Survival Records is an independent record label that was founded by drummer Rashied Ali, and that focuses on free jazz.
| Survival Records | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founder | Rashied Ali |
| Genre | Free jazz |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | New York City |
| Official website | rashied-ali |
History edit
Ali co-founded Survival with saxophonist Frank Lowe in 1972 after experiencing frustration with being unable to secure a release with a major record label.[1] He recalled: "I wasn't turned down flatly all the time, but it was like a prolonged kind of thing. It was like 'now's not the time – unless you want to do something like this or that'."[2] Survival's inaugural release was Duo Exchange, an Ali / Lowe duet recorded in the fall of 1972 and issued in 1973.[3][4] Lowe's involvement with the label ceased following the release of the album, but Survival would go on to issue a total of ten albums prior to Ali's death in 2009,[5] along with CD reissues of original Survival LPs, released in conjunction with Michael Dorf's Knit Classics label.[6]
In 2020, Survival was revived thanks to the efforts of Ali's family.[4][5] That year saw the release of two recordings remastered from the drummer's massive recorded archive: Duo Exchange: Complete Sessions, an expanded version of the original 1973 release,[7] and First Time Out: Live at Slugs 1967, a live album featuring an early incarnation of Ali's Quintet.[8] The family plans to continue expanding the Survival catalogue with the addition of "further treasures."[5]
Releases edit
| Catalog # | Release year | Recording year | Album name | Personnel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR 101 | 1973 | 1972 | Duo Exchange | Rashied Ali and Frank Lowe | Reissued on CD by Survival / Knit Classics in 1999 (KCR 3020) |
| SR 102 | 1973 | 1973 | Rashied Ali Quintet | Rashied Ali Quintet | Reissued on CD by Survival / Knit Classics in 1999 (KCR 3021) |
| SR 104 | 1973 | 1971 | New Directions in Modern Music | Rashied Ali Quartet | Reissued on CD by Survival / Knit Classics in 1999 (KCR 3022) |
| SR 109 | 1976 | 1975 | Moon Flight | Rashied Ali Quartet / Quintet | Reissued on CD by Survival / Knit Classics in 1999 (KCR 3023) |
| SR 110 | 1976 | 1975 | What Would It Be Without You | Joe Lee Wilson and Bond Street | Reissued on CD by Survival / Knit Classics in 1999 (KCR 3024) |
| SR 111 | 1976 | 1975 | N.Y. Ain't So Bad: Ali Plays the Blues | Rashied Ali featuring Royal Blue | Reissued on CD by Survival / Knit Classics in 1999 (KCR 3025) |
| SR 112 | 1976 | 1975 | Swift Are the Winds of Life | Rashied Ali and Leroy Jenkins | Reissued on CD by Survival / Knit Classics in 1999 (KCR 3026) |
| SR 100 | 2001 | 1992 | No One in Particular | Rashied Ali Quintet | |
| SR 121 | 2006 | 2005 | Judgment Day Vol. 1 | Rashied Ali Quintet | |
| SR 122 | 2006 | 2005 | Judgment Day Vol. 2 | Rashied Ali Quintet | |
| SR 126 | 2009 | 2007 | Live in Europe | Rashied Ali Quintet | |
| SR 501 | 2020 | 1972 | Duo Exchange: Complete Sessions | Rashied Ali and Frank Lowe | Expanded version of Duo Exchange (SR 101) |
| SR 551 | 2020 | 1967 | First Time Out: Live at Slugs 1967 | Rashied Ali Quintet |
References edit
- ^ Wilmer, Val (2018). As Serious As Your Life: Black Music and the Free Jazz Revolution, 1957–1977. Serpent's Tail. pp. 325–326.
- ^ Wilmer, Val (2018). As Serious As Your Life: Black Music and the Free Jazz Revolution, 1957–1977. Serpent's Tail. p. 325.
- ^ "Rashied Ali - Duo Exchange (with Frank Lowe)". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Rodríguez, Alex W. (May 20, 2020). "The Durability Of Drummer Rashied Ali's Survival Records". DownBeat. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Survival Records Returns with New Jazz Releases". JazzTimes. January 22, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ Koenig, Steve (February 2001). "Rashied Ali's Survival Records". Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ "Rashied Ali & Frank Lowe - Duo Exchange Complete Sessions". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ "Rashied Ali - First Time Out: Live at Slugs 1967". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ "Survival Records discography". JazzLists. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ "Rashied Ali: Discography". RashiedAli.org. Retrieved March 25, 2023.