Birdland Jazz Club Forms New Artist Management Company

Birdland Jazz Club has announced the formation of AB Artists, Artist Management and Booking. The new venture will operate out of Birdland's offices at 315 West 44th Street in NYC and will provide artist services ranging from personal management and domestic booking to royalty administration, recording production and administration, and career development.

Veteran music industry artist-manager Anna M. Sala is the Director of Artist Management and brings her long established client roster to the new company. Booking agency veteran Eric Hanson has been named Director of Booking and brings his current clients on board as well. Birdland's Gianni Valenti and Ryan Paternite will provide additional strategic artist services.

Birdland owner Gianni Valenti says: "We have always considered artists who perform at Birdland - such as Jane Monheit & Karrin Allyson - as part of our family. Because we love what they do on our stage, we have always encouraged and supported the careers of Birdland musicians wherever they perform-it's an ongoing creative relationship. For years we have also collaborated with Anna Sala (AMS Artists) and successfully booked many artists through Eric Hanson (Tree Lawn Artists, The Kurland Agency, International Music Network). When the opportunity arose to merge our interests, bringing all of our talents and experience together, it felt like a natural evolution for Birdland. We look forward to the work we will do together as AB Artists."

AB Artists' management roster includes Ravi Coltrane, Robin Eubanks, Benny Green, Jane Monheit, and Nicholas Payton. Domestic booking clients include Karrin Allyson, Barbary Coast Burlesque, The Cookers, and The Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience, as well as Eubanks, Monheit and Payton. AB Artists will attend the Arts Midwest and APAP conferences.