The striking cover image of an abandoned swing illuminated against a field of glittering stars makes a compelling visual metaphor for the music on Close. “Music is a twilight language,” Steve Tibbetts confirms. “The job is to translate some shadow into sound.” On his 11th ECM release the Minnesotan guitarist resumes the quest, slowly ...
Genre: Jazz
Subgenre: Contemporary Jazz
Brahms: String Quartets, Op. 51 Nos. 1 & 2
A central fixture in the world of string quartets for the past thirty years, the Zehetmair Quartett’s ECM recordings of Schumann, Hindemith, Bartók and Hartmann have received luminous praise—Gramophone lauded their Schumann as “Record of the Year”, while The Sunday Times described their Hindemith and Bartók performances as “playing of huge finesse in both ...
Composer: Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Genre: Classical
Subgenre: Chamber Music
“Cooperation, interdependence and kindness” are the qualities that Meredith Monk emphasizes in Cellular Songs, “as an antidote to the values that are being propagated right now.” Of the work’s premiere performance the New York Times wrote, “Ms. Monk spun together divergent elements so fluidly that it created an unmistakable sense of hope. ...
Composer: Meredith Monk (1943)
Genre: Classical
Subgenre: Vocal
The Greek duo of lyra player Sokratis Sinopoulos and pianist Yann Keerim’s first studio statement is a deep well of inspired musical dialogues that cross the idiomatic space between European folk tradition and chamber-jazz seamlessly. Bartók’s six “Romanian Folk Dances” appear in newly shaped guises throughout the album, with Sokratis’s painterly lyra ...
Genre: Jazz
Subgenre: Contemporary Jazz
Dobrinka Tabakova’s ECM New Series debut, String Paths, made an immediate impact on its release in 2013. The Washington Times hailed it as an “exciting, deeply moving, original and triumphant” recording, while The Strad praised its “glowing tonal harmonies and grand, sweeping gestures.” Music from String Paths was ....
Composer: Dobrinka Tabakova (1980)
Genre: Classical
Subgenre: Orchestral
Wolfgang Muthspiel and his trio with Scott Colley on bass and Brian Blade on drums (“Together they have something of the empathy of the Bill Evans trio” – Downbeat) go into their third recording-venture swinging, setting the stage for what may be the group’s most adventurous trio recording with a delicate reading of Keith Jarrett’s “Lisbon Stomp”. ...
Genre: Jazz
Subgenre: Contemporary Jazz
Recorded live in Birmingham during a Contemporary Music Network tour in January 2002, Tramonto finds UK pianist John Taylor (1942-2015) in celebratory, outgoing mood, fronting one of his most dynamic and quick-witted groups, with US musicians Marc Johnson and Joey Baron – the energetic team that would collaborate on the critically-lauded ECM recording ...
Composer: John Taylor (1942-2015)
Genre: Jazz
Subgenre: Contemporary Jazz
Estonian vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis and their leader Jaan-Eik Tulve have established themselves among the leading interpreters of Arvo Pärt’s music over a quarter-century of close collaboration with the composer – a relationship that builds on the almost half a century long artistic partnership ...
Composer: Arvo Pärt (1935)
Genre: Classical
Subgenre:
On his newest recording for ECM’s New Series, lute virtuoso Rolf Lislevand turns to the revolutionary Baroque literature for archlute and chitarrone, interpreting the works of some of the most significant 16th-17th century lute composers. In striking solo performances, the Norwegian lute player explores the progressive nature of pieces ...
Composer: Giovanni Kapsberger (1580-1651), Giovanni Paolo Foscarini (1600-1647), Bernardo Gianoncelli (fl. 1650), Diego Ortiz (1510-1558)
Genre: Classical
Subgenre: Instrumental
A Dark Flaring: Works for String Quartet from South Africa
A Dark Flaring marks the Signum Quartett’s return to ECM’s New Series after debuting for the label with striking performances on Erkki-Sven Tüür’s acclaimed chamber music recording Lost Prayers (2020). Here, the quartet has put together a unique programme dedicated to South African composers, born in the 20th century, whose works for string quartet ...
Composer: Matthijs van Dijk, Arnold van Wyk (1916-1983), Robert Fokkens (1975), Ivy Priaulx Rainier (1903-1986)
Genre: Classical
Subgenre: Chamber Music
Two guitars gently envelop the uniquely evocative bandoneon of Dino Saluzzi on El Viejo Caminante, The Old Wanderer. Here, the Argentinean father and son team of Dino and José Maria Saluzzi are joined by Norway’s Jacob Young, in an album of musical depth and great charm. “It fills me with joy”, says Dino Saluzzi, ...
Genre: Jazz
Subgenre: Contemporary Jazz
Masterful trio interplay reliant on deeply honed three-way communication and a refined sense of understatement make Fred Hersch’s third recording for ECM an essential entry into the piano trio canon. Hersch tackles a handful of 20th century compositions – spanning from standards to less frequented jazz tunes – as well as three originals, ...
Genre: Jazz
Subgenre: Contemporary Jazz
New Vienna is the fourth concert release from Keith Jarrett's triumphant final solo tour of Europe. The album follows Munich 2016, Budapest Concert and Bordeaux Concert. Why the title New Vienna? Those more familiar with Jarrett's music will know that his discography already includes a legendary Vienna Concert (recorded at the Vienna State Opera), ...
Genre: Jazz
Subgenre: Contemporary Jazz
Aeris is the ninth ECM New Series album to feature the vibrant and highly expressive music of Erkki-Sven Tuur. Olari Elts, a long-time champion of Tuuris compositions, conducts the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra in compelling, intensely-focused performances of Phantasma, ...
Composer: Erkki-Sven Tuur
Genre: Classical
Subgenre: Orchestral
The Scandinavian project Arcanum brings together four artists all well-known to followers of music at ECM: Arve Henriksen, Trygve Seim, Anders Jormin and Markku Ounaskari. They’ve played together in many permutations over the years, but this is their first album as a quartet. Already hailed as a “Nordic supergroup” in some quarters, ...
Genre: Jazz
Subgenre: Contemporary Jazz
Joe Lovano and his Polish conspirators from the Marcin Wasilewski trio are in an especially adventurous spirit on their second joint endeavour for ECM. Building on the lyrical strengths that inhabited the group’s previous recording (Arctic Riff, 2020), on Homage the quartet moreover investigates the type of free-flowing interplay ...
Genre: Jazz
Subgenre: Contemporary Jazz
Savina Yannatou’s fifth ECM album revolves around the theme of water in its many manifestations. Water as a blessing and a curse. A life-sustaining source and a mortal threat in the elemental power of the storm. Shakespeare’s The Tempest with the spirit Ariel’s song, “Full Fathom Five”, provided an inspirational starting point for Greek vocalist Yannatou ...
Genre: Jazz
Subgenre: Crossover Jazz
Eight years after Blue Maqams, Anouar Brahem returns with a new project, and a programme of powerfully-moving pieces for oud, cello, piano and bass. Asked about the nature of his artistic journey, Brahem has drawn analogies with the growth of a tree, its branches spreading out above ground, while roots dig ever deeper. Over time and the course of a remarkable discography
Genre: Jazz
Subgenre: Contemporary Jazz
Defiant Life, Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith’s second duo recording for ECM after 2016’s A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke, is a profound meditation on the human condition, reflecting both the hardships and acts of resilience it entails. But at the same time, it also proves a testament to the duo’s unique artistic relationship and the boundless forms of musical expression it ...
Genre: Jazz
Subgenre: Contemporary Jazz
Nicolas Masson’s acquaintance with his fellow quartet travelers Colin Vallon, Patrice Moret and Lionel Friedli goes back roughly two decades – in this time the players have developed an intimate musical bond, expressed purely and beautifully on Renaissance, the group’s second recording for ECM after 2018’s Travelers. Comprised exclusively of ...
Genre: Jazz
Subgenre: Contemporary Jazz
