UMG OPENS A HOME FOR JAZZ IN AFRICA

Blue Note Records and Universal Music Group Africa have created Blue Note Africa, an imprint dedicated to signing jazz artists from across the continent and bringing them to a global audience.

The label will debut this spring with the release of South African pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini’s In the Spirit of Ntu.

Said Sipho Dlamini, CEO of Universal Music Africa, “Blue Note has stood the test of time by continuing to adapt while keeping its focus on introducing jazz talent to the world. The opportunity to create Blue Note Africa and provide a channel for African jazz talent to have a home in the U.S., with a dedicated and passionate team lead by a legend in his own right—Don Was—is very exciting. We can now walk the African jazz journey from Cape to Cairo to California.”

Said Was, “Together, we will shine a global light on the incredible music emanating from Africa today.”