_song

Idris Ackamoor

Since first founded in London in 1999, Strut has become one of the leading labels for reissues, compilations and new studio albums in the field of African, Caribbean, Latin, jazz, soul and disco.

During the early days, they released the first Nigeria 70 and Disco Not Disco compilations, as well as documenting some important milestones in dance music history, including DJ sets from Grandmaster Flash and Bristol's Wild Bunch. Re-launched in 2007, in conjunction with Berlin’s !K7 Music, they continued their journey with four compilations selected by London DJ collective Horse Meat Disco alongside rare post-punk and industrial sounds on Trevor Jackson’s Metal Dance series and the Fac. Dance Factory Records compilations, to name but a few. They also started inviting original legends to record new studio albums including Mulatu Astatke, Lloyd Miller, Orlando Julius,Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids, Ebo Taylor and Pat Thomas plus the late, great drummer Tony Allen and Jimi Tenor.

Since 2014 they have had an ongoing relationship with the estate of Sun Ra and the Arkestra, curating definitive box set editions of Ra’s recordings in Egypt in 1971, the Singles and the Lanquidity album from 1978. In 2020 they released Swirling, the first new Arkestra album in over 15 years.

Most recently they have been working closely with the back catalogues of Patrice Rushen, Miriam Makeba, Black Fire Records and Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids; and they continue to support younger talent with recent critically acclaimed artist albums from Nubiyan Twist, Electric Jalaba, Kondi Band and The Souljazz Orchestra.