AHT Records, based in New York, focuses on safeguarding outstanding live shows through meticulously crafted archival releases
NEW YORK CITY, NY, UNITED STATES, July 28, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — A newly formed New York label launches its first release, an archival document capturing four intimate duo sets from Kevin Hays' 2024 residency at The Stone, featuring multi-keyboardist Craig Taborn, guitarist Gilad Hekselman, saxophonist Ben Wendel, and drummer Kenny Wollesen.
On September 13, 2026, AHT Records is set to issue Kevin Hays: Live at The Stone, an archival recording that preserves four duo performances taken from pianist Kevin Hays' 2024 residency at The Stone in New York City. Over the course of four nights, the album holds onto a series of curated moments—distinct musical exchanges between Hays and several of the most notable voices in modern jazz and improvised music.
Kevin Hays, a Grammy-winning artist, has long been regarded as one of the most lyrical and adaptable pianists of his era, having performed alongside figures such as Sonny Rollins, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Joe Henderson, and Roy Haynes. He has also built a celebrated catalog as a leader, including releases on Blue Note Records and other independent outlets.
While those collaborations established him among jazz's most esteemed musicians, Live at The Stone reveals a different facet of his creative persona: one that values musical openness, curiosity, and the spontaneous potential found in close, free-flowing duets.
Spanning four performances, Live at The Stone moves through strikingly diverse musical territories, yet remains connected by the closeness of the duo format and Hays' signature sound.
The atmospheric openness of "Bob Dylan" (with drummer Kenny Wollesen) transitions into the electro-acoustic textures and improvised structures of the fully spontaneous “Presence,” featuring Craig Taborn. Gilad Hekselman's peace-themed piece "The Dove Will Fly High" delivers a moment of radiant lyricism, while Hays' composition "Remember Me" closes the album with extraordinary sensitivity alongside Ben Wendel. Each partnership occupies its own distinct sonic space, collectively painting a picture of contemporary improvised music through four unique artistic perspectives.
Captured by Kengchakaj Kengkarnka and Adrien H. Tillmann, mixed by Grammy Award-winning engineer Chris Allen, and mastered by Nate Wood, Live at The Stone will come out digitally as well as in a limited edition of 200 individually numbered 180-gram vinyl records, pressed in the United States by Gotta Groove Records. The cover displays an original photograph by Adrien H. Tillmann, offering an abstract take on the Manhattan landscape where this singular event unfolded.
Kevin Hays: Live at The Stone will be accessible worldwide on digital services and as a limited vinyl edition starting September 13, 2026. Vinyl pre-orders are currently available via the AHT Records Bandcamp page at ahtrecords.bandcamp.com.
The album's launch will be marked by two performance evenings at The Jazz Gallery on September 11 and 12, 2026, where Kevin Hays will rejoin the same four collaborators. Each night will feature two duo sets, reflecting the spirit of the original residency while generating a fresh round of musical dialogue. 9/11 with Kenny Wollesen and Ben Wendel 9/12 with Gilad Hekselman and Craig Taborn
The Jazz Gallery – 1158 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10001 https://jazzgallery.org/
About AHT Records
Founded by award-winning photographer and filmmaker Adrien H. Tillmann, AHT Records is solely committed to preserving exceptional live performances. Following more than ten years of documenting New York's creative music scene through photography and film, Tillmann launched the label as an extension of that archival work. Independently funded via his production company, AHT Productions, the label operates without commercial constraints, allowing each release to be selected for its artistic and documentary significance rather than market appeal. In a time when recordings are often molded by technology and post-production editing, AHT Records aims to present performances as they happened, embracing the spontaneity, vulnerability, and authenticity that only live music can offer.
Lara Jones
AHT RECORDS
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