Pirouet Records

Pirouet Records is an independent jazz record label founded in 2003 in Munich, Germany, by saxophonist Jason Seizer and businessman Ralph Bürklin. Seizer serves as the label's artistic director, while Bürklin acts as its commercial director. From the outset, the label distinguished itself through a passion for detail, reflected in carefully designed record covers that typically feature abstract images and graphics. The label's first releases were works by established Munich-based artists such as Walter Lang, Peter O'Mara, and Jason Seizer himself. Over time, Pirouet expanded its roster to include numerous musicians from across Europe and the United States. Its catalogue spans a wide spectrum of contemporary jazz, featuring artists such as Marc Copland, John Abercrombie, Bill Carrothers, Gary Peacock, Kevin Hays, Drew Gress, Larry Goldings, and Greg Osby, alongside European musicians including Florian Ross, Jochen Rückert, Pablo Held, Henning Sieverts, Ronny Graupe, Jürgen Friedrich, Taiko Saitō, Sebastian Gille, Bastian Stein, Joris Roelofs, Ben van Gelder, Anna Webber, and Kathrin Pechlof. Pirouet has released more than 100 productions and is counted among the three biggest jazz labels in Europe. In October 2016, the label announced a pause after 98 releases, though its albums remained available in stores. New productions resumed in 2018, including releases by Pablo Held, Robert Landfermann, and Hubert Nuss. The label continues to operate as an independent entity based in Munich.

Pirouet Records was founded in 2003 in Munich, Germany, by saxophonist Jason Seizer and businessman Ralph Bürklin. Seizer, an internationally recognized saxophonist, took on the role of artistic director, while Bürklin managed the commercial side. The label was established with a clear philosophy: to contrast with mass-market production by emphasizing a passion for detail, particularly in the design of its record covers, which typically feature abstract images and graphics. The first releases on Pirouet were works by established Munich-based artists such as Walter Lang, Peter O'Mara, and Jason Seizer himself. These initial recordings set the tone for the label's aesthetic and musical direction. Over the following years, Pirouet expanded its roster to include numerous musicians from Europe and the United States, building a catalogue that spans a broad spectrum of contemporary jazz. By the mid-2010s, Pirouet had released more than 100 productions and was counted among the three biggest jazz labels in Europe. Its roster included American jazz figures such as Marc Copland, John Abercrombie, Bill Carrothers, Gary Peacock, Kevin Hays, Drew Gress, Larry Goldings, and Greg Osby, as well as European musicians like Florian Ross, Jochen Rückert, Pablo Held, Henning Sieverts, Ronny Graupe, Jürgen Friedrich, Taiko Saitō, Sebastian Gille, Bastian Stein, Joris Roelofs, Ben van Gelder, Anna Webber, and Kathrin Pechlof. In October 2016, the label announced that it would take a pause after 98 releases, though its albums remained available in stores. This hiatus was temporary; in 2018, new productions resumed, including albums by Pablo Held, Robert Landfermann, and Hubert Nuss. The label continues to operate as an independent entity based in Munich, maintaining its commitment to artistic quality and distinctive visual identity.

• 2018

  Resumed new productions with albums by Pablo Held, Robert Landfermann, and Hubert Nuss

• 2016

  Announced pause after 98 releases

• 2003

  Founded in Munich by Jason Seizer and Ralph Bürklin

• 2003

  First releases by Walter Lang, Peter O'Mara, and Jason Seizer

Independent jazz label known for high-quality, detail-oriented productions and distinctive abstract cover art.

• Walter Lang albums

• Peter O'Mara albums

• Jason Seizer albums

• Marc Copland albums

• John Abercrombie albums

• Bill Carrothers albums

• Gary Peacock albums

• Kevin Hays albums

• Drew Gress albums

• Larry Goldings albums

• Greg Osby albums

• Florian Ross albums

• Jochen Rückert albums

• Pablo Held albums

• Henning Sieverts albums

• Ronny Graupe albums

• Jürgen Friedrich albums

• Taiko Saitō albums

• Sebastian Gille albums

• Bastian Stein albums

• Joris Roelofs albums

• Ben van Gelder albums

• Anna Webber albums

• Kathrin Pechlof albums

1. 1PIROUET Records official websitepirouet.de
2. 2PIROUET Records · aboutpirouet.de
3. 3Pirouet - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Pirouet Records - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org