Orrin Keepnews, Producer

My 2007 series featuring my favorite curmudgeon

In 2007, Concord Records contracted me to produce a podcast series, Orrin Keepnews, Producer, featuring a group of reissues dubbed The Keepnews Collection, chosen by Orrin himself, that represented some of his best work on Riverside Records.

I went out to Berkeley and joined the famed producer in a studio and for two days, we talked about some truly memorable recordings, several of which are considered jazz classics. Beneath his gruff exterior, Orrin was really a wonderful guy, as long as you played the game by his rules. It wasn’t difficult.

Orrin Keepnews was an influential American jazz producer, writer, and co-founder of the jazz record labels Riverside Records and Milestone Records. He was born on March 2, 1923, in The Bronx, New York City, and passed away on March 1, 2015.

Keepnews co-founded Riverside Records in 1953 with Bill Grauer. Riverside became a significant label in the jazz world, known for its high-quality recordings and for signing and promoting some of the greatest jazz musicians of the time.

After Riverside's demise in the early 1960s, Keepnews founded Milestone Records in 1966, continuing his legacy of producing important jazz records.

Orrin Keepnews worked with a wide array of legendary jazz artists, including Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderley, Wes Montgomery, and Sonny Rollins. His production work helped bring out the best in these musicians, capturing some of their most iconic recordings.

Keepnews was known for his keen ear for talent and his dedication to the music. He was instrumental in the careers of many jazz greats, often taking risks on relatively unknown artists and giving them the platform to develop and showcase their talents.

His commitment to high-quality recordings and his ability to foster a comfortable and creative environment in the studio made him a beloved figure among musicians.

Orrin also contributed to the jazz world as a writer and historian, providing liner notes for many albums and authoring books on jazz, further documenting and preserving the history of the genre.

Orrin Keepnews's contributions to jazz were recognized with several Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, underscoring his pivotal role in the development and promotion of jazz music throughout his career.

For your listening and viewing pleasure, here are four episodes of the series "Orrin Keepnews, Producer."

The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery

Mr. Pulled Together - Clark Terry

A Man Named McCoy Tyner

Portrait of Bill Evans