Mapleshade Records
Mapleshade Records is an American jazz record company and independent record label founded by Pierre Sprey in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, United States, in 1990. Sprey claimed his recording techniques at Mapleshade aimed to record in a way that physically mimicked what would be heard by a person listening in an ideal location and having little manipulation of the recorded signals. Mapleshade's catalogue includes Bobby Battle, Gary Bartz, Walter Davis, Clifford Jordan, Frank Kimbrough, and Norris Turney.
Mapleshade Records
- Name
- Mapleshade Records
- Founded
- Mapleshade Records was established or created in 1990.
- Founder
- Pierre Sprey
- Headquarters
- Mapleshade Records has its headquarters at Upper Marlboro.
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Mapleshade Records is an American jazz record company and independent record label founded by Pierre Sprey in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, United States, in 1990. Sprey claimed his recording techniques at Mapleshade aimed to record in a way that physically mimicked what would be heard by a person listening in an ideal location and having little manipulation of the recorded signals. Mapleshade's catalogue includes Bobby Battle, Gary Bartz, Walter Davis, Clifford Jordan, Frank Kimbrough, and Norris Turney.
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Overview
Overview
Sprey, an electronics enthusiast, built his equipment and has a recording studio in his house. At one time, Hamiet Bluiett and Larry Willis were artists and repertoire (A&R) men for the company. Both musicians recorded albums as leaders for the label. A recording with the Addicts Rehabilitation Center (ARC) Choir singing "Walk With Me" produced by Mapleshade Records appears in Kanye West's 2004 hit "Jesus Walks". Sprey said he earned enough royalties from the West song "to support 30 of my money-losing jazz albums." A sister label, Wildchild Records, was founded in 1995. In later years the label branched into R&B and blues.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Mapleshade Records • Founded — 1990 • Founder — Pierre Sprey • Genre — Jazz, blues, gospel, classical • Country — United States • Location — Baltimore, Maryland • Url — www.mapleshaderecords.com
Roster
Roster
• Steve Abshire • Douglas Allanbrook • Okyerema Asante • Gary Bartz • Bobby Battle • Keter Betts • Hamiet Bluiett • Walter Davis Jr. • Archie Edwards • Frank Foster • John Hicks • Shirley Horn • Clifford Jordan • Frank Kimbrough • Danny Knicely • Consuela Lee • Paul Murphy • Ted Nash • Bob Northern • John Purcell • Tao Ruspoli • Gali Sanchez • Kendra Shank • Warren Smith • Sunny Sumper • Norris Turney • Charles Williams • Larry Willis
Institutional history
Dated record
Institutional history
Explore 1990
The full dated record · 3 entries
1990
Mapleshade Records established.
1990
Mapleshade Records is recorded from 1990.
1990
Mapleshade Records was established or created in 1990.
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Mapleshade Records is situated in United States.
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Mapleshade Records is associated with United States.
Country
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Context
The circumstances in which Mapleshade Records stands. Records has its headquarters at Upper Marlboro. Established or created in 1990. Situated in United States. Recorded as record label. Founded by Pierre Sprey.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Mapleshade Records - [English]. www.tnt-audio.com.
- 2.Kennedy, Gary. The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Grove's Dictionaries Inc. 2. 702. 2002. 1-56159-284-6.
- 3.Ricks, Thomas E. Whatever happened to… Pierre Sprey?. The Washington Post. May 16, 2006.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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