A Conversation with Don Schlitten

Producer of Classic Jazz Recordings

Don Schlitten is an important figure in the world of jazz, primarily known for his contributions as a record producer. Over several decades, he produced numerous classic jazz albums that have played a pivotal role in shaping the direction of jazz music.

Throughout his career, Don Schlitten produced hundreds of recordings, working with a wide range of jazz musicians, from the most well-known to the underrated. Schlitten worked with many legendary jazz musicians, including Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, and James Moody, to name a few. His work with such artists helped them in shaping their sound and gave them a platform to express their musical vision.

Schlitten was a prime mover in the early days of Prestige Records and later went on to establish other labels such as Xanadu Records. These labels have been instrumental in capturing and disseminating some of the most iconic jazz performances. In addition to working with established artists, Schlitten had a keen eye for spotting and nurturing new talent. This helped in bringing many emerging artists to the forefront.

Schlitten was born in New York City in 1932. He began his career as a jazz fan and record collector. In the early 1950s, he began producing jazz records for small independent labels. In 1955, he co-founded the Signal label with Jules Colomby and Harold Goldberg. The label released albums by Duke Jordan, Gigi Gryce, Red Rodney, and other jazz artists.

In the early 1960s, Schlitten began producing albums for the Cobblestone label, a subsidiary of Buddah Records. He produced some of Sonny Stitt's finest albums for Cobblestone, including Tune Up and Constellation. He also produced six albums recorded at the 1972 Newport in New York Jazz Festival.

In 1972, Schlitten joined Joe Fields at Muse Records. In 1973, Schlitten and Fields founded the Onyx label. The label released albums by several prominent jazz artists, including Charles McPherson, Barry Harris, and Al Cohn.

In 1975, Schlitten founded the Xanadu label. Xanadu released over 200 albums during its existence, including reissues of classic bop recordings and new albums by contemporary jazz artists. Some of the most notable artists who recorded for Xanadu include Barry Harris, Charles McPherson, Al Cohn, and Art Farmer.

Schlitten was a tireless advocate for jazz music. He was also a highly respected producer who was known for his ability to get the best out of the musicians he worked with. He played a major role in the development of the straight-ahead bop genre, and his record labels released some of the most important jazz albums of the era.