Bongo Joe Records

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Bongo Joe Records
Founded2015; 10 years ago (2015)
Founder
  • Cyril Yeterian
  • Vincent Bertholet
LocationGeneva, Switzerland
Official websitewww.bongojoe.ch

Bongo Joe Records, also known as Les Disques Bongo Joe, is a record label based in Geneva, Switzerland. It was established in 2015, and focuses on global music releases.

History

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Bongo Joe Records was founded in 2015 by Cyril Yeterian (who owns a record store of the same name in Geneva) and Vincent Bertholet.[1][2] The label is named after Bongo Joe Coleman, an American street musician.[3] Artists that Bongo Joe have released include Altın Gün, Meridian Brothers, and Yīn Yīn.[4]

In 2025, Bongo Joe released the compilation album 2015–2025 Les Disques Bongo Joe: 10 Years of Sonic Explorations to celebrate a decade since their founding.[5]

Reputation

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WOMEX named Bongo Joe one of the 20 top independent record labels of 2023.[6] In a review of Bono Joe's 10 year anniversary compilation album, Stephen Dalton of Uncut wrote that "much of Bongo Joe's catalogue also serves as valuable cultural archaeology, shining a contemporary spotlight on category-defying "post-world" music."[2] PopMatters wrote that "an inarticulate harmony and a tasteful eclecticism hold their discography together."[7]

Notable releases

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  • Azerbaijani Gitara, a series of compilation albums by Azerbaijani guitarists.
    • Volume 1: Rüstəm Quliyev (2020)
    • Volume 2: Rəhman Məmmədli (2024)

References

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  1. ^ "Globaler Mikrokosmos", Radio 3fach [de] (in German), 25 March 2017, retrieved 25 September 2025
  2. ^ a b Stephen Dalton, "Various Artists – 2015–2025 Les Disques Bongo Joe: 10 Years of Sonic Explorations", Uncut (review), no. 343 (October 2025), p. 46
  3. ^ Julie Henoch; Lara Donnet (8 November 2023), "Le label genevois Bongo Joe célèbre ses dix ans lors d'une fête à son image" [The Geneva-based label Bongo Joe celebrates its tenth anniversary with a party that reflects its image], Radio Télévision Suisse (in French), retrieved 25 September 2025
  4. ^ Ghislain Chantepie (8 August 2025), "Bongo Joe fête 10 ans de flair sans frontière avec une jolie compilation" [Bongo Joe celebrates 10 years of boundless flair with a delightful compilation], Radio France (in French), retrieved 25 September 2025
  5. ^ Russ Slater Johnson, "A Decade of Disques", Songlines, no. 212 (October/November 2025), p. 12, ISSN 1464-8113
  6. ^ "The World Music Charts 2023: 20 Top Labels of the Year", WOMEX, archived from the original on 15 September 2024, retrieved 8 September 2024
  7. ^ Adriane Pontecorvo (23 September 2025), "Bongo Joe Celebrates 10 Years of Eclectic Releases", PopMatters, retrieved 25 September 2025
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