The award-winning Motéma label, specializing in culturally trenchant jazz, world and soul, has been praised by All About Jazz as “The most important label to plant its flag in the 21st Century.” Respected internationally as an ‘art-first’ tastemaker, Motéma’s diverse catalog spans genres, cultures, and generations and has received GRAMMY ® recognition for over twenty albums in jazz, Latin-jazz, reggae and R&B. Founded by label president and recording artist Jana Herzen, Motéma operates in New York City out of Harlem’s burgeoning cultural scene, where the label keeps a close eye on current musical trends. 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 also is also noted for launching international careers for the young 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 such as 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, Ben Wendel, Jaimeo Brown’s Transcendence.
