Psi Records is an independent record label that was founded by saxophonist Evan Parker, and that focuses on free improvisation.
History Parker founded Psi in 2001 with the assistance of Martin Davidson of Emanem Records. Parker had previously co-founded Incus Records in 1970, but left the label in 1986, after which he recorded for Leo, FMP, Emanem, and ECM. According to Parker, he started the label because he "missed the feeling of overseeing a project from start to finish," and chose the name Psi "for all the associations with irrational numbers, golden ratios etc. but above all for the Psi phenomena which I am convinced are at the heart of improvised music making."
From 2001 to 2012, Psi released nearly 90 CDs, after which Parker "decided that it's time to pause and think again."
Practices Parker stated that the goal of the label was "to represent my own music in the way I like to see it done and to draw people's attention to the work of other musicians who I feel are not given the prominence they deserve." According to writer Richard Williams, Psi "developed its own identity, visual and tactile as well as musical," with releases that featured a "unified (rather than uniform) design." Critic Stuart Broomer described the label as having "the feeling of an expanded musical family," given the fact that many of the musicians had played with Parker prior to recording with Psi.
Releases Catalog #Release yearRecording yearAlbum namePersonnelpsi 01.0120012001Lines Burnt in LightEvan Parkerpsi 02.0120021998'SmatterGerd Dudekpsi 02.0220022000The Grass is GreenerHan Bennink and Evan Parkerpsi 02.0320021980Six of OneEvan Parkerpsi 02.0420021980From Saxophone & TromboneEvan Parker and George Lewispsi 02.0520021972Collective Calls (Urban) (Two Microphones)Evan Parker and Paul Lyttonpsi 02.0620021997At Les Instants ChavirésEvan Parker, Barry Guy, and Paul Lyttonpsi 03.0120031975At the Unity TheatreEvan Parker and Paul Lyttonpsi 03.02–320032002Free Zone Appleby 2002 (2 CDs)Various Artistspsi 03.0420031995–2003Dream SequenceKenny Wheelerpsi 03.0520032002BroomridingAlexander von Schlippenbachpsi 03.0620031986The Snake DecidesEvan Parkerpsi 04.0120041973Song for SomeoneKenny Wheelerpsi 04.0220042003Suspensions and AnticipationsStan Tracey and Evan Parkerpsi 04.03–420041980Pisa 1980 Improvisors Symposium (2 CDs)Various Artistspsi 04.0520042003Free Zone Appleby 2003Various Artistspsi 04.06–720042003America 2003 (2 CDs)Evan Parker, Alexander von Schlippenbach, and Paul Lyttonpsi 04.0820042004Or AirJoel Ryanpsi 04.0920042002/4Dead or AliveFURTpsi 04.1020042004GubbröraSten Sandell and David Stackenäs with Evan Parker, Barry Guy, and Paul Lyttonpsi 05.0120051975The London ConcertDerek Bailey and Evan Parkerpsi 05.0220052004Iskra³Paul Rutherfordpsi 05.0320052003LDP - CologneUrs Leimgruber, Jacques Demierre, and Barre Phillipspsi 05.0420052004CrevulationsStan Tracey and Evan Parkerpsi 05.0520052004Free Zone Appleby 2004Various Artistspsi 05.0620052004Critical MassAgustí Fernández and Mats Gustafssonpsi 05.0720052004Naan TsoFoxes Fox (Evan Parker, Steve Beresford, John Edwards, and Louis Moholo)psi 06.0120062005SoloRudi Mahallpsi 06.0220062005Crossing the RiverEvan Parker Octetpsi 06.0320061997TarantellaAki Takase Piano Quintetpsi 06.0420062006Cut and ContinuumAdam Linsonpsi 06.0520061970The Topography of the LungsEvan Parkerpsi 06.0620062005Free Zone Appleby 2005Various Artistspsi 06.0720061977BiosystemSpontaneous Music Ensemblepsi 06.0820062005More is MorePeter Evanspsi 06.0920062004/6OmnivmFURTpsi 06.1020062004/5WinterreiseAlexander von Schlippenbach Triopsi 07.0120072006Music from ColourDomeLawrence Casserley and Simon Desorgherpsi 07.0220072005La Lumière de PierresFrançois Houle, Evan Parker, and Benoît Delbecqpsi 07.0320072004ContraptionBark!psi 07.0420072006Free Zone Appleby 2006Various Artistspsi 07.05–620072005spin networks (2 CDs)fORCHpsi 07.0720071983Hook, Drift & ShuffleEvan Parkerpsi 08.0120081989Conic SectionsEvan Parkerpsi 08.0220082005FURT plus "equals"FURTpsi 08.0320082007JourneyFred Van Hovepsi 08.0420082007Free Zone Appleby 2007Various Artistspsi 08.0520082007XylobiontJohn Eckhardtpsi 08.0620082003/7Improvisations for George RisteLondon Improvisers Orchestrapsi 08.0720082008Friulian SketchesAlexander von Schlippenbachpsi 08.0820082004Rue Victor MasséRay Warleighpsi 08.0920082008VolumeJohn Edwardspsi 09.0120091975Saxophone SolosEvan Parkerpsi 09.0220092007Beam StonePer Anders Nilsson, Sten Sandell, and Raymond Stridpsi 09.0320092007IntegumentLawrence Casserley and Adam Linsonpsi 09.0420092007Un llamp que no s'acaba maiAgustí Fernándezpsi 09.05–620092008Nature/Culture (2 CDs)Peter Evanspsi 09.0720092006–8Essex Foam PartyGrutronicpsi 09.0820092008/9SenseFURTpsi 09.0920092003SETEvan Parkerpsi 09.1020092007/8AdriftRichard Barrettpsi 10.0120102008Whitstable SoloEvan Parkerpsi 10.0220102009Creak Above 33Nate Wooley and Paul Lyttonpsi 10.0320102008A week went byAki Takasepsi 10.0420102009WazifaPat Thomas, Raymond Strid, and Clayton Thomaspsi 10.0520102009PsalmsEvan Parker and Sten Sandellpsi 10.0620102009HysteJohn Russellpsi 10.0720102009StopsTony Marshpsi 10.0820102009Cry, WantHans Koller with Bill Frisellpsi 11.0120112009/10VentsAgustí Fernández and Joan Saurapsi 11.0220112011EPDJ Sniffpsi 11.0320112008–11Trance MapEvan Parker and Matthew Wrightpsi 11.0420112010Lio Leo LeonLondon Improvisers Orchestrapsi 11.0520112008Figures and GroundsAdam Linson Systems Quartetpsi 11.0620112010Quartet ImprovisationsTony Marshpsi 11.0720112006It won't be called broken chairMisha Mengelberg and Evan Parkerpsi 11.0820112009Squall LineAleks Kolkowski and Ute Wassermannpsi 11.0920112009Together in Zero SpaceGrutronic and Evan Parkerpsi 11.1020112010The Bleeding EdgeEvan Parker, Okkyung Lee, and Peter Evanspsi 12.0120122006Live at the VortexFoxes Foxpsi 12.0220122011Courants des VentsToma Goubandpsi 12.0320122010HasseltEvan Parker Electroacoustic Ensemblepsi 12.0420122009Fume of SighsBark!psi 12.0520122012Day and NightGerd Dudekpsi 15.0120151978MonocerosEvan Parkerpsi 16.0120162012as the windEvan Parker
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