Est. 1975 — Stockholm
About the label
Dragon Records was founded in Stockholm in 1975 to document and preserve jazz in Sweden.
Most Dragon releases feature modern and contemporary Swedish jazz groups and soloists. The vast 600+ album catalogue includes amazing recordings by Anders Bergcrantz, Anders Jormin, Arne Domnérus, Berndt Egerbladh, Bengt Berger, Bengt Ernryd, Bobo Stenson, Eje Thelin, Esbjörn Svensson Trio (e.s.t.), Joakim Milder, Lars-Göran Ullander, Lars Gullin, Monica Zetterlund, Per Henrik Wallin and Urban Hansson.
The catalogue also holds a substantial body of historical recordings by American soloists recorded in Sweden, among them Art Blakey, Art Farmer, Bob Brookmeyer, Chet Baker, Dave Liebman, Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Dorham, Lee Konitz, Miles Davis, Red Mitchell, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz and Thelonious Monk.
An archive project is underway to make available some of the vast collection of live and studio recordings preserved at Svensk Visarkiv.
Founders
Jan Wallgren (1935-1996) was a Swedish pianist and composer, part of the Stockholm jazz scene from the 1960s onwards. His work as a producer and A&R figure shaped the early identity of Dragon.
Lars Westin (1948-2023) was a producer, journalist, critic and historian who chronicled Swedish and international jazz for decades. He owned and managed Dragon Records after Wallgren's death, and his writing and archival research provided the narrative backbone for many Dragon releases.
Current owners
The label today
James Pearse
Co-owner
James has worked in the music industry for 25 years, initially as a journalist and then as a producer. He has worked with All About Jazz, Creed Taylor at CTI, Finders Keepers Records, Fresh Sound Records, Jazz Messengers, Orkesterjournalen, Svensk Jazz, as well as for a long list of publications.
Emil Breman
Co-owner
Emil brings extensive experience from the Swedish jazz community, including his roles as chair of Faschings Vänner and formerly of Orkesterjournalen, as well as his service on the board of Svensk Jazz. He maintains his connection to the institutions Lars Westin helped build.
The logotype
One dragon, four faces
The mark has kept pace with the catalogue. Four of its faces, from the first sleeves to today.
“Dragon LP” — the first mark, seen on the earliest sleeve in the catalogue: Bengt Ernryd Quartet’s 1964-65 (DRLP 1, 1975).
A handwritten DRAGON — as on Urban Hansson’s Emphasis On Jazz (DRLP 14, 1977).
DRAGON of Sweden — the standard wordmark through the 1980s and 1990s, here from Joakim Milder’s Life In Life (1988).
The current wordmark, drawn by the Swedish designer Patrik Gebhardt.
Contact
Contact
Direct contact
General
info@dragonrecords.seOrders, catalogue questions, press, licensing.