Criss-Cross Rock

Criss Cross Jazz is a Dutch record company and label specializing in jazz. Criss Cross was established in 1981 in Enschede, Netherlands by Gerry Teekens, a professional drummer and linguistics professor. Teekens founded the label after organizing tours for jazz musicians such as Jimmy Raney and Warne Marsh. Early issues included Raney and Marsh, Chet Baker, Pete Christlieb, Stan Getz, Tom Harrell, and Clifford Jordan. Criss Cross issued its first compact disc in 1987 in response to international demand. Teekens retired from his position as a professor to work full time on Criss Cross in 1991. The label has released over 400 albums. Teekens focused on giving talented but underrecorded jazz musicians "considerable artistic freedom", and was also known for introducing musicians as band leaders for the first time, such as Mark Turner, Seamus Blake, and Peter Bernstein. Gerry Teekens died on October 31, 2019, at the age of 84. Criss Cross was taken over by his son, Jerry Teekens Jr., who has since released new music on the label. Teekens Jr.'s daughters also help manage the label.