FMP/Free Music Production
Free Music Production (FMP) | |
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Founded | 1969 |
Founder | Jost Gebers |
Genre | Jazz |
Country of origin | Germany |
Location | Berlin |
Official website |
www |
Free Music Production (FMP) is a German record company and label specializing in free jazz.
In 1969, the New Artists Guild formed a co-operative led by bassist Jost Gebers. The guild included musicians Peter Brötzmann, Peter Kowald, Manfred Schoof, Alexander von Schlippenbach, who later recorded for FMP. FMP hosted workshops, concerts, and festivals. In 1988 FMP recorded Cecil Taylor in Berlin '88, an 11-CD, award-winning collection.[1]
For most of its history, Jost Gebers was the principal figure at FMP. Starting in 2000, he was the producer. In 2007 he became the owner of its legal successor, FMP-Publishing. Among the best known European musicians who have made records for FMP are Hans Reichel, Irene Schweizer, Han Bennink, Alfred Harth and Wolfgang Fuchs. Prominent American musicians such as Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers, Steve Lacy, Bill Dixon, and Charles Gayle have also recorded for the label.
FMP has a large back catalogue of LP's which have been unavailable since 1992. Only a small fraction of these has been reissued on CD, though more are coming out on CD through Atavistic Records via the FMP Archive Edition subseries of the Unheard Music Series curated by John Corbett.