edition of Alice in Wonderland with narration by Cyril Ritchard. This comprehensive collection was also made available as individual volumes. Riverside Wonderland obtained U.S. distribution rights for British musical recordings including Fiona Bentley's works such as The First Christmas featuring Dame Edith Evans, Musical Zoo performed by The Mike Sammes Singers, and Beatrix Potter tales narrated by Vivien Leigh. During the 1970s, these British titles were licensed by A.A. Records amid its shift from Golden Records to Wonderland Records, a label unrelated to Riverside.
End
In December 1963, Grauer passed away suddenly due to a heart attack, and by July 1964, the company had filed for voluntary bankruptcy. The Riverside catalog was subsequently acquired by ABC Records, which reissued select titles; however, the majority of Riverside’s master recordings were purchased by Fantasy Records in 1972. Fantasy later re-released this material on LP under the Milestone label and included it in the Original Jazz Classics CD series from the 1980s onward. Presently, ownership of the Riverside catalog rests with the Concord label group.
External links
- Riverside Records Discography Project Page
- Riverside Records History at Concord Music Group
- "A Life In Jazz" profile on Orrin Keepnews by Columbia College Today.