Editing GRP Records (section)

===1982–1989===

Now established as a record company, Grusin and Rosen were pushing forward and thinking of the future and how to make the label stand out with the evolving technology of the times. Grusin and Rosen figured that the compact disc<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://history-computer.com/ModernComputer/Basis/compact_disc.html|title=Compact Disc - Complete History of the Compact Disc (CD)|website=history-computer.com|date=January 4, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://obsoletemedia.org/compact-disc/|title=Compact Disc (1983 – )|date=April 16, 2014|website=Museum of Obsolete Media}}</ref> with its optical and audiophile capabilities would be a very important part of what they were trying to do to make the label successful, which was to produce high-quality recordings with the best sound and production available to them including recording venues, musicians and orchestras.

To accomplish this, they decided on a specific album that not only would introduce the best of what they were producing, but also an album that catered to those people who could afford the first CD players available for their homes, which cost $1,000 per unit at the time in 1982 and wouldn't be completely available onto the market until Christmas 1983. After much research, the [[Glenn Miller Band]] was chosen to be the first album recorded for their company in January 1983. Members of the original band, as well as special guests like singer [[Mel Tormé]], also participated in the ambitious project recorded in New York NY. The album ''[[In the Digital Mood]]'' not only became a popular album after its release selling more than 100,000 units, but also one of the label's greatest selling albums to this day, and was recognized as such in 1992 with a "Gold Edition" <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-the-digital-mood-mw0000188430|title=In the Digital Mood - Glenn Miller, The Glenn Miller Orchestra &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> to not only commemorate the label's 10th Anniversary celebration but the Gold record status the album achieved.

They followed up this best selling album with Gerry Mulligan's ''Little Big Horn'' and Grusin's ''[[Dave Grusin and the NY-LA Dream Band]]'', which was a live concert from 1982 that was recorded in Japan and seen throughout the country. The label during this period would be known mainly for its fusion work, but two of the first three releases were the straight-ahead jazz albums by Glenn Miller Band and Mulligan. Another vital addition was recording the great Dizzy Gillespie, which helped the label even more as Grusin and Rosen teamed him up with the best of the young jazz musicians performing at the time, including saxophonist [[Branford Marsalis]] and pianist [[Kenny Kirkland]] for the album ''New Faces''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/new-faces-mw0000188207|title=New Faces - Dizzy Gillespie &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref>

Compact discs were carried in limited supply in record stores but were available wherever CD player systems were sold at that time when they were first released. Knowing this, Grusin and Rosen produced CD Samplers (three in three different volumes from 1984 to 1987)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-GRP-Digital-Sampler-Jazz-Vol1-Limited-Edition/release/10575401|title=Various - GRP Digital Sampler Jazz Vol.1 Limited Edition|website=Discogs|year=1984 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-GRP-Digital-Sampler-Jazz-Volume-2/release/10578673|title=Various - GRP Digital Sampler Jazz Volume 2|website=Discogs|year=1991 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-GRP-New-Magic-Digital-Sampler/release/1735515|title=Various - GRP New Magic Digital Sampler|website=Discogs|year=1987 }}</ref> that showcased the artists on the label, the sound quality, and performances due to the lack of other record labels having joined the format at that time which lasted until 1987, when a lot of the record labels made the transition to the CD format. These CDs did help gain the label an audience with the audiophiles who first bought these machines and also, to expand the label in format. Their first batches of pressed discs from 1984 until 1987 came directly from Japan by the JVC Corporation, which are audiophile in quality and were quality produced recordings that truly displayed the dynamic range of the performances, unlike an LP or cassette.

In 1984, Grusin would release his second purely digitally recorded album and his first one for his label, ''[[Night Lines (album)|Night-Lines]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Dave-Grusin-Night-Lines/master/122000|title=Dave Grusin - Night-Lines|website=Discogs|year=1984 }}</ref> which used even more contemporary digital equipment and instruments not unlike his 1979 effort for Arista Records, ''Mountain Dance''. So would artist [[Billy Cobham]] and his purely digital album, ''Warning'', who recorded this album during the year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/warning-mw0000187966|title=Warning - Billy Cobham &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> which contained a disclaimer of "not playing your stereo at high volume due to the nature of the recording that could cause damage to your equipment".

Grusin and Rosen were approached by the JVC Corporation late in 1984 to represent them because of their standards for the highest quality in recording and for their well-regarded albums for the latest in their audio technology. So for the first time under their own banner, the label conducted its first live tour around Europe and the US during the Summer of 1985. Eventually, the label decided to have a "live session" which was videotaped at the Record Plant Recording Studio in Los Angeles CA<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Dave-Grusin-Lee-Ritenour-Diane-Schuur-Dave-Valentin-GRP-Live-In-Session/release/9289178|title=Dave Grusin / Lee Ritenour / Diane Schuur / Dave Valentin - GRP Live In Session|website=Discogs|date=February 16, 2021 }}</ref> as well, featuring all of the members that traveled including Grusin, Ritenour, Valentin, Schuur and their GRP recording members. A highlight album of the live recording at The Record Plant was released as "Live In Session" as well as a videocassette, a laserdisc and eventually DVD a long time later were released to commemorate the event. Later on, the label would go on to produce videocassettes and laserdiscs of their live concerts in their complete form that would include A GRP Christmas Collection and GRP Super Live in Concert which a showcase for the label's recent additions like the Chick Corea Elektric Band, saxophonist Tom Scott as well as the label's stars, Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour and Diane Schuur. The label would also produce their first CD+G album sampler called GRP Digital Sampler on the Cutting Edge, which was designed for a karaoke styled CD player with the capability to be connected to a television and listen to the music on the CD as well as see a bio of the artist performing which was released in 1989.

Also in 1984 the film, ''Falling In Love'' starring Oscar winners [[Robert De Niro]] and [[Meryl Streep]] would be released by Paramount Pictures. Grusin provided the original musical score for the film, but the film had been tracked by music from Grusin's breakthrough digital album, ''Mountain Dance,'' which became the main theme for the film despite writing a purely jazz score in the same vein.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kritzerland.com/falling_love.htm|title=Original Soundtrack Recording of FALLING IN LOVE, composed by Dave Grusin|website=www.kritzerland.com}}</ref>

In 1985, the label released their first-ever soundtrack to any motion picture for the drama, ''[[American Flyers]]'' starring Oscar winner [[Kevin Costner]], which was composed and performed by [[Lee Ritenour]] and Greg Mathieson, who were with the label exclusively at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Lee-Ritenour-And-Greg-Mathieson-American-Flyers/release/1677130|title=Lee Ritenour And Greg Mathieson - American Flyers|website=Discogs|year=1985 }}</ref> The album was never released on CD until Varèse Sarabande finally released it in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Lee-Ritenour-And-Greg-Mathieson-American-Flyers-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack/release/9019901|title=Lee Ritenour And Greg Mathieson - American Flyers (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)|website=Discogs|year=2016 }}</ref>

Lee Ritenour would make his "official" debut for the label after his contract with Elektra Records had ended and his debut album was his pairing with founder Dave Grusin on the album, ''[[Harlequin (Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour album)|Harlequin]]'', which melded Brazilian and American styles of jazz together on one of the most popular albums for the label.

In 1986, [[Eddie Daniels]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/eddie-daniels-mn0000171743/biography|title=Eddie Daniels &#124; Biography & History|website=AllMusic}}</ref> would make his Grammy-nominated debut for the label with ''Breakthrough'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/breakthrough-mw0000188017|title=Breakthrough - Eddie Daniels &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> which was a fusion album of a different sort as Daniels' clarinet solos were mixed with a huge London Orchestra creating a very elaborate and popular album that melded both jazz and classical together. A year later, Daniels' follow-up album for the label ''To Bird With Love'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/to-bird-with-love-mw0000191672|title=To Bird with Love - Eddie Daniels &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> would be the very first "pure" jazz recording for the label dedicated to the late saxophonist [[Charlie Parker]], gaining positive reviews.

The late pianist [[Chick Corea]] would also make his official debut for the label introducing a new band called [[Chick Corea Elektric Band]], which is also the name of the album they recorded for the label and would later introduce [[Chick Corea Akoustic Band]] in 1989 with fellow members [[John Patitucci]] and [[Dave Weckl]], who also recorded for the label along with [[Eric Marienthal]], who was a member of Chick Corea Elektric Band between 1988 and 1994.

By 1987, the label was no longer independent as they signed a distribution deal with MCA Distributing, one of the six largest distribution companies in the US at the time. The deal was significant at the time because it helped the label reach the top of the Billboard Magazine charts as the number one jazz label in the world starting in 1988, according to the Billboard polls, as more people would have access to their recordings unlike before.

They also produced and released a similar project to that of the Glenn Miller Band dedicated to one of jazz's greatest legends, [[Duke Ellington]]. The album ''[[Digital Duke]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Duke-Ellington-Orchestra-Digital-Duke/release/12948558|title=The Duke Ellington Orchestra - Digital Duke|website=Discogs|year=1987 }}</ref> reassembled members of Duke Ellington's band under the direction of his son, Mercer, in a digital recording setting with the latest technology. The album was produced in conjunction to the [[United States Postal Service|USPS]]'s official $0.22 stamp dedicated to Ellington a year earlier commemorating his 87th birthday.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-05-01-ca-2996-story.html|title=DUKE ELLINGTON STAMP: A TRIBUTE THAT STICKS|date=May 1, 1986|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

The label also signed vibraphonist [[Gary Burton]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-burton-mn0000738182/biography|title=Gary Burton &#124; Biography & History|website=AllMusic}}</ref> and saxophonist [[Tom Scott (saxophonist)|Tom Scott]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/tom-scott-mn0000934350/biography|title=Tom Scott &#124; Biography & History|website=AllMusic}}</ref> who would make significant contributions to the label with well-received albums of their own in ''[[Reunion (Gary Burton album)|Reunion]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/reunion-mw0000207174|title=Reunion - Gary Burton &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> and ''Born Again'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/born-again-mw0000073088|title=Born Again - Tom Scott &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> which is Scott's first pure jazz recording for the label and the first in more than a decade at the time and ''Them Changes'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/them-changes-mw0000307874|title=Them Changes - Tom Scott &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> which featured music from the short-lived talk show ''[[The Pat Sajak Show]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096674/|title=The Pat Sajak Show|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> that ran on CBS from January 1989 to 1990, where Scott was the musical director on.

1988 marked a couple of firsts for the label. Flautist [[Dave Valentin]] recorded his first "Live" album for the label and that for any solo artist on the label, [[Live at the Blue Note (Dave Valentin album)|''Live at the Blue Note'']],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-the-blue-note-mw0000652648|title=Live at the Blue Note - Dave Valentin &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> which was a two-night recording that took place on May 31 and June 1 of that year, which would mark the first of a series of "Live Albums" for the artists on the label which would follow in later years with Chick Corea ([[Alive (Chick Corea album)|''Alive'']]),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/alive-mw0000311516|title=Alive - Chick Corea's Akoustic Band &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> [[The Rippingtons]] (''[[Live in L.A. (The Rippingtons album)|Live in L.A.]]''),<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-in-la-mw0000619398|title=Live in L.A. - The Rippingtons &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> and ''[[Dave Grusin Presents GRP All-Star Big Band Live!]]'',<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dave-grusin-presents-grp-all-star-big-band-live!-mw0000188137|title=Dave Grusin Presents GRP All-Star Big Band Live! - Dave Grusin, GRP All-Star Big Band &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> which was the follow-up album to the original [[GRP All-Star Big Band]] from the label's 10th anniversary.

The label also recorded the first of three Christmas albums featuring artists from the label entitled "A GRP Christmas Collection"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-grp-christmas-collection-mw0000201985|title=A GRP Christmas Collection - Various Artists &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> that included jazz interpretations of classic Christmas songs and some that are obscure arranged in diverse ways by the artist recording on it. The label would produce two more albums in 1991<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/grp-christmas-collection-vol-2-mw0000072743|title=GRP Christmas Collection, Vol. 2 - Various Artists &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> and 1993, which was the final one under Grusin and Rosen's supervision before they departed from the label in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/grp-christmas-collection-vol-3-mw0000101351|title=GRP Christmas Collection, Vol. 3 - Various Artists &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> The artists that participated in the album included the likes of Grusin, Lee Ritenour, [[David Benoit (musician)|David Benoit]], Gary Burton, Tom Scott, Diane Schuur, [[Nelson Rangell]], [[Arturo Sandoval]], Chick Corea, Eddie Daniels, New York Voices, George Howard, [[Ramsey Lewis]], [[B.B. King]], [[Russ Freeman (guitarist)|Russ Freeman]] and [[Yellowjackets (band)|Yellowjackets]] among others.

Grusin would win his first Academy Award for [[Robert Redford]]'s 2nd film as a director, ''[[The Milagro Beanfield War]]'', which would be released a year later as part of his last album for the label of the decade, [[Migration (Dave Grusin album)|''Migration'']].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/migration-mw0000201703|title=Migration - Dave Grusin &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref>

The label also signed popular harpist, [[Deborah Henson-Conant]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/deborah-henson-conant-mn0000814322/biography|title=Deborah Henson-Conant &#124; Biography & History|website=AllMusic}}</ref> to further diversify the label much like they had done in the late 1970s which got their label off and running. Signing her to a 4-album deal<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/on-the-rise-mw0000653278|title=On the Rise - Deborah Henson-Conant &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/caught-in-the-act-mw0000203843|title=Caught in the Act - Deborah Henson-Conant &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/talking-hands-mw0000268134|title=Talking Hands - Deborah Henson-Conant &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> in which her 4th album for the label in 1993 called ''Budapest'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/budapest-mw0000114930|title=Budapest - Deborah Henson-Conant &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> was abruptly cancelled and released by another label.

By the end of 1989, GRP is named the number one jazz label in the world by voters. Radio stations like New York NY's [[CD 101.9]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/grp-presents-todays-cool-jazz-cd-1019-radio-sampler-mw0000103990|title=GRP Presents Todays Cool Jazz: CD 101.9 Radio Sampler - Various Artists &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> on the East Coast and [[WNUA]] 95.5 in Chicago IL were up and running under the "smooth jazz" format where a lot of the label's stars began to shine and the label would create samplers on behalf of the record stations to promote the label and the artist. This gave them considerably strong airplay over the radio. The label would have a successful year with albums by David Benoit, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Diane Schuur and Nelson Rangell that would propel them into the 1990s on a high note.

Grusin would celebrate his 1988 Academy Award win with another nomination for his score and important participation for the comedy-drama, ''[[The Fabulous Baker Boys]]'', starring Oscar Winner [[Jeff Bridges]], Academy Award Nominee [[Beau Bridges]] (Jeff's brother) and Academy Award Nominee [[Michelle Pfeiffer]]. The film would receive multiple nominations, including Best Picture and for Grusin's invaluable contribution for Best Original Score. The album would be a best seller for the label.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-fabulous-baker-boys-mw0000202482|title=The Fabulous Baker Boys - Dave Grusin &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref>