About The Label

'ASR RECORDS was co-founded in 1995 by our Kansas City native award-winning artist, Alaadeen; along with longtime community arts advocate, Victoria Dunfee. Their initial purpose and goals, which were relatively modest and simple, centered on providing a professional music label for deserving recording artist talent. Alaadeen was also the initial founding artist on the label, with his first commercial US Release of the CD titled, "Blues for RC and Josephine Too (ASR1001)". That debut release was met with qualified critical praise by several esteemed and established music industry publications which include: the Kansas City Jazz Ambassador Magazine (JAM), Jazz Times, Billboard Magazine, and the All Music Guide. Like all great music, this CD continues to sell and receive radio airplay. Alaadeen's band on this recording was also cited as "Best Unsigned Band (Jazz)" by a distiguished industry panel via Musician Magazine.

The success of this 1995 debut label recording has formally validated the co-founders' initial purpose and goals. "Blues for RC and Josephine Too (ASR1001)" was now also successful as tangible evidence that artists who create recordings of the highest artistic qualities, do not necessarily sacrifice the important business aspects of commercial viability in doing so - which has been very encouraging.

The Label Today

Since those early times, 'ASR RECORDS has expanded its focus to include other recording artists and producers on the label's roster. The label business model serves as a recording artist cooperative in function, whereby different generations of musicians are linked together through this form of mutually qualified peer association. 'ASR RECORDS is a small legitimate collective of high caliber artists, indeed. But also, a true jazz record label roster in reality and after 10 years, is well beyond consideration as an undertaking of mere vanity.

Both, experienced and mature artists now benefit from the nurturing environment here at 'ASR RECORDS. Music is a career choice for life. The individual artists on the label continued to grow and develop toward mastery of their craft. The initial and continuing success of 'ASR RECORDS in meeting its purpose and goals validates the fact that there are many talented and gifted jazz artists actively creating music outside of the mainstream network of the larger jazz labels.

Artist Profile

'ASR RECORDS Artists are among the most refreshing creative jazz talent today, who are also actively performing, composing, recording and producing their own original commercial music product releases.

'ASR RECORDS Artists retain all creative control and responsibility concerning all aspects of their musical career-related matters. Each artist is a proven leader in their own right, and all maintain active live performance activities in their respective geographic markets.

Our artists are award-winning performers, composers and producers whose credits include a Congressional Award, Broadway, Film and Television, various individual Songwriting and Composition Awards, and numerous other significant forms of tangible recognition for superior excellence in the field of music, along with significantly noteworthy contributions in national and international arts arenas.

Today, 'ASR RECORDS Artists are now able to publish and distribute their creative work viably using both traditional means and 21st Century technologies. 'ASR RECORDS Artists offer traditional CDs, CD-on-demand, CD Singles for portable devices, and their work can be found on most major retail store sites along with the popular music subscription services of today. Music licensing uses are available.

The Label Name

The name for the 'ASR RECORDS label was simply inspired by Mr. Alaadeen's own personal faith and comes from the Holy Qur'an, Sura 103: ‘Asr, or Time through the Ages. Mr. Alaadeen's second CD release, "Time Through The Ages" (ASR2001), contains a composition by the same name. Particularly, the word 'Asr by definition, is the Arabic name for the afternoon prayer in Islam. An excerpt of this positive motivational prayer states: "...By (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy."

Information used with permission granted on March 02, 2006 by 'ASR RECORDS Operations Manager. Send email to chrisburnettjazz@hotmail.com for verification of permission if needed.

Official Website [1]