BYG Records


BYG Records was a French record label known for the Actuel series specializing in free jazz. The label also released a small number of non-jazz recordings by artists such as Musica Elettronica Viva, Freedom and Gong.

History

BYG Records was founded in March 1967 by Jean Georgakarakos, Jean-Luc Young, and Fernand Boruso. The name of the label was formed from the initial letters of the founders' surnames. Georgakarakos had previously established himself as a record distributor and importer, while Young worked for Barclay Records and Boruso for Saravah, the record label formed by Pierre Barouh.
The label invited American free jazz musicians to Paris to record in the summer of 1969, a time when they were receiving little support or attention in the United States. Many of these musicians were already overseas at the time, having appeared at the Pan-African Music Festival in Algiers in July 1969. The resulting albums are an important repository of free jazz recordings from the period.
BYG Actuel was also responsible for organising the Actuel festival, which took place in late October 1969 in the small Belgian town of Amougies. The festival was initially intended to take place in or near Paris, but was banned by the French authorities. It featured many leading exponents of progressive rock, such as Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd, Captain Beefheart, Soft Machine, Ten Years After, Yes and The Nice. The festival was a popular success, with around 20,000 visitors over five nights, but it was a financial failure. In July 1970, Georgakarakos organised the Popanalia festival at Biot on the French Riviera, but this was also financially unsuccessful. By 1972, financial problems had plagued BYG to the point where it virtually went underground. Georgakarakos and Young later formed their own record labels, Celluloid and Charly. In 2002 a compilation album featuring the best of the label, JazzActuel: a collection of avant garde/free jazz/psychedelia from the BYG/Actuel catalogue of 1969–1971, was released by Charly and Get Back Records of Italy. The collection was curated by Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and journalist Byron Coley.

Discography

ArtistAlbum
529301Cherry, DonMu - First Part
529302Art Ensemble of ChicagoA Jackson in Your House
529303Murray, SunnyHommage to Africa
529304Shepp, ArchieYasmina, a Black Woman
529305GongMagick Brother
529306Jones, ArthurAfricanasia
529307Puig, MichelStigmates
529308Greene, BurtonAquariana
529309Lyons, JimmyOther Afternoons
529310Jack, AlanBluesy Mind
529311Shepp, ArchiePoem for Malcolm
529312Silva, AlanLuna Surface
529313Bley, PaulRamblin'
529314Acting TrioActing Trio
529315Braxton, AnthonyB-Xo/N-0-1-4-7a
529316Cyrille, AndrewWhat About?
529317Kuhn, JoachimSounds of Feelings
529318Shepp, ArchieBlasé
529319Coursil, JacquesWay Ahead
529320Burrell, DaveEcho
529321Moncur III, GrachanNew Africa
529322Terroade, KennethLove Rejoice
529323Thornton, CliffordKetchaoua
529324Ame SonCatalyse
529325FreedomFreedom at Last
529326Musica Elettronica VivaThe Sound Pool
529327Marietan, Pierre & Terry RileyGerm-Keyboard Study 2
529328Art Ensemble of ChicagoMessage to Our Folks
529329Art Ensemble of ChicagoReese and the Smooth Ones
529330Burrell, DaveLa Vie de Bohème
529331Cherry, DonMu - Second Part
529332Murray, Sunny An Even Break
529333Moncur, GrachanAco Dei De Madrugada
529334Redman, DeweyTarik
529335Musica Elettronica VivaLeave the City
529336Wright, FrankOne for John
529337Sharrock, SonnyMonkey-Pockie-Boo
529338Shepp, ArchieAnd The Full Moon Ensemble Live In Antibes Vol. 1
529339Shepp, ArchieAnd The Full Moon Ensemble Live In Antibes Vol. 2
529340Sun RaThe Solar-Myth Approach Vol. 2
529341Sun RaThe Solar-Myth Approach Vol. 1
529342-4Silva, AlanSeasons
529345Allen, DaevidBanana Moon
529346Kuhn, JoachimParis is Wonderful
529347Braxton, AnthonyThis Time...
529348Murray, SunnySunshine
529349Coursil, JacquesBlack Suite
529350Jones, ArthurScorpio
529351Shepp, ArchieLive at the Pan-African Festival
529352Lacy, SteveMoon
529353GongCamembert Electrique