Anaglyphos Records

Anaglyphos Records is an Italian independent jazz record label founded in 1996 in Catania by double bassist Nello Toscano. The label was created to promote non-commercial musical culture, with a particular focus on Sicilian musical realities. Its first release, 'Anaglifo', was a research project by Toscano with trumpeter Paolo Fresu and singer Rosalba Bentivoglio, blending free improvisation, analog electronics, and avant-garde jazz. The name 'Anaglyphos' comes from the ancient Greek word for a carved hardstone or a finely worked gem in relief, and also refers to the stereoscopic anaglyph image, symbolizing both the preciousness of musical elaboration and the desire to discover unexplored dimensions in music. The label's catalogue spans jazz, instrumental research, and contemporary classical music. Notable releases include albums by the Orchestra Jazz del Mediterraneo directed by Maurizio Giammarco, such as 'Cieli di Sicilia' (2011), 'Patchwork Project 3' (2012) by the Nello Toscano Quintet with guests Francesco Cafiso and Dino Rubino, and 'Acquapazza' (2021) by the Joe Debono Quintet. In 2022, the catalogue was taken over and relaunched by Mhodì Music Company, a Catania-based record company founded by Giuseppe Strazzeri, which preserved Anaglyphos as its jazz-focused label. Recent releases include 'Inside' by the Nello Toscano Quartet (2022), 'Open Letters' by saxophonist Rino Cirinnà (2023), and 'Play Your Dream' (2024) by the trio Danilo Rea / Toscano / Mimmo Cafiero. The label continues to release new music, with 2025 and 2026 releases such as 'Lost IQ' by Lost IQ and 'Shades of Red' by Antonella Leotta.

Anaglyphos Records was founded in 1996 in Catania, Sicily, by double bassist Nello Toscano. The label emerged from the difficulties Toscano encountered in publishing 'Anaglifo', a research work created with trumpeter Paolo Fresu and singer Rosalba Bentivoglio, which used free improvisation, analog electronics, and avant-garde jazz as its reference. This experience led Toscano to establish an independent label dedicated to promoting non-commercial musical culture, with a particular emphasis on Sicilian musical realities. The initial goal was to expand the space for music that deepens the sonic language: from pure research to free improvisation, and styles that develop less usual forms and content, such as jazz, electronic music, and new music linked to the classical tradition. The name 'Anaglyphos' derives from the ancient Greek 'ἀνάγλυϕος', indicating a carved hardstone object or a finely worked gem in relief. In modern language, it also refers to a two-dimensional image that, when viewed through special glasses with two colored filters (one green and one red), gives an illusion of three-dimensionality. These two aspects are the distinctive traits of the label: on one hand, the preciousness of elaboration in musical creation; on the other, the desire to discover unexplored contents and dimensions in the musical message. Over the years, the label experienced alternating periods of intense productivity and pauses caused by the challenges of digitalization and its processes. The catalogue includes significant works such as the albums of the Orchestra Jazz del Mediterraneo directed by Maurizio Giammarco, including 'Cieli di Sicilia' (2011); 'Patchwork Project 3' (2012) by the Nello Toscano Quintet with guests Francesco Cafiso and Dino Rubino; and 'Acquapazza' (2021) by the Joe Debono Quintet. In 2022, the Anaglyphos Records catalogue was acquired and relaunched by Mhodì Music Company, a Catania-based record company founded by Giuseppe Strazzeri. Mhodì preserved the label's identity, maintaining Anaglyphos as its jazz-dedicated imprint. Around the same time, the album 'Inside' by the Nello Toscano Quartet was released, featuring Alessandro Presti, Seby Burgio, and Peppe Tringali. Subsequent releases include 'Open Letters' by saxophonist Rino Cirinnà and 'Play Your Dream' (2024) by the trio Danilo Rea / Toscano / Mimmo Cafiero. The label continues to be active, with recent releases in 2025 and 2026 such as 'Lost IQ' by Lost IQ and 'Shades of Red' by Antonella Leotta, as well as a remastered EP 'Atlas' by Markus Stockhausen and Martux_M.

• 2026

  Release of 'Shades of Red' by Antonella Leotta and 'Atlas (Remastered)' by Markus Stockhausen and Martux_M; label celebrates 30th anniversary.

• 2025

  Release of 'Lost IQ' by Lost IQ.

• 2024

  Release of 'Play Your Dream' by Danilo Rea, Nello Toscano, Mimmo Cafiero.

• 2023

  Release of 'Open Letters' by Rino Cirinnà.

• 2022

  Catalogue acquired and relaunched by Mhodì Music Company; release of 'Inside' by Nello Toscano Quartet.

• 2021

  Release of 'Acquapazza' by Joe Debono Quintet.

• 2012

  Release of 'Patchwork Project 3' by Nello Toscano Quintet with Francesco Cafiso and Dino Rubino.

• 2011

  Release of 'Cieli di Sicilia' by Orchestra Jazz del Mediterraneo directed by Maurizio Giammarco.

• 1996

  Anaglyphos Records founded in Catania by Nello Toscano; first release 'Anaglifo'.

Independent jazz label focused on non-commercial, research-oriented music, with a strong connection to Sicilian musical culture.

Product categories. Jazz albums · Contemporary classical music · Instrumental research music · Vinyl records · Digital downloads · Streaming releases

1. 1Anaglyphos Records official websiteanaglyphos.com
2. 2Chi siamo · Anaglyphosanaglyphos.com
3. 3Anaglyphos Records on Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Anaglyphos on Italian Wikipediait.wikipedia.org