About Us
Our Story
A word, an intuition.
It all began with a word. As a child, Grégory Privat would spontaneously repeat it, for no apparent reason — Buddham. It was only much later that he discovered its spiritual resonance: in the Buddhist tradition, Buddham saranam gacchami means "I take refuge in awakening." A disturbing coincidence, or perhaps not.
In 2019, after more than a decade of collaborating with major European labels, Grégory founded Buddham Jazz. This name, which had accompanied him since childhood without him yet understanding its meaning, became that of a structure designed to create, produce, and distribute freely — without external constraints.
Rooted in the sounds and rhythms of Martinique, nourished by the rigor of classical jazz and the demands of contemporary composition, Buddham Jazz releases albums that could not have been born elsewhere.
The Catalog
Trio
Soley
The label's first album. Grégory Privat, Chris Jennings on double bass, and Tilo Bertholo on drums sign a sunny first chapter, rooted in a long-standing complicity. Soley, "sun" in Creole, sets the tone: luminous, direct, vibrant.
Solo — Piano & Vocals
Yonn
Yonn means "one" in Creole — the first entirely solo album, featuring voice and piano. An intimate diary recorded away from the world, echoing the experience of lockdown. The number 1 here carries a double meaning: that of artistic stripping down, and that of spiritual unity — the idea that everything, ultimately, is one.
Trio
Phoenix
A return to the trio format, a return to collective energy. Phoenix extends and amplifies the breath of Soley, with a depth gained over the years. In the same year, Grégory Privat received the Django Reinhardt Award from the Académie du Jazz, recognizing his entire artistic career.
Django Reinhardt Award 2023Duo
22
A summit meeting between Grégory Privat and saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart. Two musicians, two trajectories, a deeply felt dialogue. 22 explores the fertility of a long-standing musical friendship in a stripped-down and intense format.
Solo — All Instruments
Darling
A solo album of a particular kind: Grégory Privat plays every instrument heard on it. Elegant jazz, Creole rhythms, sophisticated harmony, and words of love — Darling is an entirely personal work, an intimate journey into the heart of Martinique, between tenderness and light.
Available NowArtistic Direction
Buddham Jazz is an independent label founded on creative freedom. Each album is a complete artistic decision — from composition to artwork, from studio to pressing.