 On
November 4th Arbor Records, a small Winnipeg label specializing in
Aboriginal recordings, plan to release a double CD/DVD set of material
by the Jeff Healey Band, which broke up in 2002.
The release consists of early singles and
unreleased live material, and is being released in collaboration
with the former drummer in the Jeff Healey Band, Tom Stephen.
The release of this compilation, titled Legacy
Volume One is being done against the wishes of the Healey Estate
and his family. By the time of his death last March, Jeff had long
ceased to have any association — creative or otherwise —
whatsoever with Mr. Stephen, and had long endured a bitter feud
with the former drummer, who claimed he was owed monies and rights
to Jeff’s music.
Cristie Healey, Jeff Healey’s widow,
released a statement that she was “deeply and sadly disappointed”
that the label, who were notified of the Estate’s objections,
went ahead with the release — and that EMI Canada saw fit
to handle the distribution of the record.
“We ask that Jeff’s fans please
refrain from purchasing this compilation out of respect for Healey
and his family. This release is NOT authorized or supported in any
way by Jeff’s estate.”
Ms. Healey said the family felt that the
collection lacked the care and attention that any “legacy”
project should deserve. One disc consists of “yet another
‘hits’ compilation and the bonus disc is an assembly
of inferior tracks that have been readily available for download
for years.”
Aside from the Mess of Blues CD that was
released with Jeff Healey’s active participation and approval
this past spring on Stony Plain in Canada, and Ruf Records in Europe
and the U.S., there have been no other releases since his death.
However, the Healey Estate does plan to authorize
the release of other Jeff Healey recordings in the future, including
a Jeff Healey Jazz Wizards release to join the three already available
on Stony Plain.
Said Ms. Healey: “The estate will ensure
that future releases are assembled with the care and attention that
they deserve out of respect for Jeff and his fans around the world.
“Other
releases, which have not been authorized or approved by the Healey
Estate, do not honor Jeff's memory or the legacy of his art, and are
merely being released to exploit Jeff’s name.”
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