Babel Label is a jazz record label founded in 1994 by Oliver Weindling that specialises in British jazz, particularly the London scene.^[1] It released more than 130 recordings in its first 20 years, two of which were nominated for the Mercury Prize.

Weindling was a banker in England in the 1980s when his interest in jazz expanded beyond a hobby.^[2] He became acquainted with musicians from the British big band Loose Tubes and with Iain Ballamy and Billy Jenkins.^[3] Weindling began organising concerts for London musicians and found that CDs were essential to generate publicity.^[4] In 1994,^[2] Motivated by this and by the difficulty of releasing the music that he was interested in, Weindling started the label and named it after the Biblical tower.^[3][4]

Despite being the label's owner and only full-time employee, Weindling does not seek to influence what the musicians play on the label's recordings.^[4] Although Babel is not formally linked with any studio or recording engineers, it tends to use a small number of each.^[3]

Babel has released both studio and concert recordings.^[3] "Most releases are joint ventures with musicians licensing their recordings to Babel and after-cost profits [are] shared."^[4] In 2014, all of the label's releases were available on CD and as downloads, with some also available on vinyl.^[4] In its first two decades, Babel released more than 130 albums.^[4]

Babel's catalogue includes albums by Jenkins, Steve Argüelles, Julian Argüelles, Huw Warren, Christine Tobin and Phil Robson.^[3] Held on the Tips of Fingers by Polar Bear and Knee-Deep in the North Sea by Portico Quartet were nominated for the Mercury Prize.^[3]

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