Tomato records has distinguished itself for it’s diversity, as well as the jaw dropping roster of artists it has, over it’s many years, housed. Diversity, this wide spread under one roof, is not common to come across. When you peek into the rooms of their musical palace you’ll find jazz, blues, folk, Latin, and avant-garde experimentalists.
Artists such as the great singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt, one of the undeniable queens of soul, Nina Simone, Dave Brubeck, John Cage, Joao Carlos Martins, Leadbelly, and John Lee Hooker are here, on one label.
This label is committed to creating safe ports for the revolutionary and inventive artists…the ones who have influenced all that came after, creating art so fantastic that the waters shifted and will never flow as they once had. Thus, having its undeniable bleed into all the new tributaries. Call them musical librarians, archivists of the important, Tomato is making sure these pioneers never fade away and wander homeless, unknown to the throngs of current and future music listeners. I think it’s the type of label, that even if your not a fan of the individuals onboard, but you consider yourself a genuine music lover, you’ll find their efforts worth supporting, worth your respect for what they are trying to do. The bigger picture of their efforts is one of preservation, of sincere love for American music, and how it has shaped and mingled with our culture over the years. With today’s corporate strong hold on music full of bottom lines, formulaic disposable fodder ever bent on throwing out what is not profitable, it is refreshing to find these little islands where the important music, old or new, is being preserved.
Mars Ceaver