When free jazz trumpeter / electronics specialist Jeff Kaiser wants to put out a record, he doesn't have to shop demos around or hope for corporate approval.
Kaiser moved to San Diego four years ago, having spent a long time exploring the L.A. free jazz scene, particularly with multi-instrumentalist Vinny Golia.
He started his own record label, pfMENTUM (pronounced pee-eff-men-toom) in 1999 to document the adventurous music that wasn't being recorded. The label currently has 62 releases under it's belt, with another two "dropping" next month, one by singer Bonnie Barnett, and the other featuring saxophonist Dick Wood leading a nonet.
As if gigging, teaching, and running a record label weren't enough, Kaiser started another record company, AngryVegan, in 2001, explaining, "I started the second label to be even more eclectic...pfMENTUM has a very specific aesthetic focus, where AngryVegan is more broad."
There are eight releases under the AngryVegan imprint. Kaiser and saxophonist David Borgo have a duo called KaiBorg with a disc out on pfMENTUM, and will be appearing on Saturday, June 25, in Ventura at Zoey's, then in L.A. at Royal/T (Angel City Arts).
You can see the full discographies at pfmentum.com, and angryvegan.com
photo by Sylvia Borgo
When free jazz trumpeter / electronics specialist Jeff Kaiser wants to put out a record, he doesn't have to shop demos around or hope for corporate approval.
Kaiser moved to San Diego four years ago, having spent a long time exploring the L.A. free jazz scene, particularly with multi-instrumentalist Vinny Golia.
He started his own record label, pfMENTUM (pronounced pee-eff-men-toom) in 1999 to document the adventurous music that wasn't being recorded. The label currently has 62 releases under it's belt, with another two "dropping" next month, one by singer Bonnie Barnett, and the other featuring saxophonist Dick Wood leading a nonet.
As if gigging, teaching, and running a record label weren't enough, Kaiser started another record company, AngryVegan, in 2001, explaining, "I started the second label to be even more eclectic...pfMENTUM has a very specific aesthetic focus, where AngryVegan is more broad."
There are eight releases under the AngryVegan imprint. Kaiser and saxophonist David Borgo have a duo called KaiBorg with a disc out on pfMENTUM, and will be appearing on Saturday, June 25, in Ventura at Zoey's, then in L.A. at Royal/T (Angel City Arts).
You can see the full discographies at pfmentum.com, and angryvegan.com
photo by Sylvia Borgo