Pi Recordings
Encyclopedia
Pi Recordings is a jazz
record label
whose motto is "dedicated to the innovative". Pi was founded in 2001
by Seth Rosner. He was joined as partner by Yulun Wang in 2002.
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,...
whose motto is "dedicated to the innovative". Pi was founded in 2001
2001 in music
See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
by Seth Rosner. He was joined as partner by Yulun Wang in 2002.
Discography
- Pi 01: Everybodys Mouth's a BookEverybodys Mouth's a BookEverybodys Mouth's a Book is an album by Henry Threadgill featuring eight of Threadgill's compositions performed by Threadgill & Make a Move. The album was the first album on the Pi label and was released simultaneously with Up Popped the Two Lips by Threadgill's Zooid in 2001.-Reception:Both of...
(2001) - Henry ThreadgillHenry ThreadgillHenry Threadgill is an American composer, saxophonist and flautist. Threadgill came to prominence in the 1970s leading ensembles with unusual instrumentation and often incorporating a range of non-jazz genres.... - Pi 02: Up Popped the Two LipsUp Popped the Two LipsUp Popped the Two Lips is an album by Henry Threadgill featuring seven of Threadgill's compositions performed by Threadgill's Zooid. The album was the second album on the Pi label and was released simultaneously with Everybodys Mouth's a Book by Threadgill & Make a Move in 2001.-Reception:Both of...
(2001) - Henry ThreadgillHenry ThreadgillHenry Threadgill is an American composer, saxophonist and flautist. Threadgill came to prominence in the 1970s leading ensembles with unusual instrumentation and often incorporating a range of non-jazz genres.... - Pi 03: Song For My Sister (2002) - Roscoe Mitchell & The Note FactoryRoscoe MitchellRoscoe Mitchell is an African American composer, jazz instrumentalist and educator, mostly known for being "a technically superb—if idiosyncratic—saxophonist." He has been called "one of the key figures" in avant-garde jazz who has been "at the forefront of modern music" for the past...
- Pi 04: The Year of The Elepahant (2002) - Wadada Leo SmithWadada Leo SmithIshmael Wadada Leo Smith is a trumpeter and composer working primarily in the fields of avant-garde jazz and free improvisation.-Biography:...
's Golden Quartet - Pi 05: Your Life Flashes (2002) - Fieldwork (Vijay IyerVijay IyerVijay Iyer is a jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, producer, electronic musician, and writer based in New York City.-Biography:Born in 1971 and raised in Rochester, New York, Vijay Iyer is the son of Indian Tamil immigrants to the US. He received 15 years of Western classical training on violin...
, Elliot Humberto Kavee, Aaron Stewart) - Pi 06: Organic Resonance (2003) - Wadada Leo SmithWadada Leo SmithIshmael Wadada Leo Smith is a trumpeter and composer working primarily in the fields of avant-garde jazz and free improvisation.-Biography:...
& Anthony BraxtonAnthony BraxtonAnthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s... - Pi 07: The MeetingThe Meeting (Art Ensemble of Chicago album)- Track listing :#"Hail We Now Sing Joy" — 4:56#"It's the Sign of the Times" — 18:44#"Tech Ritter and the Megabytes" — 4:22#"Wind and Drum" — 11:09#"The Meeting" — 6:49...
(2003) - Art Ensemble of ChicagoArt Ensemble of ChicagoThe Art Ensemble of Chicago is an avant-garde jazz ensemble that grew out of Chicago's AACM in the late 1960s. The group continues to tour and record through 2006, despite the deaths of two of the founding members.... - Pi 08: Tactiles (2003) - Liberty EllmanLiberty EllmanLiberty Ellman is a jazz guitarist born in London and raised in the United States.In the 1990s, Ellman was associated with the M-Base musical scene active in San Francisco, California, where he played with Eric Crystal...
- Pi 09: In What Language? (2003) - Vijay IyerVijay IyerVijay Iyer is a jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, producer, electronic musician, and writer based in New York City.-Biography:Born in 1971 and raised in Rochester, New York, Vijay Iyer is the son of Indian Tamil immigrants to the US. He received 15 years of Western classical training on violin...
& Mike LaddMike LaddMike Ladd is a hip-hop MC and producer. As an MC, he practices spoken-word and is known for his poetic lyrics. As a producer, he is known as the owner of the Likemadd label.-Biography:... - Pi 10: Saturn, Conjunct the Grand Canyon in a Sweet Embrace (2004) - Wadada Leo SmithWadada Leo SmithIshmael Wadada Leo Smith is a trumpeter and composer working primarily in the fields of avant-garde jazz and free improvisation.-Biography:...
& Anthony BraxtonAnthony BraxtonAnthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s... - Pi 11: Sirius CallingSirius CallingSirius Calling is an album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago recorded in April, 2003 in Madison, Wisconsin and released in 2004 on the Pi label. It features performances by Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell and Don Moye with Malachi Favors Maghostut on what would be the final album before his death. The...
(2004) - Art Ensemble of ChicagoArt Ensemble of ChicagoThe Art Ensemble of Chicago is an avant-garde jazz ensemble that grew out of Chicago's AACM in the late 1960s. The group continues to tour and record through 2006, despite the deaths of two of the founding members.... - Pi 12: Juncture (2004) - Various Artists
- Pi 13: And Now... (2004) - Revolutionary EnsembleRevolutionary EnsembleThe Revolutionary Ensemble was a free jazz trio consisting of violinist Leroy Jenkins , bassist Sirone and percussionist/pianist Jerome Cooper ....
- Pi 14: Mother Tongue (2004) - Rudresh MahanthappaRudresh MahanthappaRudresh Mahanthappa is a New York-based jazz alto saxophonist and composer.Mahanthappa was born in Trieste, Italy, and grew up in Boulder, Colorado. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1992 and received his Master of Fine Arts degree in jazz composition from Chicago's DePaul University...
- Pi 15: Spiritual UnitySpiritual Unity (Marc Ribot album)Spiritual Unity is a 2005 album by Marc Ribot released on Pi Records. The album features compositions by Albert Ayler who Ribot identifies as a significant influence...
(2005) - Marc RibotMarc RibotMarc Ribot born May 21, 1954) is an American guitarist and composer.His own work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, and Cuban music. Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notably Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and composer John Zorn.-Biography:Ribot was... - Pi 16: Simulated Progress (2005) - Fieldwork (Vijay IyerVijay IyerVijay Iyer is a jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, producer, electronic musician, and writer based in New York City.-Biography:Born in 1971 and raised in Rochester, New York, Vijay Iyer is the son of Indian Tamil immigrants to the US. He received 15 years of Western classical training on violin...
, Steve Lehman, Elliot Humberto Kavee) - Pi 17: Demian as Posthuman (2005) - Steve Lehman
- Pi 18: Back In Time (2005) - James "Blood" Ulmer
- Pi 19: Ophiuchus Butterfly (2006) - Liberty EllmanLiberty EllmanLiberty Ellman is a jazz guitarist born in London and raised in the United States.In the 1990s, Ellman was associated with the M-Base musical scene active in San Francisco, California, where he played with Eric Crystal...
- Pi 20: Non-Cognitive Aspects of the CityNon-Cognitive Aspects of the CityNon-Cognitive Aspects of the City: Live at the Iridium is a live album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago recorded in April, 2004 at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City and released in 2006 on the Pi label...
(2006) - Art Ensemble of ChicagoArt Ensemble of ChicagoThe Art Ensemble of Chicago is an avant-garde jazz ensemble that grew out of Chicago's AACM in the late 1960s. The group continues to tour and record through 2006, despite the deaths of two of the founding members.... - Pi 21: Codebook (2006) - Rudresh MahanthappaRudresh MahanthappaRudresh Mahanthappa is a New York-based jazz alto saxophonist and composer.Mahanthappa was born in Trieste, Italy, and grew up in Boulder, Colorado. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1992 and received his Master of Fine Arts degree in jazz composition from Chicago's DePaul University...
- Pi 22: StreamingStreaming (album)Streaming is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams, George Lewis and Roscoe Mitchell released on the Pi label in 2006. The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow states that "Decades have passed since the debut of these three musicians, yet they have lost nothing of their musical curiosity and desire to take...
(2006) - Muhal Richard AbramsMuhal Richard AbramsMuhal Richard Abrams is an American educator, administrator, composer, arranger, clarinetist, cellist, and jazz pianist in the Free jazz medium. Abrams compresses both contemporary and traditional ideas into lean, elegant pieces.- Biography :Abrams attended DuSable High School in Chicago...
, George LewisGeorge Lewis (trombonist)George E. Lewis is a trombone player, composer, and scholar in the fields of jazz and experimental music. He has been a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians since 1971, and is a pioneer of computer music.- Biography :Lewis graduated from Yale University with a...
& Roscoe MitchellRoscoe MitchellRoscoe Mitchell is an African American composer, jazz instrumentalist and educator, mostly known for being "a technically superb—if idiosyncratic—saxophonist." He has been called "one of the key figures" in avant-garde jazz who has been "at the forefront of modern music" for the past... - Pi 23: Vision Towards EssenceVision Towards EssenceVision Towards Essence is a live album of solo piano by Muhal Richard Abrams released on the Pi label in 2007.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4.5 stars stating "This is indeed one of the most important records ever released by this great man".-Track listing:# "Part 1"...
(2007) - Muhal Richard AbramsMuhal Richard AbramsMuhal Richard Abrams is an American educator, administrator, composer, arranger, clarinetist, cellist, and jazz pianist in the Free jazz medium. Abrams compresses both contemporary and traditional ideas into lean, elegant pieces.- Biography :Abrams attended DuSable High School in Chicago... - Pi 24: Two Rivers (2007) - Amir ElSaffarAmir ElSaffarAmir ElSaffar is an Iraqi-American trumpeter and vocalist.In addition to being a classical and jazz trumpeter, he is also a skilled interpreter of Iraqi maqam, which he sings and plays on santur...
- Pi 25: On Meaning (2007) - Steve Lehman
- Pi 26: Door (2008) - Fieldwork (Vijay IyerVijay IyerVijay Iyer is a jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, producer, electronic musician, and writer based in New York City.-Biography:Born in 1971 and raised in Rochester, New York, Vijay Iyer is the son of Indian Tamil immigrants to the US. He received 15 years of Western classical training on violin...
, Steve Lehman, Tyshawn SoreyTyshawn SoreyTyshawn Sorey is an American musician and composer who plays drum set, percussion, trombone and piano.Since graduating from William Paterson University, Sorey has been a sought-after musician in many different musical idioms...
) - Pi 27: Party IntellectualsParty IntellectualsParty Intellectuals is the debut album by jazz fusion trio Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog. It was produced by Joel Hamilton and released June 24, 2008 on Pi Recordings.-Reception:...
(2008) - Marc RibotMarc RibotMarc Ribot born May 21, 1954) is an American guitarist and composer.His own work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, and Cuban music. Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notably Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and composer John Zorn.-Biography:Ribot was... - Pi 28: Kinsmen (2008) - Rudresh MahanthappaRudresh MahanthappaRudresh Mahanthappa is a New York-based jazz alto saxophonist and composer.Mahanthappa was born in Trieste, Italy, and grew up in Boulder, Colorado. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1992 and received his Master of Fine Arts degree in jazz composition from Chicago's DePaul University...
- Pi 29: Cries From Tha Ghetto (2009) - Corey Wilkes
- Pi 30: Travail Transformation and Flow (2009) - Steve Lehman
- Pi 31: This Brings Us To, Volume 1 (2009) - Henry Threadgill ZooidHenry ThreadgillHenry Threadgill is an American composer, saxophonist and flautist. Threadgill came to prominence in the 1970s leading ensembles with unusual instrumentation and often incorporating a range of non-jazz genres....
- Pi 32: Radif Suite (2010) - Amir ElSaffarAmir ElSaffarAmir ElSaffar is an Iraqi-American trumpeter and vocalist.In addition to being a classical and jazz trumpeter, he is also a skilled interpreter of Iraqi maqam, which he sings and plays on santur...
& Hafez Modirzadeh - Pi 33: Harvesting Semblances and Affinities (2010) - Steve ColemanSteve ColemanSteve Coleman, born , is an African American saxophone player, spontaneous composer, composer and band leader. His music and concepts have been a heavy influence on contemporary jazz.-Chicago:...
- Pi 34: Silent Moves (2010) - Mark Ribot
- Pi 35: Apex (2010) - Rudresh MahanthappaRudresh MahanthappaRudresh Mahanthappa is a New York-based jazz alto saxophonist and composer.Mahanthappa was born in Trieste, Italy, and grew up in Boulder, Colorado. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1992 and received his Master of Fine Arts degree in jazz composition from Chicago's DePaul University...
& Bunky GreenBunky GreenBunky Green is an American jazz alto saxophonist and educator.-Biography:Vernice "Bunky" Green was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he played the alto saxophone, mainly at a local club called "The Brass Rail."... - Pi 36: This Brings Us To, Volume 2 (2010) - Henry Threadgill ZooidHenry ThreadgillHenry Threadgill is an American composer, saxophonist and flautist. Threadgill came to prominence in the 1970s leading ensembles with unusual instrumentation and often incorporating a range of non-jazz genres....
- Pi 37: SoundDance (2011) - Muhal Richard AbramsMuhal Richard AbramsMuhal Richard Abrams is an American educator, administrator, composer, arranger, clarinetist, cellist, and jazz pianist in the Free jazz medium. Abrams compresses both contemporary and traditional ideas into lean, elegant pieces.- Biography :Abrams attended DuSable High School in Chicago...