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Pacific Coast Jazz announces overseas distribution deal

San Diego-based independent record label, Pacific Coast Jazz, has cut a deal for overseas distribution by UK-based, The Woods. The Woods began exclusively distributing the label’s catalogue in the United Kingdom as of October 1, 2005. They are the first European distributor to sign with the label. Currently Pacific Coast Jazz has a boutique catalogue, comprised of the recordings of jazz flutist Bradley Leighton. Leighton has two records available on the label, “Just Doin’ Our Thang”, May 2005, and a national release of a 2003 recording, “Groove Yard”, August 2005, both of which will be distributed in the UK by The Woods. The label is now gearing up for the US/UK release of Leighton’s third recording effort, slated for January, 2006, “Back to the Funk.” “We wanted to get involved because we really like the music, ” says Trevor Flack of The Woods. “Leighton’s recordings are rooted in the jazz tradition but have a contemporary sound that we believe will appeal to a broader spectrum of radio stations.”

Pacific Coast Jazz, founded in 2003, is an independent jazz label that also offers artist management services. Donna Nichols, formerly a successful communications executive in the biotech industry, is the label’s founder and president. “When I started the label, I made a decision to follow my passion for music and combine that with my marketing and management expertise, ” she says. Pacific Coast Jazz is actively pursuing the acquisition of new artists over the coming year. Until recently, the label’s focus has been primarily the straight-ahead jazz market, but the company will now handle contemporary jazz as well. “We want to grow slowly so that we can continue to give a lot of individual attention to each of our artists. We are looking for serious artists in both the traditional jazz and contemporary jazz genres. Our team has the talent and the contacts to handle the promotional demands for both of these markets successfully.” Pacific Coast Jazz also is signed to an exclusive US distribution deal with east coast firm, Big Daddy Music.

The Woods has been in the music industry for over 23 years, first as a jazz retailer and then as a mail order supplier. “We have become increasingly aware that there are many jazz enthusiasts in the UK who have neither a local jazz CD shop, nor feel inclined to order via mail order or the internet who are possibly not being catered to and so ultimately miss out, ” says Flack. “Our mission is to make great jazz available to a wide variety of outlets. The first rate quality of Pacific Coast Jazz releases makes them a perfect fit for our catalogue.” The Woods currently supplies products to HMV, Virgin Megastores, Amazon.co.uk and independent record stores right across the UK



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