About Us
We are an independent record label dedicated to releasing work of innovative musicians.
label information Next Event
- May 9
- The Trio feat. Muhal Richard Abrams, George Lewis & Wadada Leo Smith
Community Church of NY
New York, NY
Pi Conversations
Watch a short video of Pi artists discussing music - featuring George Lewis, Steve Lehman, Rudresh Mahanthappa, and Liberty Ellman.
Small (30 MB) | Large (100 MB) (requires quicktime)
Pi Weblog
Visit our new weblog!
Pi T-shirts
Check out our t-shirts – stylish designs made with quality materials. Get yourself a nice new Spectrus or Kyma T-shirt.
Featured Music
What Am I? - Irrational Remix (Steve Lehman)- Anti-Pop Consortium featuring Pharoahe Monch and L.I.F.E.
Steve Lehman’s remix of this underground hip-hop classic makes use of irrational rhythms and non-repetitive formal devices to create a meticulously crafted sound world that, much like the lyrical content on the track, is at once ominous and highly visceral. - Universal Indians
- Marc Ribot
The band puts its stamp on this Ayler tune, an unreleased track from the Spiritual Unity sessions with Roy Campbell on trumpet & pocket trumpet, Chad Taylor on drums, and Henry Grimes on bass. - Hope
- Rudresh Mahanthappa
This recording is from Yatra, Rudresh's first CD, recorded in 1994. It includes Larry Kohut on bass and Jerry Steinhilber on drums.
Email List
DoorFieldwork
On MeaningSteve Lehman Quintet
Two RiversAmir ElSaffar
Vision Towards EssenceMuhal Richard Abrams
StreamingMuhal Richard Abrams, George Lewis & Roscoe Mitchell
CodebookRudresh Mahanthappa
Non-cognitive Aspects of the CityArt Ensemble of Chicago
Ophiuchus ButterflyLiberty Ellman
Back in TimeOdyssey the Band
Demian as PosthumanSteve Lehman
Simulated ProgressFieldwork
Spiritual UnityMarc Ribot
Mother TongueRudresh Mahanthappa
And Now...The Revolutionary Ensemble
JunctureVarious Artists
Sirius CallingArt Ensemble of Chicago
Saturn, Conjunct the Grand Canyon in a Sweet EmbraceWadada Leo Smith & Anthony Braxton
In What Language?Vijay Iyer & Mike Ladd
TactilesLiberty Ellman
The MeetingArt Ensemble of Chicago
Organic ResonanceWadada Leo Smith & Anthony Braxton
Your Life FlashesFieldwork
The Year of the ElephantWadada Leo Smith's Golden Quartet
Song for My SisterRoscoe Mitchell & The Note Factory
Up Popped the Two LipsHenry Threadgill's Zooid
Everybodys Mouth's a BookHenry Threadgill & Make a Move
Latest News
More great press about the AACM and George Lewis's book from Hank Shteamer in
Time Out New York. For those interested in digging deeper, (well you really should read the book) Hank has put up these great interview transcripts with George and Muhal on his BLOG. Happy reading.
–posted May 8
Time Out New York. For those interested in digging deeper, (well you really should read the book) Hank has put up these great interview transcripts with George and Muhal on his BLOG. Happy reading.
–posted May 8
George Lewis's book
A Power Stronger Than Itself: The AACM and American Experimental Music is now available. Read fine articles about this important work
HERE and HERE. Of course , if you are in New York, please attend this important EVENT, a panel discussion, book signing, and performance featuring Muhal Richard Abrams, George Lewis and Wadada Leo Smith.
–posted May 7
A Power Stronger Than Itself: The AACM and American Experimental Music is now available. Read fine articles about this important work
HERE and HERE. Of course , if you are in New York, please attend this important EVENT, a panel discussion, book signing, and performance featuring Muhal Richard Abrams, George Lewis and Wadada Leo Smith.
–posted May 7
Pi Recordings is pleased to announce that the Jazz Journalists Association has released their list of finalists for this year's awards and a number of Pi Recordings' artists are prominently featured. Tyshawn Sorey has been nominated for Up & Coming Musician of the Year and Drummer of the Year, while Steve Lehman has been nominated for Alto Player of the Year. Congratulations to both Tyshawn and Steve. Harbingers of things to come for sure.
–posted May 7
–posted May 7
Wonderful feature article on the AACM by Nate Chinen in the
New York Times on the occasion of the release of George Lewis´s "A Power Stronger Than Itself: The AACM and American Experimental Music." It´s really heartening to be reminded how many of the key members of the AACM, some now gone, have recorded for Pi. Chinen goes on to name Fieldwork as an example of a band influenced by the AACM aesthetic. Thanks Nate for helping to draw attention to an organization whose recognition falls well short of it´s influence on the music.
–posted May 2
New York Times on the occasion of the release of George Lewis´s "A Power Stronger Than Itself: The AACM and American Experimental Music." It´s really heartening to be reminded how many of the key members of the AACM, some now gone, have recorded for Pi. Chinen goes on to name Fieldwork as an example of a band influenced by the AACM aesthetic. Thanks Nate for helping to draw attention to an organization whose recognition falls well short of it´s influence on the music.
–posted May 2
Just 1 week, April 22nd, till the release of Fieldwork's 3rd recording Door, featuring Vijay Iyer, Steve Lehman and Tyshawn Sorey. To celebrate the release we have designed a Fieldwork tee shirt that will soon be for sale.
In the meantime, you can satisfy your Fieldwork needs with this video from last years Vision Festival. Some of you may remember that excerpts from this performance were aired on BBC Radio. Enjoy.
–posted April 16
In the meantime, you can satisfy your Fieldwork needs with this video from last years Vision Festival. Some of you may remember that excerpts from this performance were aired on BBC Radio. Enjoy.
–posted April 16
We're late in posting this, but it's too good to pass up. Jon Garelick's interview in the The Phoenix with Rudresh before his Boston gig in February produced some notable quotes, "Mahanthappa, now 36, is one of the more celebrated young musicians of his generation, a critics’-poll winner and Guggenheim fellow with an original compositional style rooted in jazz..." or "“I never claimed to be playing Indian music, but it’s a significant part of what I do, as much as Charlie Parker and John Coltrane and Duke Ellington." It's a good read if for no other reason than to find out what inspirations lie behind some of Rudresh's compositions.
–posted March 28
news archive
–posted March 28
Featured Articles
Marc Ribot: The Care and Feeding of a Musical Margin
Simulated Progress:
A Conversation
Vijay Iyer & Steve Lehman
A conversation between Steve Lehman and Vijay Iyer about Fieldwork and their new release Simulated Progress.
Mother Tongue:
Do you Speak Indian?
Rudresh Mahanthappa
This is a brief essay explaining the recent Pi release Mother Tongue. Complete with audio files and musical scores, Rudresh explains the concept behind the compositions.