ECM

Norwegian pianist Jon Balke is a typical representative of Nordic chamber jazz (and ECM sound as well) - crystal clear airy relaxed,slightly melancholic piano, great gift for ECM mainstream fans

Edited by snobb - 22 Nov 2016 at 4:41am

After four years pause renowned bassist Michael Formanek returns with his most ambitious project to time - a suite for big orchestra. For the recording he formed the Kolossus Ensemble - actually "who is who in modern NYC avant-garde jazz/creative scene" band incl. baritone Tim Berne,tenor/clarinet Chris Speed,alto/clarinet Oscar Noriega,trumpeter Ralph Alessi, Kirk Knuffke on cornet,guitarist Mary Halvorson,pianist Kris Davis,drummer Tomas Fujiwara among many others. Ambitious and exceptional release

Drummer veteran Jack DeJohnette electro-acoustic trio release on ECM naturally attracts attention. More framed than DeJohnette previous album with AACM veterans "Live In Chicago", this is still quite free played jazz (two younger generation musicians - sax player Ravi Coltrane and bassist Matthew Garrison are on board)



listen here:

http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/mp3/jack-dejohnette/6202

Japanese pianist Masabumi Kikuchi, who passed away last summer, lived between New York and Tokyo playing mostly with American musicians. He did his name with series of Miles Davis-influenced fusion albums, later changed lot of styles,partially succeed playing for years with Gary Peacock and Paul Motian,but finally found his own voice only at the late stage of his musical career. He debuted on ECM in 2012 only(in age of 73) in acoustic trio with drummer Paul Motian and bassist Thomas Morgan (it was last ever Motian recording), "Blac Orpheus" is his second, already posthumous ECM release,containing one of Kikuchi very last concert recorded solo in Tokyo. Very intimate and mature work.



listen here:

http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/mp3/masabumi-kikuchi/6269 

Typical ECM chamber jazz - German duo of trumpeter Marcus Stockhausen and pianist Florian Webber. a bit romantic, a bit melancholic, absolutely safe and totally swingless



listen here:

http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/mp3/markus-stockhausen/6354

Norwegian bassist Mats Eilertsen label's debut. Septet plays slow airy music,strongly based on Nordic folk and European chamber tradition. Minimalist (often sounds as trio or quartet),almost groove-less with very limited participation of rhythm section this album continues ECM decades tradition releasing their signature Nordic chamber-folk-jazz.

Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan second album on ECM is a serious disaster. Combining rising piano star with label's Nordic veterans looks intriguing on paper, but in reality it doesn't work at all. Trumpeter Arve Henriksen,nu jazz/electronics guitarist Eivind Aarste and electronics wizard Jan Bang all are significant figures on Nordic and European scenes, all more or less known by their involvement in ECM-populated liquid ambient/new age influenced specific crossover jazz hybrid. 

Young Italian pianist Giovanni Guidi album titled "Ida Lupino" - one can find Carla Bley/Paul Bley influences here besides of some chamber and more adventurous pieces. Excellent international quartet - two Italians (Guidi and trombonist Gianluca Petrella, both members of more current Enrico Rava band), French clarinetist Louis Sclavis and American drummer Gerald Cleaver.

Quiet and amorphous/dynamic-less Danish guitarist Jacob Bro new album, with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Joe Baron

Drummer Andrew Cyrille album on ECM - not very usual event. Percussive, aerial, dreamy - with signature Bill Frisell guitar.