Mr Bongo Records
Encyclopedia
Mr Bongo Records is a now Brighton
based independent record label
, independent film
and publishing company specialising in world music
and art house / world cinema
. It was formed in 1989 by David 'Mr Bongo' Buttle, and operated out of London
until 2003.
Founded in 1989, in Berwick Street, London
, later moving to Lexington Street and then finally to Poland Street. The Mr Bongo record label
still exists over 25 years after the first shop opened, and a film label, Mr Bongo Films], was set up in 2004 to release lost classics from around the world.
Disorient Records was a sub-label that specialised in dance music
from Japan.
Mr Bongo Bass is a recent sub label of Mr Bongo specialising in global bass music.
Taking in directors such as Michelangelo Antonioni
, Wojciech Has
and Satyajit Ray
and films such as The Saragossa Manuscript; some other releases by Mr Bongo included Mikhail Kalatozov
's Soy Cuba, Glauber Rocha's Black God, White Devil and from the Antonioni, L'Avventura
.
Punching above its weight as an arthouse film company since its inception a few short years ago, the label already has an impressive track record of bringing iconic, stylish and often hard-to-find gems of world cinema to its small army of dedicated supporters. Production costs are deliberately kept low by releasing the feature film without multiple extras allowing them to deliver the highest possible quality prints on DVD’s at the most competitive prices.
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
based independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
and publishing company specialising in world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
and art house / world cinema
World cinema
World cinema is a term used primarily in English language speaking countries to refer to the films and film industries of non-English speaking countries. It is therefore often used interchangeably with the term foreign film...
. It was formed in 1989 by David 'Mr Bongo' Buttle, and operated out of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
until 2003.
Founded in 1989, in Berwick Street, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, later moving to Lexington Street and then finally to Poland Street. The Mr Bongo 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,...
still exists over 25 years after the first shop opened, and a film label, Mr Bongo Films], was set up in 2004 to release lost classics from around the world.
Disorient Records was a sub-label that specialised in dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
from Japan.
Mr Bongo Bass is a recent sub label of Mr Bongo specialising in global bass music.
Mr Bongo Soundsystem
The Mr Bongo Soundsystem specialises in bringing the sound of Mr Bongo to dancefloors around the world - Brazilian and South American music including jazz, samba, batucada, bossa, cumbia, forro, mambo, salsa, Baile Funk and more.Mr Bongo Films
Mr Bongo Films is the film offshoot imprint of the world renowned Mr Bongo Records that was established in 1989. In keeping with the record label’s philosophy Mr Bongo Films casts its net around the globe to find the best in essential world cinema.Taking in directors such as Michelangelo Antonioni
Michelangelo Antonioni
Michelangelo Antonioni, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian modernist film director, screenwriter, editor and short story writer.- Personal life :...
, Wojciech Has
Wojciech Has
Wojciech Jerzy Has was a Polish film director, screenwriter and film producer.-Early Life & Studies:...
and Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
and films such as The Saragossa Manuscript; some other releases by Mr Bongo included Mikhail Kalatozov
Mikhail Kalatozov
Mikhail Kalatozov born Mikheil Kalatozishvili was a Georgian/Russian film director. Born in Tiflis , he studied economics before starting his film career as an actor and later cinematographer....
's Soy Cuba, Glauber Rocha's Black God, White Devil and from the Antonioni, L'Avventura
L'avventura
L'Avventura is a 1960 Italian film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni and developed from a story he created. Monica Vitti and Gabriele Ferzetti star. It is noted for its careful pacing, which puts a focus on visual composition and character development, as well as for its unusual narrative structure...
.
Punching above its weight as an arthouse film company since its inception a few short years ago, the label already has an impressive track record of bringing iconic, stylish and often hard-to-find gems of world cinema to its small army of dedicated supporters. Production costs are deliberately kept low by releasing the feature film without multiple extras allowing them to deliver the highest possible quality prints on DVD’s at the most competitive prices.
Film directors
From Mr Bongo Films come a wide range of directors from across the globe, each delivering their own cinematic imprint to the world of film. These include:- Glauber Rocha
- John HustonJohn HustonJohn Marcellus Huston was an American film director, screenwriter and actor. He wrote most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered classics: The Maltese Falcon , The Treasure of the Sierra Madre , Key Largo , The Asphalt Jungle , The African Queen , Moulin Rouge...
- Michelangelo AntonioniMichelangelo AntonioniMichelangelo Antonioni, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian modernist film director, screenwriter, editor and short story writer.- Personal life :...
- Mikhail KalatozovMikhail KalatozovMikhail Kalatozov born Mikheil Kalatozishvili was a Georgian/Russian film director. Born in Tiflis , he studied economics before starting his film career as an actor and later cinematographer....
- Satyajit RaySatyajit RaySatyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
- Tomás Gutiérrez AleaTomás Gutiérrez AleaTomás Gutiérrez Alea was a Cuban filmmaker. He wrote and directed more than 20 features, documentaries, and short films, which are known for his sharp insight into post-Revolutionary Cuba, and possess a delicate balance between dedication to the revolution and criticism of the social, economic,...
- Wojciech HasWojciech HasWojciech Jerzy Has was a Polish film director, screenwriter and film producer.-Early Life & Studies:...