Kurt Elling embarks on a new venture in his career as label owner of the newly launched Big Shoulders Records, an independent jazz label with distribution rights through The Orchard, a subsidiary of Sony Music.
Partnering with Elling on this venture as co-owner is his longtime manager Bryan Farina, who also launched his new artist management company, Big Shoulders Artists Services, exclusively serving jazz artists and creatives by “providing innovative, artist-first support in management, marketing, and career development,” according to their website. Among the company’s artist roster includes pianist Christian Sands, Sara Gazarek and Cyrille Aimée.
This new era in Elling’s career comes off the release of 2024’s Wildflowers Vol.1 and Wildflowers Vol. 2 , a two-part EP project featuring appearances from Sullivan Fortner, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Joey Calderazzo and Ingrid Jensen.
“This just makes sense in today’s music world,” says Elling in a statement. “Big Shoulders isn’t just a label—it’s a launchpad. We’re making it easier for artists to put out music whenever and however they want, without waiting on anyone’s permission. It’s about giving musicians the freedom to create on their own terms and actually build something sustainable.”
The label’s first release is the song “Steppin’ Out”, Elling’s rendition of the 1982 song by Joe Jackson featuring Germany’s WDR Big Band, available now on all streaming platforms. Among Big Shoulders’ upcoming releases include a new album from WDR Big Band and a new Superblue album, Elling’s jazz-funk project collaboration with guitarist Charlie Hunter.
Currently, Elling is on tour celebrating the music of jazz fusion band Weather Report along with the band’s former drummer Peter Erskine and Calderazzo, see the complete schedule at kurtelling.com.