LE REX

What LE REX does

Le Rex is a Bern, Switzerland-based jazz ensemble that has performed continuously since its founding in summer 2009, comprising five musicians: Benedikt Reising (alto saxophone), Marc Stucki (tenor saxophone), Andreas Tschopp (trombone), Marc Unternährer (tuba), and Rico Baumann (drums). The group's distinctive feature is its unconventional instrumentation — two saxophones, trombone, tuba, and drums with no guitar — producing a brass-forward sound atypical in jazz. The ensemble composes and performs original music, with a documented archive of more than 100 live performances spanning Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, and the United States, and a discography of 14+ releases including albums "Escape of the Fire Ants" and "Wild Man" on the US independent label Cuneiform Records, and the recent three-EP series culminating in the full album "3 Stages" released April 25, 2025.

The ensemble's output is delivered through two product surfaces: live performance (the primary revenue and audience-acquisition channel, booked directly with jazz clubs such as Moods and Bee-Flat, festivals including Jazzfestival Willisau and Südtirol Jazzfestival Altoadige, and one-off international venues) and recorded music (digital downloads via Bandcamp and physical CDs sold via email order in Switzerland at CHF 20 per unit). The "Steady Gig" residency series at Bern venue Prozess functions as an in-house productization of the live format, developing new material through repeat performances.

Le Rex operates as an independent, self-managed artist collective without external investment or institutional ownership. Revenue is generated from four streams: live performance fees (gig and festival fees plus audience admissions where applicable), digital album and EP sales via Bandcamp and Cuneiform Records, physical CD sales (Switzerland-only email order), and Swiss cultural funding grants from Pro Helvetia, Stadt Bern Kultur, Migros cultural foundation, Stadt Luzern FUKA-Fonds, and LuzernPlus Kulturförderung. The customer base consists of jazz and world-music audiences, festival and jazz-club programming teams, and cultural institutions booking live music — with no enterprise anchor customers and a distribution model centered on direct-to-fan channels and label partnerships.

Name

LE REX

Legal name

LE REX

Website

https://lerexmusic.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Le Rex is a Bern, Switzerland-based independent jazz quintet formed in 2009, distinguished by an unconventional two-saxophone, trombone, tuba, and drums instrumentation. The ensemble composes, records, and tours original brass-forward jazz internationally for festival and club audiences, distributed via Cuneiform Records and Bandcamp.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Digital Album Sales: Albums and EPs sold via Bandcamp and Cuneiform Records digital download platform. Revenue from per-unit digital track/album purchases.
2. Physical CD Sales: Physical CDs (Escape of the Fire Ants, Wild Man) sold via email order to Switzerland. Price indicated as 20 CHF per unit excluding postage.
3. Live Performance Fees: Revenue from gig fees at concerts, festivals, and private events across Switzerland, Germany, Austria, South Africa, US, Ireland, and Italy. Entry fees sometimes charged directly to audiences (e.g., R100 admission in South Africa).
4. Cultural Foundation Support: Supported by Swiss cultural funding bodies including Pro Helvetia, BGB, Stadt Bern Kultur, Migros, Stadt Luzern FUKA-Fonds, and LuzernPlus Kulturförderung, which may provide project-based or ongoing financial support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Le Rex is a Swiss jazz/experimental brass ensemble that composes, records, and performs original music featuring a distinctive guitar-less instrumentation of two saxophones, trombone, tuba, and drums. The group releases albums and EPs digitally via Bandcamp and physically via Cuneiform Records and direct mail order, and performs live at jazz festivals and concert venues across Europe, South Africa, and North America.

Product overview

LE REX is a Swiss jazz/experimental music band producing and releasing musical albums and EPs. The band consists of five musicians: Benedikt Reising (alto sax), Marc Stucki (tenor sax), Andreas Tschopp (trombone), Marc Unternährer (tuba), and Rico Baumann (drums). The band's core offerings are their musical releases, including the recent "3 Stages" album (2025) which comprises three EPs released progressively between December 2023 and April 2025, as well as earlier albums like "Escape of the Fire Ants" and "Wild Man" released on Cuneiform Records. Releases are distributed via Bandcamp and CD orders are available directly.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 3 Stages Full jazz album combining three EPs of original brass-and-drums ensemble compositions, released April 25, 2025. Available as digital download on Bandcamp.
• Up We Fall – EP1 First EP in the 3 Stages series of original brass ensemble compositions. Digital download available via Bandcamp.
• Rex Royal – EP2 Second EP in the 3 Stages series of original brass ensemble compositions. Digital download available via Bandcamp.
• Sweet Inharmonicities Third EP in the 3 Stages series of original brass ensemble compositions. Digital download available via Bandcamp.
• Escape of the Fire Ants Album released on Cuneiform Records with international distribution; physical CDs available via email mail-order ([email protected]) to Switzerland at 20 CHF per unit plus postage.
• Wild Man Album released on Cuneiform Records with international distribution; physical CDs available via email mail-order ([email protected]) to Switzerland at 20 CHF per unit plus postage.
• Ascona Album by Le Rex available as digital download via Bandcamp.
• Le Corse Album by Le Rex available as digital download via Bandcamp.
• Live performance bookings Live jazz/experimental brass ensemble performances booked directly by jazz festivals and concert venues across Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, and the US. Includes dedicated "Steady Gig" residency programming for developing new music live.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 documented live performances across Switzerland, Europe, South Africa, and the US
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cuneiform RecordscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCuneiform Records is an American independent record label specializing in progressive jazz, rock, and experimental music. Le Rex has released albums on Cuneiform Records (Escape of the Fire Ants, Wild Man), which handles international distribution of physical CDs. The label is a respected platform for avant-garde jazz internationally.
• BandcampcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBandcamp is the primary digital distribution platform for Le Rex's recent releases including the 3 Stages album series, Up We Fall EP1, Rex Royal EP2, and Sweet Inharmonicities EP3. Artists receive direct revenue from digital track and album sales.
• Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council)coreOthersPro Helvetia supports Swiss arts and culture internationally by funding Swiss artists and cultural organizations for touring, promotion, and project support abroad. Le Rex has received support enabling international touring and cultural exchange activities.
• Stadt Bern KulturminorOthersCity of Bern's cultural department providing funding support to Bern-based artists and cultural organizations.
• MigrosminorOthersSwiss retail corporation Migros operates a cultural foundation that sponsors Swiss arts and cultural projects. Le Rex has received Migros support as acknowledged on their releases.
• Stadt Luzern FUKA-FondsminorOthersCity of Lucerne's cultural fund supporting cultural projects and artists based in or performing in Lucerne.
• LuzernPlus KulturförderungminorOthersRegional cultural promotion organization for the Lucerne region supporting cultural events and projects in the greater Lucerne area.
• Ensemble ProtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLe Rex has collaborated with Ensemble Proton for joint performances, such as the gig at Heitere Fahne, Bern on September 4, 2021. This represents a collaborative artistic partnership with another Swiss ensemble.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kneebody: Los Angeles-based jazz group blending electronic and acoustic jazz with similar genre-bending, modern-jazz positioning. Comparable to Le Rex in non-traditional jazz approach, small-combo format, and international touring within the contemporary jazz circuit.
• Atomic: Swedish free jazz group with similar small-combo instrumentation (saxophones, brass, drums) and long-running roster. Comparable to Le Rex in experimental jazz approach, Northern European jazz scene positioning, and ongoing collective identity.
• Mnozil Brass: Austrian seven-piece brass ensemble with international touring profile and brass-led jazz/classical crossover repertoire. Comparable to Le Rex in instrumentation focus (brass-forward, no standard rhythm section), touring model, and European concert circuit presence.
• Sons of Kemet: London-based jazz group led by Shabaka Hutchings, blending Afro-Caribbean and avant-garde influences with a tuba/saxophone front line and drums. A direct stylistic parallel to Le Rex's brass-and-drums format and experimental approach, though on a much larger commercial scale.
• Melt Yourself Down: UK-based brass-heavy experimental jazz group with high-energy live performances and a sax/brass front line. Comparable to Le Rex in brass-forward instrumentation and experimental jazz positioning within the contemporary European jazz scene.
• Red Baraat: Brooklyn-based brass band with international touring and recorded releases on indie labels. Comparable to Le Rex in brass-forward format, festival-circuit visibility, and independent-label distribution model.
• Hypnotic Brass Ensemble: Chicago-based all-brass collective with strong self-distribution, recorded catalog, and international touring. Comparable to Le Rex in unconventional brass-forward format without standard rhythm-section instruments, and in direct-to-fan and live-driven business approach.
• Hot 8 Brass Band: New Orleans-based brass ensemble with established international touring profile and recorded catalog on indie labels. Comparable to Le Rex in brass-driven format, festival and venue touring circuit presence, and recorded-release approach.

Broad incumbents

• Sun Ra Arkestra: Long-established experimental jazz large ensemble under Marshall Allen with deep recorded catalog and global touring. Comparable to Le Rex in avant-garde free-jazz positioning, though at substantially larger scale and broader institutional reach.

Emerging players

• Fire! Orchestra: Swedish experimental jazz large ensemble led by Mats Gustafsson, operating in the avant-garde free jazz space. Comparable to Le Rex in experimental jazz positioning and Northern European scene context, though with a much larger ensemble format.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/lerexlecorse/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/LeRexMusic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LE REX