PizzaExpress will launch a new record label, releasing albums from new and established artists alongside a selection of previously unreleased music from its live music arm, PizzaExpress Live.
PizzaExpress has announced the launch of its own record label in conjunction with its live music arm, PizzaExpress Live. PX Records will release albums from new and established jazz and soul artists alongside a selection of music from PizzaExpress Live’s extensive archive of recordings.
PX Records’ first run of releases will feature albums from jazz mainstay and saxophonist Scott Hamilton, soul outfit Mamas Gun, genre-defying multi-instrumentalist and producer edbl, and sensational newcomer Native Dancer. In addition, the label will release a series of legacy recordings from PizzaExpress Live’s archive dating back over 45 years, featuring previously unreleased performances recorded across its venues: PizzaExpress Live in Holborn, PizzaExpress Jazz Club in Soho in London’s West End, and The Pheasantry in Chelsea.
“The PX Records vision is to celebrate the prestigious PizzaExpress Live legacy and to share some of the incredible performances that we get to experience across our venues on a daily basis,” says Ross Dines, PX Records. “When listening back to recordings, we’re always struck by both the quality of the audio and by how perfectly they captured the energy and excitement of the show itself. A PizzaExpress record label has long been a dream of the team here, and we’re delighted that it’s finally coming to fruition.”
The label’s first two albums, Scott Hamilton Quartet at PizzaExpress Live in London and Mamas Gun at PizzaExpress Live in London, will be released on April 14, 2023, with digital availability in addition to physical versions in CD and vinyl formats.
Since its launch in London’s Soho in the late ’70s, PizzaExpress Live has built a reputation as a leading destination for live music in the UK, presenting over 50,000 concerts from global stars, including Tony Bennett, Amy Winehouse, Diana Krall, Van Morrison, Bill Wyman, Benny Carter, Brian May, George Shearing, Charlie Watts, Mose Allison, Anita O’Day, and Melody Gardot.
Additionally, PizzaExpress Live has proudly hosted the first UK concerts for many musicians who have since become international stars, including Jamie Cullum, Norah Jones, and Gregory Porter. It has become a celebrated London institution representing the best in jazz and soul music.
