Survival Records

Survival Records
Founded1972; 53 years ago (1972)
FounderRashied Ali
GenreFree jazz
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York City
Official websiterashied-ali.bandcamp.com

Survival Records is an independent record label that focuses on free jazz. It was founded in 1972 by American drummer Rashied Ali.[1]

History

Ali co-founded Survival with saxophonist Frank Lowe in 1972, after experiencing frustration with being unable to secure a release with a major record label.[2]

Survival's inaugural release was Duo Exchange, an Ali / Lowe duet recorded in the fall of 1972 and issued in 1973.[3][4] Lowe's involvement with the label ceased following the release of the album, but Survival went on to issue a total of ten albums prior to Ali's death in 2009,[5] along with CD reissues of original Survival LPs, released in conjunction with Michael Dorf's Knit Classics label.[6]

In 2020, Survival was revived, thanks to the efforts of Ali's family.[4][5] That year saw the release of two recordings remastered from the drummer's massive recorded archive: Duo Exchange: Complete Sessions, an expanded version of the original 1973 release,[7] and First Time Out: Live at Slugs 1967, a live album featuring an early incarnation of Ali's Quintet.[8] The family plans to continue expanding the Survival catalogue with the addition of "further treasures."[5]

References

  1. ^ Williams, Richard (August 19, 2009). "Obituary: Rashied Ali". The Guardian.
  2. ^ Wilmer, Val (2018). As Serious As Your Life: Black Music and the Free Jazz Revolution, 1957–1977. Serpent's Tail. pp. 325–326. (Originally published London: Allison & Busby, 1977.)
  3. ^ "Rashied Ali - Duo Exchange (with Frank Lowe)". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Rodríguez, Alex W. (May 20, 2020). "The Durability Of Drummer Rashied Ali's Survival Records". DownBeat. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Survival Records Returns with New Jazz Releases". JazzTimes. January 22, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  6. ^ Koenig, Steve (February 2001). "Rashied Ali's Survival Records". Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "Rashied Ali & Frank Lowe - Duo Exchange Complete Sessions". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  8. ^ "Rashied Ali - First Time Out: Live at Slugs 1967". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved March 25, 2023.