Shandar records was a French record label active in the 1970's that specialized in avant garde music. The label was created and run by Parisian music enthusiast Chantal d'Arcy. Ms d'Arcy curated an amazing catalog including significant minimalist recordings, free jazz excursions, and musical experiments. As you can hear in this 1973 interview with her on KPFA-FM, she released what she found interesting. Her tastes coupled with her access to some of the most important composer/performers of the time resulted in a distinctive catalog of releases.
Ms d'Arcy had connections with the Maeght Foundation, a private arts foundation in Saint-Paul de Vence, France created by art collectors Aime and Marguerite Maeght. In addition to presenting visual art by painters and sculptors such as Calder, Giacometti, Chagall, and Miro, the foundation hosted musical events arranged by Ms d'Arcy. Some of the events were recorded and are presented on Shandar. The Shandar address is given on back of the Albert Ayler double LP as 40, rue Mazarine, Paris.
At least some of the records were issued with a few label color variations. The 10.000 series is the first issue.9 Many of the LPs have liner notes by Daniel CAUX in French with occasional English translation.
Last edited 5 July 2009.
There were two logo designs, the "disc" and the "vertical" logo.
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| disc logo | vertical logo |
Personnel: Albert Ayler: tenor and soprano saxophones. Mary Maria: voice, soprano saxophone. Call Cobbs: piano. Steve Tintweiss: bass. Allen Blairman: drums. Recorded live 25 and 27 July 1970 at Maeght Foundation, St. Paul de Vence. This was Ayler's last gig. tracks: In Heart Only; Spirits; Holy Family; Spirits Rejoice.
| A1 | In Heart Only | 4:55 | ||
| A2 | Spirits | 14:15 | ||
| B1 | Holy Family | 10:10 | ||
| B2 | Spirits Rejoice | 6:57 |
Recorded at St Paul de Vence, July 25 and 27, 1970.
Gatefold cover.
GRAND PRIX INTERNATIONAL DU DISQUE Académie Charles Cross
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fondation Maeght Nights - Volume 1 (CD, Album, RE, Ltd, Unofficial) | Jazz View | COD 004 | Europe | 1991 | ||
| Nuits De La Fondation Maeght Volume 1 (LP) | Shandar | SR 10000 | France | 1970 | ||
| Nuits De La Fondation Maeght Volume 1 (LP, Album, RE) | Water | water501 | US | 2002 | ||
| Nuits De La Fondation Maeght Volume 1 (LP, Album, RE, RM) | Nippon Victor, RCA | SHP-6201 | Japan | 1971 |
recorded: 1970 Aout 3/5 St. Paul de Vence.
ILLUMINATES
sound radiates
illuminates
articulates the symbol of
and what it radiates it is
on what it illuminates
it casts the touch of fire
| A1 | Enlightment | 2:56 | ||
| A2 | The Star Gazers | 3:08 | ||
| A3 | Shadow World | 13:20 | ||
| B1 | The Cosmic Explorer | 19:45 |
Recorded live at Saint Paul de Vence, France, 3/5 August 1970. Compositions and Poems by Sun Ra. Intergalactic instruments played by Sun Ra.
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fondation Maeght Nights - Volume 1 (CD, Album, RE, Ltd, Unofficial) | Jazz View | COD 006 | Europe | 1991 | ||
| Nuits De La Fondation Maeght Volume 1 (LP, RE) | Universe (3) | UV 080 | Italy | 2003 | ||
| Nuits De La Fondation Maeght (LP, Ltd) | Recommended Records | RR 11 | UK | 1981 | ||
| Nuits De La Fondation Maeght Volume 1 (CD, Album, RE) | Universe (3) | UV 080 | Italy | 2003 |
According to the cover, this was recorded on October 29, 1970, but side-by-side comparison of this recording with the August 24, 1969 recording of Ubegrenzt published on Deutsche Grammaphon reveals the performances to be one and the same.15 Ubegrenzt is a piece from From the Seven Days.
| A | Illimité | 22:15 | ||
| B | Illimité | 19:50 |
Blue labels with Shandar disc logo. Gatefold cover with disc logo.
According to the cover this was recorded on October 29, 1970, but side-by-side comparison of this recording with the August 24, 1969 recording of 'Unbegrenzt' (Illimité) published on Deutsche Grammophon reveals the performances to be one and the same.
'Unbegrenzt' is a piece from 'Aus den sieben Tagen' (From the Seven Days).
recorded 1970 Aout 3/5 St. Paul de Vence.
Sometimes in the amazing ignorance
I hear things and see things
I never knew I saw and heard before...
| A1 | Friendly Galaxy Number 2 | 8:46 | ||
| A2 | Spontaneous Simplicity | 10:50 | ||
| B1 | The World Of The Lightening | 5:54 | ||
| B2 | Black Myth | 8:32 | ||
| B2a | The Shadows Took Shape | |||
| B2b | This Strange World | |||
| B2c | Journey Through The Outer Darkness | |||
| B3 | Sky | 2:01 |
Recorded live at Saint Paul de Vence, France, 3/5 August 1970. Compositions and Poems by Sun Ra. Intergalactic instruments played by Sun Ra.
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fondation Maeght Nights - Volume 2 (CD, Album, RE, Ltd, Unofficial) | Jazz View | COD 007 | Europe | 1991 | ||
| Nuits De La Fondation Maeght Volume 2 (LP) | RCA | SHP-6204 | Japan | 1971 | ||
| Nuits De La Fondation Maeght Volume 2 (CD, Album) | Universe (3) | UV 081 | Italy | 2003 | ||
| Nuits De La Fondation Maeght Volume 2 (LP) | Universe (3) | UV 081 | Italy | 2003 |
tracks: Truth Is Marching In; Universal Message; Spiritual Reunion; Music Is the Healing Force of the Universe
| A1 | Truth Is Marching In | 7:25 | ||
| A2 | Universal Message | 8:05 | ||
| B1 | Spiritual Reunion | 7:35 | ||
| B2 | Music Is The Healing Force Of The Universe | 8:15 |
Recorded at St Paul de Vence, July 27, 1970.
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fondation Maeght Nights - Volume 2 (CD, Album, RE, Ltd, Unofficial) | Jazz View | COD 005 | Europe | 1991 | ||
| Nuits De La Fondation Maeght Volume 2 (LP, Album, RE) | Water | water502 | US | 2002 |
Recorded 1971 March 16, Paris, Theater de la Musique with an ensemble composed of Steve Reich, Steve Chambers, Jon Gibson, Art Murphy and Philip Glass!
| A | Four Organs
Maracas – Jon Gibson (2) Organ – Art Murphy, Philip Glass, Steve Chambers, Steve Reich |
15:35 | ||
| B | Phase Patterns
Organ – Art Murphy, Jon Gibson (2), Steve Chambers, Steve Reich |
16:35 |
A - recorded at Guggenheim Museum, New York
B - recorded at University Museum, Berkeley
Sleeve printed by Dillard & Co., Paris
Cover photo is from the film "Waulenght" by Michael Snow (1966)
Gatefold sleeve, blue label.
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Organs / Phase Patterns (LP, Album) | Shandar | SR 83.511 | France | 1970 | ||
| Four Organs / Phase Patterns (CD, Album) | Fine Classics | 4424-2 | US | 2000 | ||
| Four Organs / Phase Patterns (CD) | New Tone Records | rdc 5018 | Italy | 1994 | ||
| Four Organs / Phase Patterns (CD, Album) | Mantra Records (France), Mantra Records (France) | Mantra 090, Mantra 090/642090 | France | 1994 |
ragas Yaman Kalyan and Punjabi Berva. copyright 1971.
| A | Raga Yaman Kalyan | 29:20 | ||
| B | Raga Punjabi Berva | 22:20 |
tracks: A) Angels and Devils. Hilarious Paris. Elephant's Dream. B) Flower Train.
Sunny Murray: drums. Ambrose Jackson: trumpet. Michel Portal: bass clarinet, bassoon. Bob Guerin: bass. Francois Tusques: piano. Bernard Vitet: trumpet. Kenneth Terroade: tenor saxophone. Hart Leroy Bibbs: poetry. Recorded live 8, December, 1968, ORTF studio 104. Hart Leroy Bibbs' poem the Stroller is incorporated into Flower Train. Bibbs is best known as a photographer of jazz musicians.
| A1 | Angels And Devils | 5:40 | ||
| A2 | Hilarious Paris | 5:40 | ||
| A3 | Elephant's Dream | 9:00 | ||
| B | Flower | 15:30 |
Whole recording of 8th December 1968 concert at Maison de la Radio's ORTF, during the "Jazz en scène" radio show on France Inter.
"this record must be played as loud as possible, must be heard as stoned as impossible and thank you everybody" from the cover. Personel: Daevid Allen, William Burroughs, Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, Gilli Smyth, Christian Tritsch, and Sam Wyatt (Robert's 5 year old son). Scan courtesy Andrey Henkin.
| Eh, Mushroom, Will You Mush My Room ? (19:40) | ||||
| A1.1 | Chrysler
Guitar [Solo] – Dashiell Hedayat |
|||
| A1.2 | Fille De L'Ombre | |||
| A1.3 | Long Song For Zelda
Vocals – William Burroughs* Vocals [Baby] – Sam Wyatt |
|||
| - | ||||
| B | Cello Drive / 17
Guitar – Pip Pyle Guitar [Solo] – Dashiell Hedayat |
21:09 | ||
Written and composed on Autumn 69 ... and finally recorded at Strawberry Studio on May 1971.
Warning: This record must be played as loud as possible, must be heard as stoned as impossible
and thank you everybody.
Cover Design for Paranoïart Prods.
Distribution exclusive RCA.
Original release, reissued in 1974.
Jazz for the revolution. Sunnay Murray, Louis Armfield, Alan Silva, Beb Guerin, Bob Reid, Alan Shorter, Steve Potts. Recorded in Paris, May 11, 1971. Heavy photo of a hell-hole ghetto in the gatefold.
| Intercommunal Music (24:40) | ||||
| A1 | Intercommunal Music | 8:00 | ||
| A2 | Les Forces Progressistes | 10:10 | ||
| B1 | Les Forces Réactionnaires | 3:00 | ||
| B2 | La Bourgeoisie Périra Noyée Dans Les Eaux Glacées Du Calcul Égoïste | 3:30 | ||
| Intercommunal Music! (6:00) | ||||
| B3 | L'Impérialisme Est Un Tigre En Papier | 6:00 | ||
| Portrait D'Erika Huggins (8:04) | ||||
| B4 | Untitled | 0:44 | ||
| B5 | Untitled | 7:20 | ||
Recorded May 11, 1971 in Paris. Comes in a gatefold-sleeve.
Live recording of Second Act of A on 1969 July 29, Saint-Paul-de-Vence with Cecil Taylor, Jimmy Lyons, Sam Rivers, Andrew Cyrille.
| A | Second Act Of A (Part 1) | 21:25 | ||
| B | Second Act Of A (Part 2) | 19:55 | ||
| C | Second Act Of A (Part 3) | 18:20 | ||
| D | Second Act Of A (Part 4) | 16:22 | ||
| E | Second Act Of A (Part 5) | 13:00 | ||
| F | Second Act Of A (Part 6) | 20:00 |
Recorded live on 29 July 1969 at Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France.
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Great Concert Of Cecil Taylor (3xLP, Album + Box, Comp, RE) | Prestige | P 34003 | US | 1977 |
A confusing pressing. double album. recorded 1971 April 18 in Los Angeles and 1972 May 24 in Paris. This is a fantastic album of improvisation on electric organ and Riley-designed feedback system.
| Performance One | 20:45 | ||
| Performance One | 22:00 | ||
| Performance Two | 25:00 | ||
| Performance Two | 22:45 |
| Title | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persian Surgery Dervishes (2xLP, Gat) | Shanti, Shanti, Shandar, Shandar | 83.501, 83.502, 83501, 83502 | France | 1972 | |
| Persian Surgery Dervishes (2xLP, Gat) | Shanti | 83.501 • 83.502 | France | 1972 | |
| Persian Surgery Dervishes (2xCD) | Mantra Records (France) | Mantra 077 | France | 1992 | |
| Persian Surgery Dervishes (2xCD, RE) | New Tone Records | nt 6715 | Italy | 1993 | |
| Persian Surgery Dervishes (2xCD, RE) | New Tone Records, New Tone Records | nt 6715, 129806715 2 | Italy | ||
| Persian Surgery Dervishes (LP) | Shandar | 83.501 | France | ||
| Persian Surgery Dervishes (LP) | Shandar | 83.502 | France |
single album of the Paris performance
| A | Performance Two | 25:00 | ||
| B | Performance Two | 22:45 |
Public concert organized and recorded by Shandar on May 24, 1974 at The Theatre de la Musique, Paris.
Embossed cover.
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persian Surgery Dervishes (2xLP, Gat) | Shanti, Shanti, Shandar, Shandar | 83.501, 83.502, 83501, 83502 | France | 1972 | ||
| Persian Surgery Dervishes (2xCD) | Mantra Records (France) | Mantra 077 | France | 1992 | ||
| Persian Surgery Dervishes (2xCD, RE) | New Tone Records | nt 6715 | Italy | 1993 | ||
| Persian Surgery Dervishes (2xLP, Gat) | Shanti | 83.501 • 83.502 | France | 1972 | ||
| Persian Surgery Dervishes (LP) | Shandar | 83.501 | France |
| A1 | In Heart Only | 5:16 | ||
| A2 | Spirits | 15:05 | ||
| B1 | Holy Family | 11:44 | ||
| B2 | Spirits Rejoice | 7:26 | ||
| C1 | Truth Is Marching In | 8:10 | ||
| C2 | Universal Message | 8:17 | ||
| D1 | Spiritual Reunion | 7:57 | ||
| D2 | Music Is The Healing Force Of The Universe
Composed By – Mary Parks |
10:00 |
All tracks recorded live at the Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul de Vence, France on July 25 & 27, 1970. Volume 1 (cat#83503) has an erroneous date of July 21, 1970, instead of the correct July 25, as given on back cover and label
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuits De La Fondation Maeght 1970 (CD, Comp, RE) | Water | WATER 103 | US | 2002 | ||
| Nuits De La Fondation Maeght (2xLP, Comp, Gat) | RCA, RVC Corporation, RCA | SRA-9459~60, JPL2-8081 | Japan | 1974 |
| A | Second Act Of A | 21:25 | ||
| B | Second Act Of A | 19:55 |
Subtitled "SECOND ACT OF A" Vol. 1
NUITS DE LA FONDATION MAEGHT
enregistré en public à Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Le 29 juillet 1969
Exclusive distribution in France by Discodis
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuits De La Fondation Maeght Vol. 1 (LP, Album) | RCA | RCA-6085 M | Japan | 1973 | ||
| Fondation Maeght Nights - Volume 1 (CD, Album, RE, Ltd, Unofficial) | Jazz View | COD 001 | Europe | 1991 |
| A | Second Act Of A | 18:20 | ||
| B | Second Act Of A | 16:22 |
Recorded live at Saint-Paul-de-Vence on the 29th of July 1969.
Exclusive distribution in France by Discodis
Issued in gatefold sleeve.
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fondation Maeght Nights - Volume 2 (CD, Album, RE, Ltd, Unofficial) | Jazz View | COD 002 | Europe | 1991 |
| A | Second Act Of A | 13:00 | ||
| B | Second Act Of A | 20:00 |
Recorded live at Saint-Paul-de-Vence on the 29th of July 1969.
Exclusive distribution in France by Discodis
Issued in gatefold sleeve.
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fondation Maeght Nights - Volume 3 (CD, Album, RE, Ltd, Unofficial) | Jazz View | COD 003 | Europe | 1991 |
contains 13 I 73 5:35 - 6:14:03 PM NYC by The Theater of Eternal Music: LaMonte Young - voice and sine waves, Marian Zazeela - voice, Jon Hassell - trumpet, Garret List - trombone. Drift Study 14 VII 73 9:27:27 - 10:06:41 PM NYC
| A | 13 I 73 5:35-6:14:03 PM NYC From Map Of 49's Dream The Two Systems Of Eleven Sets Of Galactic Intervals Ornamental Lightyears Tracery | 39:03 | ||
| B | Drift Study 14 VII 73 9:27:27-10:06:41 PM NYC | 39:14 |
For the maximum fidelity on Side 2, reduce the treble controls on your pre-amplifier to minimum. Since the sine waves have no harmonic content, and all are below 202.5 Hertz, this will reduce the surface noise which is normal on most discs.
Note: Be sure to keep the treble controls normal on Side 1.
recordings of Contrary Motion and Two Pages during February and March 1975 in New York City. Philip Glass - electric organ, Michael Riesman - acoustic piano (on Two Pages).
| A | Contrary Motion | 15:30 | ||
| B | Two Pages
Piano [Acoustic] – Michael Riesman |
17:00 |
Recorded at Basement Recording Studio, New York City, February - March 1975
| A | Dérive | 19:10 | ||
| B1 | Rafales | 8:09 | ||
| B2 | Labyrinthe | 11:45 |
Recorded at Studio G.B., France.
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guitares Dérive (CD, RE, RM) | Fractal Records (2) | Fractal760 | France | 2010 |
"Strumming Music is a work developed over the past five years utilizing a note alternation technique with the sustain pedal of the piano constantly depressed. This technique allows the undampened strings to resonate and compound with each other creating complex mixtures of pure strummed sonority and their overtones. No electronics or special tunings are utilized; only the finest instrument available today, the Rolls Royce of pianos, 'Bosendorfer' of Vienna, all of Mr. Palestine's piano works have been composed especially for this marvelous instrument." from the cover. Now reissued on CD by New Tone (Italy).
| A | Strumming Music | 25:10 | ||
| B | Strumming Music | 24:40 |
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strumming Music (CD, Album, RE) | New Tone Records | NT 6742 2 | Italy | 1995 |
The cover says: "The music was inspired by the sand paintings of Viswanadhan." Instruments used: organ, recorder, harmonica, electric guitar, bells, voice, thumb organ, maracas. Recorded at A.L.M. Studio, Paris. This is a minimal music created using consecutive overdubbing and delay. Now reissued with different cover art on CD by Streamline (Germany).
| A | Untitled | 24:50 | ||
| B | Untitled | 25:05 |
The music was inspired by the sand paintings of Viswanadhan. Recorded at A.L.M. Studio, Paris
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand (CD, Album, RE) | Streamline, Robot Records, Cortical Foundation | STREAMLINE 1011, none | Germany | 1996 |
2LP box set with a 12" x 12", 12 page booklet (including song texts in French, English and Arabic). Labels are black w/ silver print, no mention of Shandar (though the catalogue numbers appear, very small) & no Shandar logo. LE ROSEAU is in caps at the top of the label. The album is a vocal/musical rendering of the Epic of Gilgamesh (text adaptation & music written by Azrie, who also sings/recites and plays percussion), recorded Feb 3-4 1977. The music is fairly sombre, droning middle-eastern (Azrie's singing/reciting -in Arabic - is mixed far louder than the music). oud: Marcel Khalife; nay: Abdessalem Safar; kanoun (kanun): Saad Rajai; viole de gambe: Marcello Ardizzone; harp: Helene Tristani; percussion: Darwish Al-Masri, Chris Hayward, Abed Azrie; 3 violoncelles, en alterance: Jacques Widerquer, Michel Choquet, Michel Lacrouste, William Stahl, Dany Duleroy, Gilbert Zanlonghi. Direction de l'ensemble: Dia Succari11
| A1 | Prologue | 3:45 | ||
| A2 | Gilgamesh | 2:41 | ||
| A3 | Enkidou | 3:15 | ||
| A4 | Le Chasseur | 1:10 | ||
| A5 | La Femme | 2:00 | ||
| A6 | Paroles De La Femme | 1:25 | ||
| A7 | Réponse D'Enkidou | 1:20 | ||
| A8 | Les Bergers | 2:40 | ||
| B1 | Ourouk | 1:40 | ||
| B2 | La Lutte | 2:05 | ||
| B3 | L'Amitié | 0:30 | ||
| B4 | L'Aventure | 1:05 | ||
| B5 | La Vaillance | 2:25 | ||
| B6 | Les Préparatifs De L'Expédition | 0:55 | ||
| B7 | La Fôret Des Cèdres | 3:55 | ||
| B8 | Ishtar | 3:00 | ||
| B9 | Refus De Gilgamesh | 3:50 | ||
| C1 | Colère D'Ishtar | 0:50 | ||
| C2 | Le Taureau Céleste | 0:40 | ||
| C3 | Lamentation D'Ishtar | 0:45 | ||
| C4 | Retour Des Deux Héros | 1:22 | ||
| C5 | Songes D'Enkidou | 1:42 | ||
| C6 | Mort D'Enkidou | 3:55 | ||
| C7 | Pleurs De Gilgamesh | 3:15 | ||
| C8 | L'Homme-Scorpion | 2:15 | ||
| C9 | Shamash | 2:40 | ||
| D1 | Sidouri | 2:50 | ||
| D2 | L'Humaine Condition | 2:55 | ||
| D3 | Our-Shanabi | 0:30 | ||
| D4 | Outa-Napishtim | 2:35 | ||
| D5 | La Leçon Humaine | 3:50 | ||
| D6 | Le Déluge | 4:25 | ||
| D7 | Epilogue | 2:55 |
Recorded 3-4 february 1977. Comes with 8 pages 30x30 cm booklet with comments and explanations in French, English and Arabic.
Cover reports recording date as August - September 1978. Release date may be as late as January 1980 as a test pressing exists with that date written on it.16, 17
Discography of Shandar Records