High Two
Encyclopedia
High Two is a record label
based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. It was launched in 2004
with the release of music by Dave Burrell
and Sonic Liberation Front.
High Two has since released records by A Cricket in Times Square
, Adam Arcuragi
, Make A Rising, Arc and Sender, Shot × Shot, Normal Love, and Cynthia G. Mason
. The label has been praised for re-launching the career of Burrell and bringing Sonic Liberation Front to international prominence. In 2007, High Two released the third album from Bitter Bitter Weeks, the acclaimed project of producer/engineer Brian McTear, who has recorded a number of bands at his Miner Street Recordings including Espers
, Danielson, The A-Sides
, and The Bigger Lovers
.
In November 2007, High Two released Sweet Earth Flower
, an album by His Name Is Alive
. On the album, His Name Is Alive, including members of Nomo
in this incarnation, perform the music of jazz icon Marion Brown
. The album's title is a reference to two Brown compositions, "Sweet Earth Flying" and "November Cotton Flower."
The label's music has been acclaimed by NPR
, Rolling Stone
, Pitchfork Media
, Down Beat
, JazzTimes
, Signal to Noise, The Wire
, Paste
, Magnet
, and others.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. It was launched in 2004
2004 in music
See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
with the release of music by Dave Burrell
Dave Burrell
Davis Burrell is an American jazz instrumentalist, most notably on the piano. He has worked for many jazz musicians including Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders, Marion Brown and David Murray.- Biography :...
and Sonic Liberation Front.
High Two has since released records by A Cricket in Times Square
A Cricket in Times Square
A Cricket in Times Square is a four-piece rock band formed in College Park, Maryland in 2000 at the University of Maryland's radio station WMUC-FM....
, Adam Arcuragi
Adam Arcuragi
Adam Arcuragi is an American born folk/soul songwriter and musician from Georgia, who also lived in Philadelphia, PA for many years. He is accredited with being the founder of the musical genre Death Gospel....
, Make A Rising, Arc and Sender, Shot × Shot, Normal Love, and Cynthia G. Mason
Cynthia G. Mason
Cynthia G. Mason is a songwriter based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She self-released albums on her own label, Spiderwoman. She was featured on the cover of the Philadelphia City Paper and her version of Richard Buckner's "Surprise, AZ" was included on a compilation of covers produced by The...
. The label has been praised for re-launching the career of Burrell and bringing Sonic Liberation Front to international prominence. In 2007, High Two released the third album from Bitter Bitter Weeks, the acclaimed project of producer/engineer Brian McTear, who has recorded a number of bands at his Miner Street Recordings including Espers
Espers
Espers may refer to:*Esper, a term used in science fiction and the field of parapsychology*Esper , a class of people from the Akira manga and film*Espers , a Philadelphia based folk group**Espers , their eponymous debut album...
, Danielson, The A-Sides
The A-Sides
The A-Sides were an American indie rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They formed in 2002 and consisted of Jon Barthmus , Charlie Cottone , Christopher Doyle , Mike "Flem" Fleming , and Patrick "Party Todd" Marsceill...
, and The Bigger Lovers
The Bigger Lovers
The Bigger Lovers were a power-pop band from Philadelphia.The band features singer/guitarist Bret Tobias, guitarist Ed Hogarty, bassist Scott Jefferson, and drummer Patrick Berkery.They played their farewell show on Nov 5th 2005.-Discography:...
.
In November 2007, High Two released Sweet Earth Flower
Sweet Earth Flower
Sweet Earth Flower is a tribute album His Name is Alive recorded to honor the music of Marion Brown. Although it appeared after the Xmmer album, it was recorded between the release of Detrola and Xmmer...
, an album by His Name Is Alive
His Name Is Alive
His Name Is Alive is an experimental rock band/project from Livonia, Michigan. After several self-released cassettes, they debuted on 4AD Records in 1990, starting a long run at the label...
. On the album, His Name Is Alive, including members of Nomo
Nomo
Nomo is a band from Ann Arbor, Michigan. The band formed at the University of Michigan, and is not to be confused with the 1980's Pop/New Wave band of the same name fronted by California singer-songwriter David Batteau, which is best known for the 1985 minor hit "Red Lipstick".Fronted by Elliot...
in this incarnation, perform the music of jazz icon Marion Brown
Marion Brown
Marion Brown was a jazz alto saxophonist and ethnomusicologist. He is most well known as a member of the 1960s avant-garde jazz scene in New York City, playing alongside musicians such as John Coltrane, Archie Shepp, and John Tchicai...
. The album's title is a reference to two Brown compositions, "Sweet Earth Flying" and "November Cotton Flower."
The label's music has been acclaimed by NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
, Down Beat
Down Beat
Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
, JazzTimes
JazzTimes
JazzTimes is a magazine that dates back to Radio Free Jazz, a publication founded in 1970 by Ira Sabin when he was operating a record store in Washington, DC. It was originally a newsletter designed to update shoppers on the latest jazz releases and provide jazz radio programmers with a means of...
, Signal to Noise, The Wire
The Wire (magazine)
The Wire is a British avant garde music magazine, founded in 1982 by jazz promoter Anthony Wood and journalist Chrissie Murray. The magazine initially concentrated on contemporary jazz and improvised music, but branched out in the early 1990s to various types of experimental music...
, Paste
Paste (magazine)
Paste is a monthly music and entertainment digital magazine published in the United States by Wolfgang's Vault. Its tagline is "Signs of Life in Music, Film and Culture."-History:...
, Magnet
Magnet (magazine)
Magnet is a music magazine which generally focuses on alternative, independent, or out-of-the-mainstream bands.-History:The magazine is published four times a year, and is independently owned and edited by Eric T. Miller. Music magazines with a similar focus in the 1990s era included Option,...
, and others.
Artists
- Arc and Sender
- Adam ArcuragiAdam ArcuragiAdam Arcuragi is an American born folk/soul songwriter and musician from Georgia, who also lived in Philadelphia, PA for many years. He is accredited with being the founder of the musical genre Death Gospel....
- Bitter Bitter Weeks
- Dave BurrellDave BurrellDavis Burrell is an American jazz instrumentalist, most notably on the piano. He has worked for many jazz musicians including Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders, Marion Brown and David Murray.- Biography :...
- A Cricket in Times SquareA Cricket in Times SquareA Cricket in Times Square is a four-piece rock band formed in College Park, Maryland in 2000 at the University of Maryland's radio station WMUC-FM....
- Fan of Friends
- Feeler GaugeFeeler gaugeA feeler gauge is a tool used to measure gap widths. Feeler gauges are mostly used in engineering to measure the clearance between two parts.They consist of a number of small lengths of steel of different thicknesses with measurements marked on each piece...
- His Name Is AliveHis Name Is AliveHis Name Is Alive is an experimental rock band/project from Livonia, Michigan. After several self-released cassettes, they debuted on 4AD Records in 1990, starting a long run at the label...
- Illuminea
- Make A Rising
- Cynthia G. MasonCynthia G. MasonCynthia G. Mason is a songwriter based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She self-released albums on her own label, Spiderwoman. She was featured on the cover of the Philadelphia City Paper and her version of Richard Buckner's "Surprise, AZ" was included on a compilation of covers produced by The...
- Normal Love
- Public Record
- Shot × Shot
- Sonic Liberation Front