The Front Line

Signature presents The Front Line, an early jazz inspired pack paying homage to the birthplace of the genre in the 1920’s and its migration from New Orleans to becoming a national and eventually an international phenomenon.

This release contains 15 melodic loops of an in-studio ensemble, consisting of drums, tuba, trumpet, trombone and clarinet, giving users loops that are authentically vintage capturing the essence of a formidable era. New Orleans Jazz, often referred to as Dixieland jazz, dominated the 1920’s characterized by collective improvisation, musicians playing simultaneously rather than taking turns. “The Great Migration,” the movement of African Americans from the Southern United States to Northern cities like Chicago, New York, and Detroit had a significant impact on the spread of jazz creating new hubs for the music to evolve. The 1920s also saw the rise of the recording industry and radio, with pioneering jazz artists like Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Jelly Roll Morton reaching wider audiences.This release was produced with original compositions and arrangements from Christopher Stevens (trumpet) and Marcus Myers (drums) who also recorded the pack alongside Sam Gellerstein (tuba), Yesseh Furaha-Ali (clarinet) and Michael Spearman (trombone) who have a special place in the Philadelphia’s music community from neighborhood festivals to Philadelphia 76ers halftime shows, growing to performance slots at major festivals such as Firefly and has been featured by NPR Music, Good Morning America, and The Today Show. This collection includes loops processed through a vintage Ampex tape machine also pressed to vinyl for that authentic gritty vinyl crackle that any crate digger can appreciate. Whether you’re producing jazz-infused electronic music or “jazz hop” boom bap, add this touch of vintage charm to your tracks to create soundtracks that transport listeners to a bygone era. The Front Line is your ticket to the soulful vibrant sounds of early jazz.