Aerophonic Records

Aerophonic Records is a 100% artist-run independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in the winter of 2013 by saxophonist Dave Rempis. Rempis is a well-known figure in Chicago's jazz and improvised music scene, associated with groups such as the Rempis Percussion Quartet, Ballister, Kuzu, The Engines, and the Vandermark Five. He started the label to document his own ongoing work at a time when many non-artist-run labels in jazz and improvised music appeared to be in decline. The label remains entirely artist-run and is built around the principle of artist control and responsibility. The catalog focuses on jazz and improvised music, typically released as CDs, LPs, and 2-CD sets, with Bandcamp download and streaming included. Releases are organized under catalog numbers such as AR043 through AR051, and feature collaborations led by Rempis alongside musicians including Tashi Dorji, Tim Daisy, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Avreeayl Ra, Jim Baker, Luke Stewart, and many others. The label also documents work by ensembles such as Ballister, Wheelhouse, Earsnatcher, and Archer. Aerophonic deliberately does not distribute through Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, or other major corporate music aggregators, arguing that such platforms take a gross cut of artists' revenues with little reward. Instead, it partners with small independent brick-and-mortar and online retailers that distribute jazz and improvised music in North America, Europe, and Japan. These include Catalytic Sound, Squidco, Dusty Groove, and Downtown Music Gallery in the US; No Man's Land and Open Door in Germany; DistriJazz in Spain and Portugal; SoundOhm in Italy; Multi-Kulti in Poland; Disk Union in Japan; and Birdland Records in Australia. The label emphasizes that 100% of purchases go directly to the artist. As a small, artist-owned label, Aerophonic Records operates outside the major label system and is not publicly listed. Its output is aimed at listeners and collectors of free jazz, free improvisation, and experimental music, and it maintains a direct relationship with its audience through its website and Bandcamp.

Aerophonic Records was founded in the winter of 2013 by Chicago saxophonist Dave Rempis. Rempis is a well-known figure in the Chicago jazz and improvised music community, having worked with groups including the Rempis Percussion Quartet, Ballister, Kuzu, The Engines, and the Vandermark Five. He established the label to document his ongoing work at a time when many non-artist-run labels in jazz and improvised music seemed to be giving up a collective last gasp. From the outset, the label was conceived as a 100% artist-run entity, continuing what Rempis describes as the overall trend of artist control and responsibility that has characterized his own career and that of jazz artists in the 21st century generally. The label's purpose includes giving Rempis more direct contact with his audience, more control over how his work is presented, and more synchronicity between touring schedules and recorded output. Aerophonic releases are typically issued as CDs, LPs, and 2-CD sets, with Bandcamp download and streaming included. The catalog is organized under sequential catalog numbers; by the mid-2020s it had reached at least AR051. Releases document collaborations led by Rempis with a wide range of improvisers, including Tashi Dorji, Tim Daisy, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Avreeayl Ra, Jim Baker, Luke Stewart, and others, as well as ensembles such as Ballister, Wheelhouse, Earsnatcher, and Archer. A defining characteristic of Aerophonic Records is its refusal to distribute through Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, or other major corporate music aggregators. The label states that these platforms feed on artists of all sizes, taking a gross cut of their revenues with little reward. Instead, Aerophonic partners with many small independent brick-and-mortar and online retailers that distribute jazz and improvised music in North America, Europe, and Japan. Named partners include Catalytic Sound, Squidco, Dusty Groove, and Downtown Music Gallery in the US; No Man's Land and Open Door in Germany; DistriJazz in Spain and Portugal; SoundOhm in Italy; Multi-Kulti in Poland; Disk Union in Japan; and Birdland Records in Australia. The label emphasizes that 100% of purchases go directly to an artist to support their creative output in an ongoing way, while also acknowledging that choosing not to buy artist-direct is acceptable. As of the mid-2020s, Aerophonic Records remains a 100% artist-run entity. It operates as a private, artist-owned label outside the major label system and is not publicly listed. Its releases are aimed at listeners and collectors of free jazz, free improvisation, and experimental music, and the label maintains a direct relationship with its audience through its website and Bandcamp.

• 2026

  AR049 Orbital by The Outskirts (Rempis/Flaten/Rosaly + Warelis) released April 17th, 2026.

• 2026

  AR050 Clocking the Wheel by Ballister + Luke Stewart released July 10th, 2026.

• 2026

  AR051 The Walls of the Temple Are Made of Sound by Rempis/Abrams/Ra + Baker released November 27th, 2026; pre-sale began October 13th.

• 2025

  AR045 Sudden Dusk by Archer (Rempis/Ex/Strøm/Østvang) released April 18th, 2025.

• 2025

  AR046 House and Home by Wheelhouse (Rempis/Adasiewicz/McBride) released July 22nd, 2025.

• 2025

  AR047 Otoliths by Earsnatcher (Rempis/Harnik/Lonberg-Holm/Daisy) released October 14th, 2025.

• 2025

  AR048 Dial Up by Rempis/Adasiewicz/Corsano released December 26th, 2025.

• 2024

  AR043 Gnash by the Dave Rempis / Tashi Dorji Duo released June 25th, 2024.

• 2024

  AR044 Propulsion by Rempis/Adasiewicz/Abrams/Damon released October 4th, 2024.

• 2013

  Aerophonic Records founded in the winter by Chicago saxophonist Dave Rempis.

Artist-run independent jazz and improvised music label emphasizing direct artist-to-audience sales and avoiding major corporate streaming aggregators.

• AR051 The Walls of the Temple Are Made of Sound

• AR050 Clocking the Wheel

• AR049 Orbital

• AR048 Dial Up

• AR047 Otoliths

• AR046 House and Home

• AR045 Sudden Dusk

• AR044 Propulsion

• AR043 Gnash

1. 1Aerophonic Recordsaerophonicrecords.com
2. 2About — Aerophonic Recordsaerophonicrecords.com
3. 3Aerophonic Recordswikidata.org