Bob Rusch founded CIMP in 1995, with his children Marc and Kara working as recording engineer and album artwork producer, respectively. The label recorded its first session in June of 1995, featuring Evan Parker, Barry Guy, Paul Lytton, and Joe McPhee. This recording was issued in 1996, and over the next five years the label released over 120 albums, primarily documenting avant-garde jazz. Most of its releases are recorded in The Spirit Room, a studio in Rossie, New York.

Acoustically, the label is noted for its minimal use of electronic processing and its spare microphoning technique.

Artists

• Marshall Allen
• Barry Altschul
• Billy Bang
• Dave Burrell
• Dominic Duval
• Joe Fonda
• Lou Grassi
• Fred Hess
• Ori Kaplan
• Chris Kelsey
• Matt Lavelle
• Frank Lowe
• Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre
• Joe McPhee
• Evan Parker
• Ivo Perelman
• Hugh Ragin
• Herb Robertson
• Perry Robinson
• Jay Rosen
• Roswell Rudd
• Sonny Simmons
• Paul Smoker
• Glenn Spearman
• Steve Swell
• David White
• Mark Whitecage
• Bobby Zankel

References

• Gary W. Kennedy, "CIMP". Grove Jazz online.