Enja Records is a German
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
record company and
label
A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product. Labels are most often affixed to packaging and containers using an adhesive, or sewing when affix ...
based in
Munich
Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...
which was founded by jazz enthusiasts Matthias Winckelmann and Horst Weber in 1971.
The label's first release was by
Mal Waldron
Malcolm Earl "Mal" Waldron (August 16, 1925 – December 2, 2002) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He started playing professionally in New York in 1950, after graduating from college. In the following dozen years or so Wa ...
, and early releases included European and Japanese
avant-garde
In the arts and literature, the term ''avant-garde'' ( meaning or ) identifies an experimental genre or work of art, and the artist who created it, which usually is aesthetically innovative, whilst initially being ideologically unacceptable ...
artists such as
Alexander von Schlippenbach
Alexander von Schlippenbach (born 7 April 1938) is a German jazz pianist and composer. He came to prominence in the 1960s playing free jazz in a trio with saxophonist Evan Parker and drummer Paul Lovens, and as a member of the Globe Unity Orch ...
,
Terumasa Hino
is a Japanese jazz trumpeter. He is considered one of Japan's finest jazz musicians. His instruments include the trumpet, cornet, and flügelhorn.
Early life
He was born in Tokyo, Japan, and his father was a trumpeter and tap dancer. Hino start ...
,
Albert Mangelsdorff
Albert Mangelsdorff (September 5, 1928 – July 25, 2005) was a German jazz trombonist. Working mainly in free jazz, he was an innovator in multiphonics.
Early life
Mangelsdorff was born in Frankfurt on September 5, 1928, as the son of the book ...
and
Yōsuke Yamashita, along with newer American jazz musicians like
Archie Shepp
Archie Shepp (born May 24, 1937) is an American jazz saxophonist, educator and playwright who since the 1960s has played a central part in the development of avant-garde jazz.
Biography Early life
Shepp was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but ...
,
Cecil Taylor
Cecil Percival Taylor (March 25, 1929April 5, 2018) was an American pianist and poet.
Taylor was classically trained and was one of the pioneers of free jazz. His music is characterized by an energetic, physical approach, resulting in comple ...
,
Leroy Jenkins and
Eric Dolphy
Eric Allan Dolphy Jr. (June 20, 1928 – June 29, 1964) was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist, composer, and bandleader. Primarily an alto saxophonist, bass clarinetist, and flautist, Dolphy was one of several multi-instrumentalists to gain ...
and
straight-ahead musicians such as
Tommy Flanagan Thomas or Tom Flanagan may refer to:
* Thomas Flanagan (bishop) (1930–2019), American Roman Catholic bishop
* Thomas Flanagan (Irish politician) (died 1980), Irish civil engineer and politician
* Thomas Flanagan (priest) (1814–1865), English Ro ...
,
McCoy Tyner
Alfred McCoy Tyner (December 11, 1938March 6, 2020) was an American jazz piano, jazz pianist and composer known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet from 1960 to 1965, and his long solo career afterwards. He was an NEA Jazz Masters, NEA J ...
,
Chet Baker
Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the "Prince of Cool".
Baker earned much attention and ...
,
Freddie Hubbard
Frederick Dewayne Hubbard (April 7, 1938 – December 29, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter. He played bebop, hard bop, and post-bop styles from the early 1960s onwards. His unmistakable and influential tone contributed to new perspectives fo ...
,
Elvin Jones
Elvin Ray Jones (September 9, 1927 – May 18, 2004) was an American jazz drummer of the post-bop era. Most famously a member of John Coltrane's quartet, with whom he recorded from late 1960 to late 1965, Jones appeared on such albums as ''My Fa ...
, and
Kenny Barron
Kenneth Barron (born June 9, 1943) is an American jazz pianist and composer who has appeared on hundreds of recordings as leader and sideman and is considered one of the most influential mainstream jazz pianists since the bebop era.
Early life
...
.
The label also branched out to release early world music productions from
Abdullah Ibrahim
Abdullah Ibrahim (born Adolph Johannes Brand on 9 October 1934), previously known as Dollar Brand, is a South African pianist and composer. His music reflects many of the musical influences of his childhood in the multicultural port areas of Cap ...
,
Rabih Abou-Khalil
Rabih Abou-Khalil (, born August 17, 1957) is an oud player and composer born in Lebanon, who combines elements of Arabic music with jazz, classical music, and other styles. He grew up in Beirut and moved to Munich, Germany, during the Lebanese ...
, Mahmoud Turkmani, Gypsy bands, Indonesia's Monica Akihary, and Turkish
saz virtuoso
Taner Akyol
Taner Akyol (born 1977) is a Turkish saz or bağlama player and classical composer.
Biography
Akyol was born in Bursa. He studied in Germany at the Brandenburgischen Colloquium für Neue Musik and the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler". In 2003 ...
.
Discography
Main series
*9902 2 Mal Waldron / Steve Lacy: ''One-Upmanship / Moods''
*9904 2 Bob Degen: ''Sequoia Song'' / ''Chartreuse''
*9906 2 Clark Terry / Red Mitchell: ''To Duke & Basie'' / ''When I'm Singing''
*9908 2 Hal Galper: ''Now Hear This'' / ''Ivory Forest''
*9910 2 Abdullah Ibrahim: ''
Banyana – Children of Africa
''Banyana – Children of Africa'' is a 1976 jazz album by Abdullah Ibrahim.
Recording and music
The album was recorded in January 1976. It is predominantly a piano trio recording, with Abdullah Ibrahim on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Roy Broo ...
'' / ''Desert Flowers''
*9912 2 Benny Bailey: Islands / Upper Manhattan Jazz Society
*9914 2 Franco Ambrosetti: ''Heart Bop'' / ''Close Encounter''
*9916 2 David Friedman: ''Future Passed / Of the Wind's Eye''
*9918 2 John Stubblefield: ''Bushman Song / Countin' on the Blues''
*9920 2 Attila Zoller: ''Cream Bells'' / ''Memories of Pannonica''
*9922 2 Kenny Barron: ''What If?'' / ''Live at Fat Tuesdays''
*9924 2 Ray Anderson/Slickaphonics: ''Wow Bag'' / ''Modern Life''
*9926 2 Conexion Latina: ''Calorcito'' / ''Un Poco Loco''
*9928 2 Jerry Gonzalez & Forth Apache Band ''The River Is Deep'' / ''Obatala''
*9930 2 Leni Stern: ''Secrets'' / ''Closer to the Light''
*9932 2 Ed Blackwell: ''What It Is'' / ''What It Be Like''
Other series
*blu-1000 2 Robert Pete Williams: ''Sugarfarm''
*blu-1001 2 Thomas Shaw: ''Do Lord Remember Me''
*blu-1002 2 Little Brother Montgomery: ''Bajez Copper Station''
*blu-1003 2 Bukka White: ''Baton Rouge Mosby Street''
*blu-1004 2 Eddie Taylor: ''Stormy Monday''
*blu-1005 2 Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir: ''Highway to Heaven''
*blu-1006 2 Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir: ''Jubilation Ii''
*blu-1007 2 Christian Willisohn: ''Boogie Woogie & Blues''
*blu-1008 2 Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir ''Glory Train''
*blu-1009 2 Stephen Barry Blues Band: ''Blues Under a Full Moon''
*blu-1010 2 Louisiana Red & Carey Bell ''Live At 55''
*blu-1011 2 Lillian Bouté & Christian Willisohn: ''Lipstick Traces''
*blu-1012 2 Bryan Lee ''Jump Street Five''
*blu-1013 2 Nick Woodland: ''Big Heart''
*blu-1014 2 Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir ''A Cappella''
*blu-1015 2 Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir ''Anniversary in Gospel''
*blu-1016 2 Yvonne Jackson W. Maceo Parker: ''I'm Trouble''
*blu-1017 2 Lillian Boutté: ''The Gospel Book''
*blu-1018 2 Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir: ''Joy to the World''
*blu-1019 2 Christian Willisohn: ''Blues News''
*blu-1020 2 Lillian Boutté: ''The Jazz Book''
*blu-1021 2 Bryan Lee: ''Memphis Bound''
*blu-1022 2 Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir Looking Back (Jubilation Vi)
*blu-1024 2 Al Jones Blues Band: ''Watch This!''
*blu-1025 2 Christian Willisohn Trio: ''Blues on the World''
*blu-1026 2 Christian Willisohn New Band: ''Heart Broken Man''
*blu-1027 2 Nick Woodland Quartet Live ''Fireworks''
*blu-1028 2 Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir Hamba Ekhaya
*blu-1029 2 Bryan Lee ''Live at the Old Absinthe House Bar – Friday Night''
*blu-1031 2 Big Allanbik Batuque Y Blues
*blu-1032 2 Bryan Lee ''Live at the Old Absinthe House Bar – Saturday Night''
*blu-1033 2 Marty Hall: ''Who's Been Talkin'?''
*blu-1035 2 Bryan Lee: ''Crawfish Lady''
*blu-1036 2 Nick Woodland: ''The Current That Flows''
*blu-1037 2 Nick Woodland Cult Factory Vol. 1 (Authentic Heads)
*m M P-1 70886 2 Rabih Abou-Khalil: ''Between Dusk and Dawn''
*m M P-1 70889 2 Rabih Abou-Khalil: ''Bukra''
*m M P-1 70890 2 Rabih Abou-Khalil: ''Roots and Sprouts''
*r27-9153 2 Harvie Swartz: ''In a Different Light''
*r27-9154 2
Bebop & Beyond
Bebop & Beyond is a jazz tribute bebop ensemble led by saxophonist Mel Martin.
''Bebop and Beyond'' features Martin, George Cables, Warren Gale, John Handy, Eddie Marshall, Frank Tusa.
''Plays Dizzy Gillespie'' features Martin, Vince Lateano, G ...
W. Joe Henderson Plays Thelonious Monk
*r27-9163 2 Tim Eyermann & East Coast Off. ''Outside Inside''
*r27-9167 2 David Becker: ''In Motion''
*r27-9169 2 Uncle Festive ''The Paper & The Dog''
*r27-9170 2 Dizzy Gillespie / Bebop & Beyond Plays Dizzy Gillespie
*r27-9171 2 Mark Egan: ''Beyond Words''
*r27-9180 2 Scott Henderson /tribal Tech Illicit*tip-888801 2 Blue Box Captured Dance Floor
*tip-888802 2 Kevin Bruce Harris: ''And They Walked Among People''
*tip-888803 2 Vladimir Estragon / ''Three Quarks For Muster Mark''
*tip-888804 2 Intergalactic Maiden Ballet ''Square Dance''
*tip-888805 2 Mike Westbrook: ''Off Abbey Road''
*tip-888806 2 Michael Gregory: ''The Way We Used to Do''
*tip-888807 2 Kevin Bruce Harris: ''Folk Songs / Folk Tales''
*tip-888808 2 Greetje Bijma: ''Tales of a Voice''
*tip-888809 2 Wolfgang Schmid / Kick, B. Cobham ''No Filters''
*tip-888810 2 Abdullah Lbrahim (Dollar Brand): ''Mantra Mode''
*tip-888811 2 Mike Clark / Paul Jackson: ''The Funk Stops Here''
*tip-888812 2 Abdullah Lbrahim (Dollar Brand): ''
Water from an Ancient Well''
*tip-888813 2 Blue Box ''Time We Sign''
*tip-888814 2 Mitch Watkins: ''Strings With Wings''
*tip-888815 2 Abdullah Lbrahim (Dollar Brand): ''No Fear No Die''
*tip-888816 2 Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand): ''Knysna Blue''
*tip-888817 2 Intergalactic Maidenballet ''Gulf''
*tip-888818 2 Blue Box "10"
*tip-888819 2 Okay Temiz: ''Magnet Dance''
*tip-888820 2 Abdullah Ibrahim: ''
Yarona''
*tip-888821 2 Subruto Roy Chowdhury Bageshree
*tip-888822 2 Raiz De Pedra With Egberto Gismonti Diario De Bordo
*tip-888823 2 Ferenc Snétberger ''The Budapest Concert''
*tip-888824 2 Paradox ''Paradox''
*tip-888825 2 Harald Haerter & Dewey Redman ''Mostly Live''
*tip-888826 2 Abdullah Ibrahim: ''Cape Town Flowers''
*tip-888827 2 Rikhy Ray: ''Mangalam''
*tip-888831 2 Greenfish: ''Perfume Light, Singing Blue''
*tip-888832 2 Abdullah Ibrahim: ''African Suite''
*tip-888833 2 Paradox ''The Rist Second''
*tip-888834 2 Ferenc Snétberger: ''Obsession''
*tip-888835 2 Mahmoud Turkmani Nuqta
*tip-888836 2 Abdullah Ibrahim: ''Cape Town Revisited''
*tip-888838 2 Lew Soloff: ''Rainbow Mountain''
*tip-888839-2 Götz Atzmon & The Orient House Ensemble
*tip-888340-2 Abdullah Ibrahim: ''Ekapa Lodumo''
*tip-888841-2 Gilad Athmon & Oriental House Ensemble: ''Nostalgico''
*tip-888843-2 The World Quintet
*tip-888845-2 Abdullah Ibrahim: ''African Magic''
*tip-888846-2 Nunu!: ''Con Alma''
*tip-888848-2 Gilad Atzmon Musik
*tip-888849-2 Gilad Atzmon & Orient House Ensemble: ''Refuge''
*tip-888850-2 Gilad Atzmon: ''In Loving Memory of America'' Rising Sun Collection
*rsc-0001 2 John Lee Hooker
*rsc-0002 2 Big Mama Thornton
*rsc-0003 2 Taj Mahal
*rsc-0004 2 Nina Simone
*rsc-0005 2 Archie Shepp
*rsc-0006 2 Louisiana Red
*rsc-0007 2
Esther Phillips
Esther Phillips (born Esther Mae Washington; December 23, 1935 – August 7, 1984) was an American singer, best known for her R&B vocals.Santelli, Robert (2001). ''The Big Book of Blues: A Biographical Encyclopedia''. Penguin Books. p. 376. ...
*rsc-0008 2
Johnny "Big Moose" Walker
Johnny "Big Moose" Walker (June 27, 1927 November 27, 1999) was an American Chicago blues and electric blues pianist and organist. He worked with many blues musicians, including Ike Turner, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Lowell Fulson, Choker Campbell ...
*rsc-0009 2 Lightnin' Hopkins
*rsc-0010 2 Chet Baker
*rsc-0011 2 Louisiana Red A.o.yellowbird
*yeb-7707 2 Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog ''
Party Intellectuals
''Party Intellectuals'' is the debut album by jazz fusion trio Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog. It was produced by Joel Hamilton and released June 24, 2008 on Pi Recordings.
Reception
Response was generally positive, with Metacritic assigning the ...
''
*yeb-7710 2 Susi Hyldgaard: ''It's Love We Need''
*yeb-7711 2 Roy Nathanson: ''Sotto Voce'' /''Subway Moon''
References
{{Authority control
Record labels established in 1971
German jazz record labels
Mass media in Munich