Greetings.

We are very proud to announce that Woody Shaw has been nominated for the 2006 Jazz Journalists Association Award in the category of Single CD Reissue of the Year for his classic recording, Stepping Stones: Live at The Village Vanguard (Sony BMG. CK93646). The 10th annual gala celebration of the Jazz Awards will be held at B.B. King's Blues Club and Grill, 237 W. 42nd St. in New York, on Monday, June 19th. [Ticket Info]

The CD was released September of 2005 for the first time after 27 years since it's initial debut in 1978. Of Woody Shaw's five LPs on Columbia Records, this is the only live date that was recorded. The album features one of the most important bands of his career as a leader, with Carter Jefferson on saxophones, Onaje Allen Gumbs on piano, Clint Houston on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums.

As many are aware, the original release of this recording is particularly significant with regards to Woody Shaw's legacy, yet, the nature of it's re-production is also quite profound.

The reissued CD was produced by Michael Cuscuna and Woody Shaw III and was remastered by Grammy-winning engineer, Mark Wilder. It contains three new, previously-unissued tracks, and three new sets of liner notes by Cuscuna, WS III, and Steve Turre. Thus, aside from the fact that this release was enhanced by it's correspondence to so many other pertinent developments in the resurgence of Woody Shaw's musical legacy, it was also altered by the positive contributions of some of his closest friends and family.

Thank you for your support and dedication to the cause of preserving this music. While this is indeed a great mark of recognition for one of the major innovators of our music, it is also, we hope, just an initial stepping stone in the path towards greater visibility and appreciation for Jazz music world-wide.