AHT Records launches with Kevin Hays live album and archival mission

New York label AHT Records is launching with Kevin Hays: Live at The Stone, an archival release due Sept. 13, 2026, that captures four duo performances from Hays’ 2024 residency in Manhattan. The label is positioning itself around preserving live performances in their original form, with a vinyl edition limited to 200 copies and a companion pair of release shows at The Jazz Gallery.

Why it matters: - AHT Records is entering the market with a clear niche: preserving live performances as documentary artifacts, not studio-polished product. - The label’s first release pairs that mission with Kevin Hays, a widely respected jazz pianist whose name gives the launch immediate credibility. - The album also extends the life of a four-night New York residency into a worldwide digital release and a limited vinyl edition.

What happened: - AHT Records, founded in New York City, is launching with Kevin Hays: Live at The Stone. - The album arrives Sept. 13, 2026, and documents four duo performances from Hays’ 2024 residency at The Stone in New York City. - The performances feature Hays with Craig Taborn, Gilad Hekselman, Ben Wendel and Kenny Wollesen. - The label is offering the album digitally and as a limited edition of 200 individually numbered 180-gram vinyl records. - Vinyl pre-orders are available through the AHT Records Bandcamp page. - A release celebration is set for Sept. 11 and 12, 2026, at The Jazz Gallery in New York.

The details: - The album was recorded over four evenings and captures selected moments from the residency. - “Bob Dylan,” with Kenny Wollesen, opens with atmospheric openness. - “Presence,” with Craig Taborn, is fully improvised and built from electro-acoustic textures. - Gilad Hekselman’s “The Dove Will Fly High” is described as a prayer for peace. - Hays’ “Remember Me,” with Ben Wendel, closes the album. - Recording was handled by Kengchakaj Kengkarnka and Adrien H. Tillmann. - Chris Allen mixed the album, and Nate Wood mastered it. - Gotta Groove Records manufactured the vinyl in the United States. - The cover uses an original photograph by Adrien H. Tillmann and presents an abstract view of Manhattan. - The Jazz Gallery is at 1158 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10001, and its website is jazzgallery.org. - Sept. 11 will feature Kenny Wollesen and Ben Wendel. - Sept. 12 will feature Gilad Hekselman and Craig Taborn.

Between the lines: - AHT Records is framing itself as an archive-driven label, which sets it apart from more commercially driven indie imprints. - The launch choice suggests the label wants releases with both artistic weight and documentary value. - Hays’ long history with major jazz names adds depth to the release and underscores the label’s intent to start with established improvisers, not a debut unknown.

What's next: - Kevin Hays: Live at The Stone will be available worldwide on Sept. 13, 2026. - The two-night Jazz Gallery run will revisit the same quartet of collaborators in fresh duo pairings. - AHT Records is likely to continue building a catalog around rare live recordings and performance documents.

The bottom line: - AHT Records is launching with a mission statement in album form: preserve the moment, press it to vinyl, and let the performance speak for itself.