Babel Label is a jazz record label founded in 1994 by Oliver Weindling that specialises in British jazz, particularly the London scene.[1] It released more than 130 recordings in its first 20 years, two of which were nominated for the Mercury Prize.
Weindling was a banker in England in the 1980s when his interest in jazz expanded beyond a hobby.[2] He became acquainted with musicians from the British big band Loose Tubes and with Iain Ballamy and Billy Jenkins.[3] Weindling began organising concerts for London musicians and found that CDs were essential to generate publicity.[4] In 1994,[2] Motivated by this and by the difficulty of releasing the music that he was interested in, Weindling started the label and named it after the Biblical tower.[3][4]
Despite being the label's owner and only full-time employee, Weindling does not seek to influence what the musicians play on the label's recordings.[4] Although Babel is not formally linked with any studio or recording engineers, it tends to use a small number of each.[3]
Babel has released both studio and concert recordings.[3] "Most releases are joint ventures with musicians licensing their recordings to Babel and after-cost profits [are] shared."[4] In 2014, all of the label's releases were available on CD and as downloads, with some also available on vinyl.[4] In its first two decades, Babel released more than 130 albums.[4]
Babel's catalogue includes albums by Jenkins, Steve Argüelles, Julian Argüelles, Huw Warren, Christine Tobin and Phil Robson.[3] Held on the Tips of Fingers by Polar Bear and Knee-Deep in the North Sea by Portico Quartet were nominated for the Mercury Prize.[3]
