DELAWARE WATER GAP, PA

The Deer Head Inn, the oldest continuously running jazz club in the country and home of jazz in the Pocono Mountains for more than 60 years, is proud to announce the formation of the Deer Head Music Group,and its label Deer Head Records. The idea of the record group emerged from a discussion among Albert “Sonny” Murray, Mary Carrig, and Denny Carrig. It seemed a great way to facilitate the vision of Bill Goodwin to do a series of “live recordings” at the historic club.  The group agreed to solicit Bill’s help in producing the series. He is not only a great jazz drummer, but he’s also a seasoned record producer.  Mary suggested including Bill’s sister Jill Goodwin who was inspiration for Jazz Master Phil Woods’ hip tune “Jazz Baby.”  Her expertise about jazz and the business of jazz has been invaluable. Soon Richard Burton, the president of VectorDisc, was on board because of his extensive knowledge of reproducing and distributing music, and quite simply his love of jazz. Richard is a fine jazz pianist and composer.

The focus of the music group is to preserve the great jazz legacy of the Deer Head Inn, which has hosted jazz greats continuously for over six decades, and to develop “new jazz artists,” who will continue this great American art form . Some of the musicians who have performed at the Deer Head Inn, include John Coates, Jr., Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, Phil Woods, Bob Dorough, Bucky Pizzarelli, Pat Metheny, Mark Murphy, Dave Liebman, Urbie Green, Mulgrew Miller, Fred Hersch, David “Fathead” Newman, Keith Jarrett, Houston Person, and the list goes on.

At the heart of this great company is the vision and creative instincts of a team of passionate professionals. Their goal of capturing the incomparable musical performances at the Inn begin with the first two releases of the “Live at the Deer Head Inn” series with Guitar Trio: Bucky Pizzarelli, Ed Laub, & Walt Bibinger and Nancy Reed & John Coates, Jr. Upcoming releases of “Live at the Deer Head Inn” series are The “Sweet” Sue Terry Quintet; The Quartet: Joe Locke, Bill Goodwin, Jim Ridl and Tony Marino; and Five Play, the all female group led by Sherrie Maricle; Bill Goodwin’s Quartet with Phil Woods; and emerging artist Najwa Parkins. The goal of the company is to release 10 CDs in the first series of recordings.  The Deer Head Music Group (Deer Head Records) is located at 5 Main Street in the Delaware Water Gap.

For further information on upcoming events, please visit our venue web site at www.deerheadinn.com, call (570) 424-2000 or contact us below.