JSP Records

JSP Records is a British independent record label based in London. Founded in 1978 by John Stedman under the name John Stedman Promotions, the label developed through a combination of record production, archival reissue work, artist discovery, and live-concert promotion. Its catalogue is associated particularly with blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and related African-American musical traditions. The label’s original activities included issuing recordings by established and developing blues musicians. Artists connected with JSP releases include Professor Longhair, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Witherspoon, Louisiana Red, Deitra Farr, Charlie Sayles, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Kansas City Red, Eddie Taylor, and Big John Wrencher. The catalogue therefore spans both prominent figures and specialist artists whose work has been important to blues audiences and collectors. JSP also recorded and released material by later performers, including Lucky Peterson, Johnnie Marshall, and Randy McAllister, indicating that the company has not been limited to historical reissues. A major part of JSP’s identity is its preservation and presentation of older recordings. The label has released remastered CDs containing public-domain jazz and blues recordings, including material originally issued on Paramount. Many of these early records were pressed on shellac, a fragile medium susceptible to physical damage. JSP’s remastering work has sought to make such recordings available in modern formats while retaining their historical value. Its multi-disc presentation of Louis Armstrong’s Hot Fives & Sevens is frequently regarded as one of the label’s most important jazz releases and has helped establish JSP as a significant archival imprint. JSP’s role has also extended beyond recorded music. Through its concert-promotion activities, the company presented shows at venues including the New London Theatre, the Collegiate Theatre, and the 100 Club. It brought American rhythm-and-blues and blues performers to the United Kingdom for concerts and tours, including Roy Brown, Jimmy McCracklin, Bob Kirkpatrick, Charles Brown, and Professor Longhair. This live-promotion history connected JSP with the British audience for American roots music and complemented its recording catalogue. The label has also been associated with identifying and developing artists who later moved to larger record companies. Names cited in connection with this pathway include Larry Garner, Guitar Shorty, Chris Beard, Lil’ Dave Thompson, Tutu Jones, and Andrew “Jr. Boy” Jones. JSP therefore occupies a position between archival specialist label and active independent producer: it preserves early jazz and blues recordings, maintains an extensive catalogue of original recordings, and continues a recording programme involving contemporary artists. Its public profile is strongest among blues, jazz, roots-music, and reissue audiences rather than in the mass-market pop sector.

JSP Records was established in the United Kingdom in 1978 by John Stedman, whose business was originally identified as John Stedman Promotions. From its London base, the company developed as an independent music enterprise working across recordings and live performance. Its early and continuing focus was the blues, jazz, and rhythm-and-blues repertoire, with a particular interest in musicians whose work served specialist audiences and whose recordings were not always widely available through major labels. The label’s recording catalogue includes releases connected with artists such as Professor Longhair, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Witherspoon, Louisiana Red, Deitra Farr, Charlie Sayles, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Kansas City Red, Eddie Taylor, and Big John Wrencher. This catalogue reflects JSP’s engagement with both recognized performers and artists important to the international blues circuit. The company also became associated with artists who were later signed or exposed to larger record companies, including Larry Garner, Guitar Shorty, Chris Beard, Lil’ Dave Thompson, Tutu Jones, and Andrew “Jr. Boy” Jones. Concert promotion formed another important part of JSP’s history. The company promoted events at London venues such as the New London Theatre, the Collegiate Theatre, and the 100 Club. It also helped bring American performers to Britain for concerts and tours, including Roy Brown, Jimmy McCracklin, Bob Kirkpatrick, Charles Brown, and Professor Longhair. These activities placed JSP within the network that linked British blues audiences with American rhythm-and-blues performers. Over time, JSP became particularly visible as a reissue and archival label. It has predominantly issued remastered compact discs of public-domain jazz and blues recordings. The work has included old Paramount material, much of which was originally recorded on shellac. Because shellac discs are vulnerable to wear and damage, transferring and remastering their contents has been important to keeping the music accessible in contemporary formats. JSP’s release of Louis Armstrong’s Hot Fives & Sevens is widely regarded as a notable jazz collection and is often cited as one of the label’s essential releases. The company’s activities have not been restricted to historical material. JSP maintains an extensive catalogue of original recordings and has continued recording contemporary performers, with Lucky Peterson, Johnnie Marshall, Randy McAllister, and other artists associated with its later programme. This combination of new recordings, artist-led blues releases, and historical reissues gives JSP a distinctive position in the independent music market. Rather than operating as a broad commercial pop label, it has maintained a specialist identity centered on the preservation, circulation, and continued creation of blues and jazz music.

• 1978

  JSP Records is founded

  [1]JSP Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  John Stedman establishes the London-based label under the John Stedman Promotions name, creating the foundation for JSP’s recording and concert-promotion activities.

• Expansion into archival jazz and blues reissues

  [1]JSP Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  JSP develops a substantial programme of remastered public-domain recordings, including fragile shellac-era material from the Paramount catalogue.

• Louis Armstrong Hot Fives & Sevens collection

  [1]JSP Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label issues a major collection of Louis Armstrong’s Hot Fives and Hot Sevens recordings, a release frequently regarded as one of JSP’s most important jazz offerings.

• Continuation of contemporary recording

  [1]JSP Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  JSP continues to record and release contemporary blues performers alongside its historical reissue programme, including artists such as Lucky Peterson, Johnnie Marshall, and Randy McAllister.

An independent British specialist label combining blues and jazz artist releases with archival restoration, historical reissues, and live-music promotion.

• Original recordings

  Blues artist recordings

  JSP’s original catalogue includes recordings by blues performers from the United States and the wider international blues circuit. Releases associated with the label cover traditional and contemporary electric blues, soul-blues, and related forms, and include artists such as Buddy Guy, Louisiana Red, Deitra Farr, Charlie Sayles, Eddie Taylor, and Professor Longhair.

• Historical reissues

  Jazz and blues archival reissues

  These releases present older jazz and blues performances in remastered form, often drawing on public-domain source material. The programme includes recordings originally issued on labels such as Paramount and is intended to preserve historically important performances for modern listeners.

• Jazz compilation

  Louis Armstrong: Hot Fives & Sevens

  JSP’s multi-disc presentation of Louis Armstrong’s Hot Fives and Hot Sevens recordings is one of its best-known archival jazz products. The collection brings together foundational Armstrong performances in a modern reissue format and is frequently identified as a particularly important release in the label’s catalogue.

• Original recordings

  Contemporary blues recordings

  Alongside historical material, JSP continues to issue recordings by contemporary blues musicians. Artists associated with this part of the programme include Lucky Peterson, Johnnie Marshall, and Randy McAllister, demonstrating that the label remains involved in new production rather than functioning solely as an archival imprint.

• American blues and rhythm-and-blues concert promotion

  United Kingdom

  JSP promoted concerts and tours in Britain featuring American performers, including Roy Brown, Jimmy McCracklin, Bob Kirkpatrick, Charles Brown, and Professor Longhair.

  Outcome. The activity strengthened the connection between British audiences and American blues and rhythm-and-blues artists, although the available reference does not provide attendance or financial results.

  Source

• Adoption of a dual archival and contemporary-release strategyStrategy

  Background

  JSP operates in a specialist market where historically important jazz and blues recordings coexist with an active community of contemporary performers.

  Action taken

  The label combines remastered public-domain and historical recordings with original releases by contemporary blues artists.

  Aftermath

  This approach has allowed JSP to maintain both a preservation-oriented catalogue and an ongoing recording programme.

  Source

• Release of remastered shellac-era recordingsProduct launch

  Background

  Many early Paramount recordings were made on shellac, a format vulnerable to physical deterioration.

  Action taken

  JSP remastered selected archival jazz and blues recordings and issued them in modern CD formats.

  Aftermath

  The releases improved access to fragile historical recordings and became a central part of JSP’s specialist identity.

  Source

1. 1JSP Recordsen.wikipedia.org