Jazz Record Labels Aa-Az
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Accurate Records
Medeski Martin and Wood’s former label. Founder Russ Gershon’s philosophy: “choose the artists very carefully and then get out of their way!”
ACT Music
Great label started by former Warner Europe exec Siegfried Loch. Features some of the best new European jazz talent around.
Adelphi Records
Adelphi Records is a US record label founded in 1968 by Gene Rosenthal. Musicians on that label are (among others) The Nighthawks and Catfish Hodge (Rock), Lenny Breau, Reuben Brown and Richie Cole.
Alchemy Records
The label that produced Gary Willis’ No Sweat also handles bassist Michael Manring, Robby Aceto, and many others.
Alice Musik
Alice Music Production was established in 1989. They strive to present strong, personal, unique voices, no matter genre or style although mainly acoustic music.
Ambiances Magnétiques
Ambiances Magnétiques is a non-profit, Canadian musical collective, which was formed in 1983 by a group of Montreal independent musicians and producers. The entity was formed out of necessity; the avant-garde tastes of the members — which includes jazz, classical, folk, and rock — proved to be too challenging for prospective distributors.
American Music Records
American Music Records is a United States-based record label specializing in traditional New Orleans jazz. The label was founded by William Russell in 1944, who ran the label almost entirely by himself for most of his life. Russell started the label to issue the recordings of early jazz musicians like Bunk Johnson and George Lewis that he had made in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Amulet Records
Amulet Records is a record label based in New Jersey specialising in percussion, avant-garde and experimental music. The label was established by the percussionist composer and visual artist Billy Martin in 1997. Celebrating it’s 10th anniversary, the catalog has grown to 24 titles ranging from various percussion repertoire produced by Martin; the Mozown series, dedicated to preserving vintage Bob Moses recordings; hip-hop and remix projects; a Sound Healing series and other visionary music and art.
Arabesque
This label features Ray Drummond, Dave Douglas, and Jane Ira Bloom.
Arbors Records
Recordings by contemporary musicians of musical sytles that originated in the 30s, 40s, and 50s, including Johnny Varro, Swing 7, Ruby Braff, and others.
Arhoolie Records
Arhoolie Records (El Cerrito, California) is a small record label run by Chris Strachwitz. The label was founded by Strachwitz in 1960 as a way for him to record and publish previously obscure “down home blues” artists such as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Snooks Eaglin and Bill Gaither.
Arkadia Jazz
Catalog includes releases by Billy Taylor, Benny Golson, and Django Reinhardt.
Art of Life Records
Created in October of 2000, Art of Life Records was formed with the purpose of providing Jazz artists an alternative outlet for releasing their music. They strive to preserve artistic integrity between the music and the musician. Featuring CD releases by Lenny Breau, Gordon Beck, Gary Husband, Brad Terry, Andrea Marcelli, Ron Thomas, Carl Filipiak and Ted Greene.
ARTizen Music Group
ARTizen Music Group is first and foremost about the art of contemporary music. That music might be jazzy, R&B-inflected or imbued with the subtle rhythms of downtempo/chill music. Artists include Jackiem Joyner, Shilts, and Soul Ballet.
ASC Records
ASC Records signs jazz, classical, electronic, and underground acts. The jazz acts include Steve Plews, Howard Riley, and John Law.
ASR Records
ASR Records is an Independent label specializing in music of all genres…from “Here to Yonder”.
Founded in 1995 by Alaadeen and Fanny Dunfee to provide an outlet for recording artist talent in the Kansas City area. Artists include David Basse, Doug Pierce, and Alaadeen himself.
Atavistic Records
Atavistic Records is an American rock and jazz record label that has released albums by Glenn Branca, Nels Cline, Lydia Lunch, Peter Brötzmann, various Ken Vandermark projects, Pinetop Seven, Swans, Larry Ochs, Mars, Davey Williams, Brian Harnetty, and Poem Rocket, among others. It is based in Chicago, Illinois, and was founded in 1986.
Auand Records
Auand Records is an independent jazz label founded in Italy.
AUM Fidelity
AUM Fidelity is a New York City-based record label founded in 1997 by former Homestead Records employee Steven Joerg. The label derives its name partially from the Charles Mingus album Ah Um. It’s mainly devoted to free jazz artists such as William Parker, Matthew Shipp, and David S. Ware but has also released recordings by improvisational rock band Shrimp Boat. AUM Fidelity distributes the CaseQuarter, High Two, and Riti labels.
Axiom
Axiom was a record label founded by musician Bill Laswell in 1989, with the support of Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records. Axiom was an independent subdivision of Blackwell’s Island Records, with Laswell being afforded a budget for a certain number of albums each year, basically of his own choosing. The freedom Blackwell gave Laswell gave rise to a number of studio albums and field recordings that otherwise would likely not have been made within the confines of a normal major label structure.
Ayler Records
Ayler Records is a Swedish record label which specializes in free jazz recordings. Founded in 2000 by Jan Ström and painter Åke Bjurhamn, it has gained recognition among free jazz fans over the years by releasing both archive and contemporary recordings from artists as diverse as Albert Ayler, Jimmy Lyons, Noah Howard, Peter Brötzmann, Henry Grimes, Hamid Drake, William Parker, Assif Tsahar or Charles Gayle.