Cryptogramophone Records
Encyclopedia
Cryptogramophone Records is a Los Angeles
-based jazz
record label
which was formed in 1998 by violinist Jeff Gauthier to document the music of his late friend and musical companion, bassist Eric von Essen
. The label has since expanded its vision, currently serving the needs of a community of West Coast
creative musicians who are committed to exploring the worlds of improvisation
, composition
, artistic vision and instrumental technique.
Cryptogramophone has released albums by such West Coast musicians as guitarist Nels Cline
, drummer Alex Cline
, bassists Darek Oles and Steuart Liebig, drummer Scott Amendola
, guitarist G. E. Stinson
, trombonist Scot Ray, pianist Don Preston
and Jeff Gauthier himself. In addition, Cryptogramophone has documented the music of Downtown
New York
artists Mark Dresser
and Erik Friedlander
.
Cryptogramophone sponsors a weekly concert series in Los Angeles called Cryptonight at the Club Tropical, and an independent jazz retail website called indiejazz.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
which was formed in 1998 by violinist Jeff Gauthier to document the music of his late friend and musical companion, bassist Eric von Essen
Eric Von Essen
Eric Von Essen was an American jazz bassist, pianist, and composer active on the West Coast jazz scene of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s....
. The label has since expanded its vision, currently serving the needs of a community of West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
creative musicians who are committed to exploring the worlds of improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
, composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
, artistic vision and instrumental technique.
Cryptogramophone has released albums by such West Coast musicians as guitarist Nels Cline
Nels Cline
Nels Cline is an American guitarist and composer, currently the lead guitarist of alternative rock band Wilco. David Carr of the New York Times describes Cline as "one of the best guitarists in any genre."-Career:...
, drummer Alex Cline
Alex Cline
Alex Cline is an American jazz drummer.Cline began playing drums with his twin brother, guitarist Nels Cline, at age 11. Their first band was called Homogenized Goo and included David Hirschman on guitar. He began a musical association with woodwind artist Jamil Shabaka in 1976 as "Duo Infinity"...
, bassists Darek Oles and Steuart Liebig, drummer Scott Amendola
Scott Amendola
Scott Amendola is an American jazz drummer from the San Francisco Bay Area. His styles include jazz, blues, groove, rock and new music. He is considered central to the Bay Area music scene....
, guitarist G. E. Stinson
G. E. Stinson
Gregory E. Stinson, better known as G. E. Stinson , is an American guitarist and founding member of new age / electronic musical group Shadowfax. Inspired by blues masters such as Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters, Stinson experimented with blues, jazz and other musical genres before co-founding...
, trombonist Scot Ray, pianist Don Preston
Don Preston
Donald Ward Preston also known as Dom DeWilde or Biff Debrie born September 21, 1932 in Flint, Michigan. Preston is an American jazz and rock and roll musician.-Biography:Preston was born into a family of musicians and began studying music at an early age...
and Jeff Gauthier himself. In addition, Cryptogramophone has documented the music of Downtown
Downtown music
Downtown music is a subdivision of American music, closely related to experimental music. The scene the term describes began in 1960, when Yoko Ono—one of the Fluxus artists, at that time still seven years away from meeting John Lennon—opened her loft at 112 Chambers Street to be used...
New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
artists Mark Dresser
Mark Dresser
Mark Dresser is an American double bass player and composer.-Biography:He has performed and recorded with many of the luminaries of "new" jazz composition and improvisation. For ten years he performed with the Anthony Braxton Quartet, as well as diverse groups led by Ray Anderson, Tim Berne,...
and Erik Friedlander
Erik Friedlander
Erik Friedlander is an American cellist and composer based in New York City.A veteran of NYC's experimental downtown scene, Friedlander has worked in many contexts, but is perhaps best known for his frequent collaborations with saxophonist/composer John Zorn...
.
Cryptogramophone sponsors a weekly concert series in Los Angeles called Cryptonight at the Club Tropical, and an independent jazz retail website called indiejazz.
Discography
- CG131 Myra MelfordMyra MelfordMyra Melford is a jazz pianist and composer. In recent years, Melford has begun playing the harmonium as well as piano.Melford grew up in the Chicago area...
: The Image of Your Body (2006) - CG130 Nels ClineNels ClineNels Cline is an American guitarist and composer, currently the lead guitarist of alternative rock band Wilco. David Carr of the New York Times describes Cline as "one of the best guitarists in any genre."-Career:...
: New Monastery: A View Into the Music of Andrew Hill (2006) - CG129 Bennie MaupinBennie MaupinBennie Maupin is a Detroit Michigan jazz multireedist. He performs on various saxophones, flute and bass clarinet.He is probably best known for his participation in Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi sextet and Headhunters band, and for performing on Miles Davis's seminal fusion record, Bitches Brew...
Ensemble: Penumbra (2006) - CG128 Jeff Gauthier Goatette: One and the Same (2006)
- CG127 Erik FriedlanderErik FriedlanderErik Friedlander is an American cellist and composer based in New York City.A veteran of NYC's experimental downtown scene, Friedlander has worked in many contexts, but is perhaps best known for his frequent collaborations with saxophonist/composer John Zorn...
: Prowl (2006) - CG126 Ben Goldberg: the door, the hat, the chair, the fact (2006)
- CG125 Jenny ScheinmanJenny ScheinmanJenny Scheinman is an accomplished violinist. Renowned as a jazz violinist, she has credits with artists in many genres. She has collaborated and played with Linda Perry, Norah Jones, Nels Cline, Lou Reed, Ani Difranco, Bruce Cockburn, Aretha Franklin, Lucinda Williams, Bono, and Bill Frisell and...
: 12 Songs (2005) - CG124 Mark DresserMark DresserMark Dresser is an American double bass player and composer.-Biography:He has performed and recorded with many of the luminaries of "new" jazz composition and improvisation. For ten years he performed with the Anthony Braxton Quartet, as well as diverse groups led by Ray Anderson, Tim Berne,...
/Denman Maroney: Time Changes (2005) - CG123 Scott Amendola Band: Believe (2005)
- CG122 Alan PasquaAlan PasquaAlan Pasqua is a jazz pianist, educator and composer who co-composed the CBS Evening News theme. He also has had an extensive career in pop and rock music, most notably as a founding member, keyboardist and songwriter of the 80s hard rock band, Giant. He studied at Indiana University and the New...
: My New Old Friend (2005) - CG121 Alex ClineAlex ClineAlex Cline is an American jazz drummer.Cline began playing drums with his twin brother, guitarist Nels Cline, at age 11. Their first band was called Homogenized Goo and included David Hirschman on guitar. He began a musical association with woodwind artist Jamil Shabaka in 1976 as "Duo Infinity"...
/Kaoru/Miya Masaoka/G.E. Stinson: Cloud Plate (2005) - CG120 Nels ClineNels ClineNels Cline is an American guitarist and composer, currently the lead guitarist of alternative rock band Wilco. David Carr of the New York Times describes Cline as "one of the best guitarists in any genre."-Career:...
Singers: The Giant Pin (2004) - CG119 Darek Oles: Like A Dream (2004)
- CG118 Erik FriedlanderErik FriedlanderErik Friedlander is an American cellist and composer based in New York City.A veteran of NYC's experimental downtown scene, Friedlander has worked in many contexts, but is perhaps best known for his frequent collaborations with saxophonist/composer John Zorn...
: Quake (2003) - CG117 Scot Ray: Active Vapor Recovery (2003)
- CG116 Scott Amendola Band: Cry (2003)
- CG115 various artists: The Music of Eric von Essen III (2003)
- CG114 Bendian/Gauthier/Liebig/Stinson: Bone Structure (2003)
- CG113 Nels ClineNels ClineNels Cline is an American guitarist and composer, currently the lead guitarist of alternative rock band Wilco. David Carr of the New York Times describes Cline as "one of the best guitarists in any genre."-Career:...
Singers: Instrumentals (2002) - CG112 Jeff Gauthier Goatette: Mask (2002)
- CG111 Mark DresserMark DresserMark Dresser is an American double bass player and composer.-Biography:He has performed and recorded with many of the luminaries of "new" jazz composition and improvisation. For ten years he performed with the Anthony Braxton Quartet, as well as diverse groups led by Ray Anderson, Tim Berne,...
Trio: Aquifer (2002) - CG110 Alex Cline Ensemble: The Constant Flame (2001)
- CG109 Steuart Liebig: Pomegranate (2001)
- CG108 various artists: The Music of Eric von Essen II (2001)
- CG107 Don PrestonDon PrestonDonald Ward Preston also known as Dom DeWilde or Biff Debrie born September 21, 1932 in Flint, Michigan. Preston is an American jazz and rock and roll musician.-Biography:Preston was born into a family of musicians and began studying music at an early age...
: Transformation (2001) - CG106 Cline/Gauthier/Stinson: The Other Shore (2000)
- CG105 Nels ClineNels ClineNels Cline is an American guitarist and composer, currently the lead guitarist of alternative rock band Wilco. David Carr of the New York Times describes Cline as "one of the best guitarists in any genre."-Career:...
: The Inkling (2000) - CG104 Mark DresserMark DresserMark Dresser is an American double bass player and composer.-Biography:He has performed and recorded with many of the luminaries of "new" jazz composition and improvisation. For ten years he performed with the Anthony Braxton Quartet, as well as diverse groups led by Ray Anderson, Tim Berne,...
/Frances-Marie Uitti: Sonomondo (2000) - CG103 various artists: The Music of Eric von Essen I (2000)
- CG102 Alex Cline Ensemble: Sparks Fly Upward (1999)
- CG101 Jeanette Wrate/Northern Lights Ensemble: Echoes of a Northern Sky (1999)