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Friday, June 12, 2026

Steeplechase from Denmark 💫

 


One of my most beloved jazz labels 🤟




… as found inside this record by one of my most revered and beloved guitar players!


(Couldn’t resist 🤭 - My second copy, just in case my other one will get worn!)


💫



1 comment:

Alun Severn said...

The role played by small European labels such as Steeplechase and Soul Note/Black Saint during the 70s, 80s and 90s still isn't fully recognised, I don't think. We should be all the ore grateful then to whoever is responsible for the extraordinary labour of love that is the Jazzlists website, which documents the output of around 400 jazz labels, including Steeplechase and many other small labels. An astonishing act of jazz generosity. http://www.jazzlists.com/SJ_Labels.htm

Over the years I have picked up the following LPs, usually guided only by the fact that once they always tended to be cheap...

Song for Biko, Johnny Dyani Quartet, 1979, Steeplechase
Trouble in Mind, Archie Shepp & Horace Parlan, 1980, Steeplechase
Goin' Home, Archie Shepp & Horace Parlan, 1977, Steeplechase
In the Tradition, Anthony Braxton, 1974, Steeplechase
In the Tradition Vol. 2, Anthony Braxton, 1976, Steeplechase
Invitation, Andrew Hill, 1975, Steeplechase
Divine Revelation, Andrew Hill, 1976, Steeplechase
Windows, Lee Konitz & Hal Galper, 1976, Steeplechase

The pair of Braxtons are a bit of a mixed bag and not everything on them works entirely but they sound terrific and Tete Montoliu turns out to be a brilliant partner for Braxton.

And Paul Bley on Steeplechase probably constitutes a category in its own right (and I'm sure I've missed some in this list):

Paul Bley / NHØP, Paul Bley/Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, 1973
Questions, Paul Bley Trio, 1985
My Standard, Paul Bley, 1986
Live, Paul Bley & Jesper Lundgaard, 1987
Live Again, Paul Bley, 1987
Solo Piano, Paul Bley, 1988
The Nearness of You, Paul Bley, 1989
Bebopbebopbebopbebop, Paul Bley Trio, 1990
Indian Summer, Paul Bley, 1991 [CD only, I think]
Paul Plays Carla, Paul Bley, 1992 -- finally issued on vinyl for the first time a year or two back