About Yesterday’s and Today’s Ezz-Thetics

[cliffpeterson]

https://daily.bandcamp.com/label-profile/hat-hut-records-ezz-thetics-label-profile

 

 

[clifford_thornton]

Interesting piece, though it does leave out a fair amount of the label's history -- it was actually founded to release music by McPhee in Europe, and then quickly shifted to encompass other music. McPhee and Craig Johnson were involved with Hat Hut and handled distribution in the US early on (Johnson), as well as A&R (McPhee). Craig had started CjR to document McPhee, and Nation Time is what inspired Werner to start Hat Hut.

[cliffpeterson]

Yeah, recognized the history was not complete. Didn't realize it was sold this past summer.  On a different note, I understand that the single cd reissues of what were originally 2 Hat Hut lps did not contain all the music that was on those 2 lps. 

[colinmce]

Time will tell I suppose, but the label seems to be headed in a fairly wan direction now. I'll certainly keep my eye out, but it's been quite awhile since they've released much of interest to me at least. 

[Late]

On 11/6/2025 at 8:20 AM, colinmce said:

...it's been quite awhile since they've released much of interest to me at least. 

Agreed. It seems like if any label would release the complete 1965 Coltrane Half Note recordings, it would be Hat. (There is that bootleg soundboard recording out there, but still. Be nice to have "Creation" out there for a wider audience.) Some Hat wishes:

• Jimmy Giuffre 3: Tübingen, 1961
• Steve Lacy — any unreleased Hat titles
• Sonny Simmons: It Is Revealed
• Ric Colbeck: The Sun Is Coming Up

I think the Ayler is well is fairly dried up. But maybe not Don Ayler?

What I don't get is why Hat is reissuing Blue Note and Prestige stuff when they could be so much more creative with their choices. The Atavistic Unheard Music Series was a model in this regard.