Cadence Records
Some serious jazz, plus a magazine, T-shirts, and more.
Chesky Records
A label founded in 1978 by pianist David Chesky. The label seeks out the finest in jazz, classical, and Latin jazz and seeks to capture the live essence of the world's finest musicians.
Chiaroscuro Records
A small, independent record company formed in the 1970's to record and promote classic jazz artists who were largely ignored by major record labels in search of "pop" or "fusion" jazz artists.
CMP Records
The small German label features Trilok Gurtu and "recordings of traditional musics from Indonesia, Turkey, and India."
Columbia Jazz
A huge player, obviously, putting out some of the best sounding records of any label. This artists page highlights some of the top stars.
Compost Records
A German label that has it's finger on the pulse of European techno and Acid Jazz.
Concord Records
The excellent Concord family of labels includes Concord Jazz, Concord Picante (Latin jazz), Concord Concerto (classical, Concord Vista (contemporary jazz), Jazz Alliance (independent recordings), Blues Alliance (classic blues), and Stretch Records (eclectic).
Criss Cross Jazz
Fully indexed list of releases on the label, including artists such as Jimmy Greene, Joe Farnsworth, Warne Marsh, and many more.
Delmark Records
Amazing catalog sorted by artist, from dixieland and New Orleans to Avant-Garde. Many recordings of historic significance as well.
ECM Records:
A History The ECM History page explains in great detail the philosophy and the artists that have made ECM what it is, from the early days of Mal Waldron and Jan Garbarek to the present.
Enja Records
A nice site with plenty of artist profiles and sound clips. Enja artists include Kenny Barron, Lee Konitz, Steve Swallow, and Paul Motian.
Fantasy Records
Fantastic new releases and reissues of work by classic jazz artists. Recent releases include works by Sonny Rollins, Freda Payne, Jimmy McGriff, Art Pepper, and Sonny Stitt. Many Fantasy releases are available for download through Emusic.com.
Four Leaf Clover Records
A Swedish Label with a lot of talent. This link goes straight to their catalogue.
Fuzzy Music
Peter Erskine wasn't fuzzy, was he? The Erskoman, erstwhile Weather Report drummer and top notch veteran, finds time somehow to make his own records, while being one of the most in-demand jazz drummers in the world.
Go Jazz
A new label formed in 1990, Go Jazz features artists such as saxophonist Bobby Malach, composer/producer and founder Ben Sidran, singer Ricky Peterson, and Will Lee.
GRP Records
This label is best known for it's "smooth jazz" artists and it's GRP all-star bands, as opposed to Impulse, an offshoot of GRP that favors 60's bop, post-bop, and free jazz.
Heads Up International
Heads Up has established itself as a label specializing in contemporary jazz that features quality and excellent musicianship. Many of its artists are firmly in the smooth jazz genre, representing the best of this sophisticated style. Artists include Spyro Gyra, Philip Bailey, Gerald Veasley, Pamela Williams, Dave Liebman, and Richie Cole.
Higher Octave Music
An interesting label that puts out music that ranges from smooth jazz to ethnic, and new age, from Craig Chaquico to Mythos.