ESP-DISK

ESP-Disk is a New York-based record label, founded in 1966 by the lawyer Bernard Stollman, originally financed from an inheritance. Though it originally existed to release Esperanto-based music, starting with its second release (Albert Ayler's Spiritual Unity), it became the most important exponent of what is commonly referred to as free jazz. ESP also released recordings by uncommercial underground rock acts including the Fugs, The Godz and Pearls Before Swine. Though it largely ceased releasing records in the 70s, a few new releases have crept out from the label, and it still exists to this day, with nearly its entire catalog still available.

Other artists who have recorded for this label include Ornette Coleman (the "Town Hall Concert"), Pharaoh Sanders (who made his recording debut on ESP), Sun Ra, Ronnie Boykins, Marion Brown, Sonny Simmons, Paul Bley, Ran Blake, and Perry Robinson.

The label's catalog has been licensed frequently over the years, but Stollman has reportedly resumed direct responsibility for reissues.

ESP-Disk's current general manager is Tom Abbs.

[edit] Discography

[edit] ESP 1000 series

• 1001 Ni Kantu En Esperanto
• 1002 Albert Ayler – Spiritual Unity
• 1003 Pharaoh Sanders Quintet – Pharaoh's First)
• 1004 New York Art Quartet
• 1005 Byron Allen Trio
• 1006 Ornette Coleman – Town Hall, 1962
• 1007 Giuseppi Logan Quartet
• 1008 Paul Bley – Barrage
• 1009 Bob James (musician) – Explosions
• 1010 Albert Ayler – Bells
• 1011 Ran Blake – Plays Solo Piano
• 1012 Lowell Davidson Trio featuring Gary Peacock
• 1013 Giuseppi Logan – More
• 1014 Sun Ra – The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume One
• 1015 Milford Graves Percussion Ensemble
• 1016 Albert Ayler & Don Cherry – New York Eye and Ear Control
• 1017 Sun Ra – The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume Two
• 1018 The Fugs – The Fugs First Album
• 1019 Jean Erdman – The Coach With The Six Insides
• 1020 Albert Ayler – Spirits Rejoice
• 1021 Paul Bley – Closer
• 1022 Marion Brown Quartet
• 1023 Frank Wright Trio
• 1024 Burton Greene Quartet
• 1025 Patty Waters Sings
• 1026 Henry Grimes– The Call
• 1027 Timothy Leary – Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out
• 1028 The Fugs - The Fugs
• 1029 Charles Tyler Ensemble
• 1030 Sonny Simmons – Staying On The Watch
• 1031 Noah Howard Quartet
• 1032 Sunny Murray
• 1033 (Various Artists) – ESP Sampler
• 1034 East Village Other
• 1035 Tuli Kupferberg – No Deposit, No Return
• 1036 Byard Lancaster – (NEVER ISSUED)
• 1037 The Godz – Contact High Wit Da Godz
• 1038 The Fugs – Virgin Fugs
• 1039 Randy Burns – Of Love And War
• 1040 Marion Brown – Why Not?
• 1041 Karl Berger – From Now On
• 1042 Gunter Hampel – From Europe
• 1043 Sonny Simmons – Music From The Spheres
• 1044 Marzette Watts – Marzette & Company
• 1045 Sun Ra – Nothing Is
• 1047 Godz – Godz 2
• 1048 Alan Sondheim – Ritual-All-7-70
• 1049 Gato Barbieri – In Search Of The Mystery
• 1050 William Burroughs – Call Me Burroughs
• 1051 (Various Artists) – ESP Sampler
• 1052 James Zitro – West Coast Music
• 1053 Frank Wright – Your Prayer
• 1054 Pearls Before Swine. – One Nation Underground
• 1055 Patty Waters – College Tour
• 1056 Movement Soul – Love Recording Of Songs And...
• 1057 Peter Lemer – Local Colour
• 1058 Sean Gagnier – (never issued)
• 1059 Charles Tyler – Eastern Man Alone
• 1060 Steve Lacy – The Forest And The Zoo
• 1061 Jerry Moore – Ballad Of Birmingham (aka Life Is A Constant Journey Home)
• 1062 Jacques Coursil – Unit (never issued)
• 1063 New York Electric String Ensemble
• 1064 Noah Howard – At Judson Hall
• 1065 Music From The Orthodox Liturgy
• 1066 Bud Powell – Blue Note Cafe Paris 1961
• 1067 / ORO 5 HARYOU Percussion Ensemble – Sounds Of Ghetto Youth
• 1068 Holy Modal Rounders – Indian War Whoop
• 1069 / ORO 1 Bruce MacKay – Midnight Minstrel
• 1070 / ORO-4 All that the name implies – Side 1
• 1071 Paul Bley – [never issued double album]
• 1072 Tony Snell – Fungus And Englishmen Abroad
• 1073 Norman Howard – Burn, Baby, Burn
• 1074 Burton Greene Trio - On Tour
• 1075 Pearls Before Swine. – Balaklava
• 1076 Nedley Elstak – The Machine
• 1077 The Godz – Third Testament
• 1078 Seventh Sons – Four AM At Frank's (aka Raga)
• 1080 Karel Velebny – SHQ
• 1081 (Various Artists) – An Evening At Home With ESP
• 1082 Alan Sondheim – T'Other Little Tune
• 1083 Free Music Quintet – Free Music 1 & 2
• 1085 Lou Killen – Sea Chanteys (aka Folk Songs)
• 1089 Randy Burns – Evening Of The Magician
• 1091 Alan Silva – Skillfulness
• 1092 Ed Askew – Ask The Unicorn
• 1095 Levitts – We Are The Levitts
• 1097 / ORO 6 Todd Kelley – Folksinger
• 1098 MIJ – Yodeling Astrologer
• 1099 Erica [Pomerance] – You Used To Think (aka Surreal)
• 1111 (Various Artists) – Boots 'n Roots

[edit] ESP 2000 series

• 2000 Octopus – Rock-New Music Fusion
• 2001 Cromagnon – Elliot/Grasmere Connecticut Tribe (aka Cave Rock/Orgasm)
• 2002 Jayne County – Goddess Of Wet Dreams
• 2003 Charles Manson and the Family Sing 13 Songs - Lie: The Love and Terror Cult
• 2004 Sweet Pie – Pleasure Pudding: Livid at Fat City
• 2004 Sweet Pie – Honky Tonk Jive
• 2005 Barry Titus – Do Wappa Do
• 2006 Emerson's Old Timey Custard-Suckin' Band – Emerson's Old Timey Custard-Suckin' Band
• 2007 Randy Burns – Songs For An Uncertain Lady
• 2008 Joel Tobias – God Is Watching America
• 2009 Barry Titus – 42nd Street
• 2010 Woodstock Workband – Armed And Dangerous
• 2012 Woodstock Band – Sword In The Hand
• 2013 Jimi Lalumia & The Psychotic Frogs – Live At Max's Kansas City 1981
• 2015 Don Moore – In The Groove
• 2016 Don Moore – Party Goin' On In Woodstock
• 2017 Godz - Godzundheit
• 2018 The Fugs – Fugs 4, Rounders Score
• 2020 Les Visible – Too Old To Rock And Roll
• 2021 Les Visible – Jews From Outer Space
• 2022 (Various Artists) – ESP-disk Guide To Funky
• 2044 (Various Artists) – Woodstock: Moods And Moments
• 2051 (Various Artists) – ESP Sampler (promotional only)

[edit] ESP 3000 series

• 3000 Charlie Parker – Live Performances
• 3001 Charlie Parker – Broadcast Performances, Vol. 2
• 3002 Billie Holiday – Broadcast Performances, Vol. 1
• 3003 Billie Holiday – Broadcast Performances, Vol. 2
• 3004 Tony Snell – Medieval & Latter Day Lays
• 3005 Billie Holiday – Radio & TV Broadcasts (1953-1956)
• 3006 Billie Holiday – Broadcast Performances, Vol. 4
• 3007 Revolutionary Ensemble – Vietnam 1 & 2 (at the Peace Church)
• 3009 Tiger Tiger – Sun Country
• 3010 Captain Matchbox-Wow – Smoke Dreams
• 3011 Marc Black – Big Dong Dharma
• 3012 Rolf Kemp – Daydreamer
• 3013 Frank Lowe – Black Beings
• 3014 Peter Stampfel & Luke Faust – Wendigo Dwain Story
• 3015 Nadolski – New Music From Poland 1 [NEVER ISSUED]
• 3016 Niemen Enigmatic – New Music From Poland 2
• 3017 Lester Young – Newly Discovered Performances 1
• 3018 Sea Ensemble – We Move Together
• 3019 Paul Thornton, Fradkin, & Unger & The Big Band – Pass On This Side
• 3020 Bill Horwitz – Lies, Lies, Lies
• 3021 Bud Powell – Winter Broadcasts 1953
• 3022 Bud Powell – Spring Broadcasts 1953
• 3023 Bud Powell – Summer Broadcasts 1953
• 3023 ? – New Music From Japan
• 3024 Bud Powell – Autumn Broadcasts 1953
• 3025 Anton Bruhin – New Music From Switzerland
• 3026 Ronnie Boykins – The Will Come Is Now
• 3028 Michael Gregory Jackson – Clarity
• 3029 Harvey
Windbiel Sorgen, Bob
S. Rust – Outlet
• 3030 Albert Ayler – Prophecy
• 3031 Albert Ayler – Live At Slug's Saloon 1
• 3032 Albert Ayler – Live At Slug's Saloon 2
• 3033 Sun Ra – Concert For The Comet Kohoutek

[edit] See also

• List of record labels

[edit] External links

• http://www.espdisk.com/ Official site
• http://www.myspace.com/espdisk Official myspace
• Collectors' discography
• The Old New Thing is Newer Than Ever. Liner notes for an ESP-Disk mash-up by Wu Ming 1