Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

s. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of

free jazz Free jazz is an experimental approach to jazz improvisation that developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s when musicians attempted to change or break down jazz conventions, such as regular tempos, tones, and chord changes. Musicians during ...

History

Black Saint was established in 1975 by Giacomo Pelliciotti and devoted to recording avant-garde musicians who might not have an opportunity elsewhere. In 1979, a sister label, Soul Note, was established as a home for artists who, while being no less creative, might be considered slightly closer to the mainstream. The labels specialize in avant-garde jazz stemming from the free jazz tradition. Some of its roster of artists were members of the Chicago-based music association

Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1965 in Chicago by pianist Muhal Richard Abrams, pianist Jodie Christian, drummer Steve McCall, and composer Phil Cohran. The AACM is devote ...

and the St. Louis-based multidisciplinary arts collectives

Black Artists Group The Black Artists Group (BAG) was a multidisciplinary arts collective that existed in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1968 to 1972. BAG is known for the convergence of free jazz and experimental theater. Members Members included saxophonists Julius ...

and the Human Arts Ensemble. The company was based in

Tribiano Tribiano ( lmo, Tribian ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about southeast of Milan. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,512 and an area of .All demographics and other s ...

, Italy. Many of the recordings were made in Milan, as the performers passed through the area on tour, although many leading Italian musicians, such as

Giorgio Gaslini Giorgio Gaslini (; 22 October 1929 – 29 July 2014) was an Italian jazz pianist, composer and conductor. He began performing aged 13 and recorded with his jazz trio at 16. In the 1950s and 1960s, Gaslini performed with his own quartet. He was ...

, have also recorded for the label. Giovanni Bonandrini's son Flavio ran the company until its sale in 2008, the elder Bonandrini having retired, and has supervised many recording sessions in New York City. Starting in 1984, Black Saint/Soul Note won the ''

Down Beat ' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chi ...

'' Critics Poll for best record label for six subsequent years until they were replaced by

Blue Note In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch from standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies depending on the musical co ...

in 1990. Cam Jazz acquired the company in 2008.Brian Morto
"Far Cry"
''Point of Departure'' website, October 2008.

Discography

Black Saint

Soul Note

References

External links

Official website
with Bonandrini {{DEFAULTSORT:Black Saint Soul Note Italian independent record labels Jazz record labels Record labels established in 1975 1975 establishments in Italy