PRESENTING THE LABEL “thingamajig Reference:”

This new series, created by Werner X. Uehlinger, curator of a label that has gone to other hands after over 50 years, includes mastering engineer Michael Brändli for a new sound, Art Lange for advice and liner notes, and Stefan Fuhrer for unexpected design, which reflects the care and craftsmanship that thingamajig Reference: brings to their recordings.

The owner of AlAy Ltd has lived and presented his dedication to the jazz avant-garde for over 50 years and has repeatedly stood out for preserving the unexpected. This also applies among other releases not listed in these lines for the unexpected 100th anniversary celebration of the Louis Armstrong Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings from 1925 to 1928, which were also avant-garde at the time.

Also, an unexpected preserve is Bix Beiderbecke's white answer, recorded simultaneously and released on double compact, along with new remastered sound by Michael Brändli, selected countries.

‍thingamajig Reference: 2510 Miles Davis' 3rd Quintet:
Celebrating Miles Davis' 100th Birthday on May 26, 2026, followed. The concerts included in this release are from Miles Davis' 1969 European tour with his so-called 3rd Quintet, from European radio and television recordings.
All three concerts on the upcoming release have newly remastered sound by Michael Brändli. The 3rd Quintet, including Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette, with its plugged-in instrumentation and revised repertoire, was electrified and electrifying, and the music on this tour created a separate identity for this short-lived ensemble, based upon the radical innovations of Bitches Brew.

For early June 2026 release the following CDs are in production:
thingamajig Reference 2507: Duke Ellington Orchestra, Selection Form Fargo Concert 1940.
thingamajig Reference 2508: Tone Williams Lifetime, Emergency With John McLaughlin & Larry Young.
thingamajig Reference 2509: Vienna FLAMMeS Live, He Said Boler o’ with Franz Koglmann et al.

Our CDs are available from Birdland, Sidney Australia; DiskUnion, Tokyo; DistriJazz (Jazz Messengers) Barcelona; Impetus UK, Soundohm, Italy; Squidco, Wilmington NC, USA.‍

Contributions to bridge the gap due the non-cempetition clause from June 2025 to May 2028 are welcome. If you are considering making a contribution, please contact alay@bluewin.ch to obtain information regarding potential tax exemptions for Swiss residents.
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Werner X. Uehlinger
In its 52nd year with curator experience.

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