SALTMAN KNOWLES – RETURN OF THE COMPOSER

San Diego-based independent record label, Pacific Coast Jazz (PCJ) have announced the signing of Washington, DC-based jazz ensemble, Saltman Knowles. The agreement anticipates the release of their new CD, Return of the Composer, slated for a street date of February 10, 2009. Bassist Mark Saltman and pianist William Knowles, the leaders of this seamless blending of sounds, met while attending the composition program at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and created a musical bond with similar affections for the music of Billy Strayhorn, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton and Charles Mingus, among others. Their latest CD project, Return of the Composer, emphasizes their commitment to original music with a deep love for melodic color, texture, and groove. The group continues their journey into creative musical exploration by including vocalist Lori Williams-Chisholm as an instrumental effect doing vocalease on many of the songs.

"We're excited to have the opportunity to represent Saltman Knowles' fifth and most impressive CD to date," says Donna Nichols, founder and president of Pacific Coast Jazz. "This album truly confirms the compositional strength of Mark Saltman and William Knowles with a track list of sophisticated yet soulful original music." Nichols' label has teamed up with publicist Joy Foster of SV Media Relations and radio promoter Neal Sapper at New World N'Jazz for access to international media buying and radio promotion. Pacific Coast Jazz, founded in 2003, is a boutique jazz label that also offers artist management services. All PCJ artists are distributed worldwide by MVD Audio/Big Daddy Music. For information on Pacific Coast Jazz, click to: www.pacificcoastjazz.com.