Screwgun Records is a jazz record label founded by saxophonist Tim Berne in 1996. Most releases on the label have been by Berne, though some have been by Berne's associates and bandmates. Steve Byram has designed and illustrated the artwork for many of the label's albums.Eye, Number 42, Volume 11, Winter 2001.
After attending college in Oregon, Berne moved to New York City in the 1970s to meet saxophonist Julius Hemphill, whose music had inspired him to become a jazz musician. Hemphill became his mentor, giving him saxophone lessons and helping him find his way in the music business. Berne founded Empire Records in the late 1970s to issue own albums. He released five albums, and his work was noticed by Giovanni Bonandrini, an Italian producer who issued Berne's next two albums on Soul Note. Berne signed with Columbia Records in the 1980s, then recorded for JMT Records until it shut down in 1995. Then Berne founded Screwgun to get control of his work again. Screwgun albums were initially distinguished by their brown, cardboard covers decorated with the line drawings of Steve Byram. The unorthodox artwork fit Berne's unorthodox music and business tactics.
Discography Physical Releases Year releasedCatalogue No.ArtistTitleNotes1996SCREWU 70001Tim Berne's BloodcountUnwound3-CD Box Set - Limited Edition of 20001997SCREWU 70002 Tim Berne's ParaphraseVisitation Rites1997SCREWU 70003 Tim Berne's BloodcountDiscretion1997SCREWU 70004 Tim Berne's BloodcountSaturation Point1998SCREWU 70005Marc DucretUn Certain Malaise1998SCREWU 70006Michael FormanekAm I Bothering You?1998SCREWU 70007Django BatesQuiet Nights1998SCREWU 70008Julius HemphillBlue Boyé2-CD Box Set rerelease of 1977 album on Mbari Records1998SCREWU 70009Tim BerneThe Empire Box5-CD Box Set compiling The Five Year Plan, 7X, Spectres, and Songs and Rituals in Real Time1999SCREWU 70010Marc DucretL'Ombra di Verdi1999SCREWU 70011 Tim Berne's ParaphrasePlease Advise2001SCREWU 012 Tim Berne and The Copenhagen Art Ensemble with Herb Robertson and Marc Ducret Open, Coma2-CD Set2002SCREWU 013Tim BerneScience Friction2004sc70014Tim Berne's Hard CellElectric and Acoustic Hard Cell Live2005sc70015Tim Berne's Hard CellFeign2005sc70016Tim Berne's ParaphrasePre-Emptive Denial2006sc70017Tim Berne's Big SatanLivein Cognito2-CD Set2007sc70018Tim Berne's Science FrictionMind Over Friction3-CD Set compiling Science Friction and The Sublime And2007sc70019Tim Berne's BloodcountSeconds2-CD + DVD Set2008noneBuffalo Collision(Duck)2015noneTim Berne, Steve Byram, SnakeoilSpare/Anguis OleumLimited Edition Book by Steve Byram (Spare) and live CD by Snakeoil (Anguis Oleum)2017noneMatt Mitchell, Tim BerneForageComposed by Tim Berne, performed by Matt Mitchell2018noneTim Berne, Matt MitchellAngel Dusk
Joint Releases Year releasedCatalogue No.ArtistTitleNotes2023Screwgun/OOYH 001Marc DucretPalm SweatCD and Vinyl, Joint release with Out Of Your Head Records2025Screwgun/OOYH 002Tim Berne, Tom Rainey, Gregg Belisle-ChiYikes TooCD and Vinyl, Joint release with Out Of Your Head Records
Digital-only Releases
Year releasedCatalogue No.ArtistTitleNotes2009nonePrezensSlipped On A Bar2017noneTim Berne, Paul Motian, Ed Schuller, Herb RobertsonMy First Tour - Live In Brussels2020noneTim Berne Sacred Vowels2020noneDavid Torn Fur2020noneTim Berne 7Adobe Probe2020noneHank Roberts, Tim BerneCause And ReflectRemastered reissue of 1998 release2020noneBroken ShadowsBroken Shadows Live2020noneMatt Mitchell, Tim Berne12020noneSun Of GoldfingerCongratulations To You2020nonePrezensxForm2020nonePrezensSlipped On A BarReissue of 2009 release2020noneHard CellThe Cosmos2020noneScience Friction+Size2021noneHard CellSensitive2021noneBloodcountAttention Spam2021noneBloodcount52022noneTim Berne, Nasheet WaitsTangled2022noneSun Of GoldfingerOzmir2022noneTim Berne, Ryan Ferreira, Michael Formanek, Ches SmithDecay2022noneTim Berne, Gregg Belisle-ChiZone One2023noneThe Sunny FourMystic2024noneDavid Torn, Tom Rainey, Tim Berne, Trevor DunnDisco Tent/Ravens Low and Ready 22024noneScience FrictionNo Tamales On Wednesday2024noneOceans AndLucid/Still2024noneAurora Nealand, Mark Helias, Tim BerneLive At The 188 Club2024noneTim Berne with Bill FrisellLive In Someplace Nice2025noneSnakeoilSnakeoil OK2025noneSnakeoilIn Lieu Of
See also List of record labels
References
External links Official site