Instant Composers Pool (ICP) is an independent Dutchjazz andimprovised musiclabel andorchestra. Founded in 1967, the label takes its name from the concept that improvisation is "instant composition".^[1] The ICP label has published more than 50 releases to date, with most of its releases featuring the ICP Orchestra and its members.

In 1967 saxophonistWillem Breuker, pianistMisha Mengelberg and drummerHan Bennink founded the ICP label inAmsterdam. Mengelberg and Bennink had been playing together since 1961 and found success as members ofEric Dolphy's quartet in 1964, as documented on his live albumLast Date. Mengelberg had also been involved in theFluxus art movement and was developing a composition style that involved musical games. As Europeanfree jazz musicians, they were butting up against disinterest in their music from contemporary jazz labels, so they formed acooperative as a means to release their own recordings. Mengelberg coined the label's name as a testament to improvisation being composition at the instant that the music is played. ICP's first records documented Breuker and Bennink's New Acoustic Swing Duo, and a trio of Mengelberg and Bennink withJohn Tchicai, whose album was titledInstant Composers Pool.^[2]

Breuker left ICP in 1974 to concentrate on his group, the Willem Breuker Collective, and went on to found his own record label, BVHaast. Mengelberg and Bennink intensified their collaboration and, widening their own musical project as the Instant Composers Pool Tentet with saxophonistPeter Brötzmann and cellistTristan Honsinger. Throughout the 1970s, the ICP label continued to release records, many as co-productions with other European independent labels, including albums byJeanne Lee,Derek Bailey,Dudu Pukwana,Steve Lacy,Paul Rutherford,Evan Parker,Maarten Altena andPeter Brötzmann. Most of these releases were of limited (and sometimes even numbered) edition and featured a distinctive idiosyncratic graphic design by Bennink.

By the 1980s, the ICP began to recruit younger musicians, as well asclassical/new music violinistMary Oliver.^[1] Under Mengelberg's guidance, the ICP Orchestra made studies of and recorded albums of music by jazz greatsDuke Ellington,Herbie Nichols andThelonious Monk. In the late 1980s and early 90s, ICP members collaborated with members of Americanpost-punk/Indie rock bandSonic Youth and began their long musical career with Dutch experimental punk bandThe Ex with whom they continue to tour and record.

In recent years, the ICP label has focused its releases solely on members of the ICP Orchestra, includingWolter Wierbos,Mary Oliver,Tristan Honsinger andTobias Delius. The label's earlier vinyl and cassette back catalog had not been issued on CD until the release of the label's complete catalogue as a 54-disc boxed set to commemorate the ICP's 45th anniversary in 2012.^[3]

• ICP 001: Willem Breuker/Han BenninkNew Acoustic Swing Duo LP (1967)
• ICP 002: Misha Mengelberg/Han Bennink/John TchicaiInstant Composers Pool LP (1968)
• ICP 003: Willem BreukerLunchconcert for Three Barrelorgans LP
• ICP 004:Han Bennink/Derek Bailey LP
• ICP 005: Misha Mengelberg/John Tchicai/Han Bennink/Derek BaileyFragments LP
• ICP 006: Misha Mengelberg/Paul Rutherford/Peter Bennink/Peter Brötzmann/Evan Parker/Han Bennink/Derek BaileyGroupcomposing LP (1971)
• ICP 007/008: Various artistsInstant Composers Pool 2×LP (1970)
• ICP 009: Willem BreukerThe Message LP (1971)
• ICP 010: Misha Mengelberg/Han BenninkInstant Composers Pool LP (1972)
• ICP 011: Han BenninkSolo LP
• ICP 012: Maarten van Regteren AltenaHandicaps LP
• ICP 013: Misha Mengelberg/Han BenninkEen Mirakelse Tocht six 7" flexi-discs (1972)
• ICP 013: Misha Mengelberg/Han BenninkMidwoud '77 LP (1974)
• ICP 014/SAJ 03: Misha Mengelberg/Han BenninkEinepartietischtennis LP (1974)
• ICP 015: Eric Dolphy/Misha Mengelberg/Jacques Schols/Han BenninkEpistrophy LP
• ICP 016: Steve LacyLumps LP
• ICP 017/018: Misha Mengelberg/Han BenninkCoincidents double cassette (1976)
• ICP 019: Maarten van Regteren AltenaTuning the Bass LP
• ICP 020: ICP 10-tetTetterettet LP (1977)
• ICP 021: Dudu Pukwana/Han Bennink/Misha MengelbergYi Yole LP
• ICP 022: ICP OrchestraLive Soncino LP
• ICP 023: Misha Mengelberg/Han BenninkBennink Mengelberg LP
• ICP 024: Misha Mengelberg & ICP OrchestraJapan Japon LP (1982)
• ICP 025: ICP Orchestra ExtensionRed White and Blue (Herbie Nichols) cassette (1984)
• ICP 026: ICP OrchestraTwo Programs: Herbie Nichols/Thelonious Monk CD (1987)
• ICP 027: Han BenninkSolo VHS
• ICP 028: ICP OrchestraBospaadje Konijnehol I CD (1990)
• ICP 029: ICP OrchestraBospaadje Konijnehol II CD (1991)
• ICP 030: Misha MengelbergMix CD
• ICP 031: Misha Mengelberg/Han BenninkMiHa CD + anniversary book
• ICP 032: Wolter WierbosX Caliber CD
• ICP 033: Tobias Delius 4 TetThe Heron CD
• ICP 034: Tobias Delius 4 TetToby's Mloby CD
• ICP 035: Han BenninkSolo
• ICP 036: Tristan HonsingerA Camel's Kiss CD
• ICP 037: Steve Beresford/Han BenninkB + B (in Edam) CD
• ICP 038: Mary OliverWitchfiddle CD
• ICP 039: Tobias Delius 4 TetPelikanismus CD
• ICP 040: ICP OrchestraOh, My Dog! CD (2001)
• ICP 041: Mary Oliver/Thomas Lehn/Han BenninkPica Pica CD (2004)
• ICP 042: ICP OrchestraAan & Uit CD (2004)
• ICP 043: ICP OrchestraWeer is een Dag Voorbij CD (2005)
• ICP 044: Misha MengelbergAfijn DVD (2009)
• ICP 045: Alessandra Patrucco/Tristan Honsinger/Misha Mengelberg/Ab Baars/Han BenninkCircus CD (2006)
• ICP 046: ICP OrchestraLive at the Bimhuis CD
• ICP 047: Oliver & HeggenOh, Ho! CD
• ICP 048: Tobias Delius 4 TetLuftlucht CD (2010)
• ICP 049: ICP OrchestraICP Orchestra CD (2010)
• ICP 050: ICP Orchestra!ICP! 050 LP (2010)
• ICP 1275-1: Various artistsComplete Boxed Catalogue (limited edition) 52 CDs + 2 DVDs + book + blueprint (2012)
• ICP 051: ICP OrchestraEast of the Sun CD (2014)