Motema Music

About

Respected internationally as an ‘art-first’ tastemaker, that releases culturally trenchant projects, Motéma’s diverse catalog spans genres, cultures, and generations and has received GRAMMY ® recognition for over twenty-five albums in jazz, Latin-jazz, reggae, and R&B. Founded by label president and recording artist Jana Herzen, it was Motéma that first brought soul/jazz superstar Gregory Porter to international acclaim with his GRAMMY® nominated first albums, Water and Be Good and his hit song 1960 What?. The label is also noted for launching international careers for jazz piano star Joey Alexander, modern soul singer Deva Mahal and Cuban music innovator Pedrito Martinez, among others. Also in the label’s catalog are recordings by established jazz icons including Randy Weston, Geri Allen, David Murray, Monty Alexander and Charnett Moffett, alongside releases by exciting leaders in contemporary jazz innovation including Donny McCaslin, Mark Guiliana, Jihye Lee, and NEA Jazzmaster Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science, whose much-talked-about Grammy-nominated activist album Waiting Game garnered 2020 Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Artist of the Year accolades from Downbeat among other awards and recognition.

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