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HOW TO BUY...ECM!
3:33 PM GMT 12/10/2009
Founded in Munich Germany in 1969 by producer and musician Manfred Eicher, and operating under the motto of "the Most Beautiful Sound Next to Silence", for the last forty years the ECM label has pushed forward the boundaries of modern jazz and classical music, with releases by such diverse artists as Keith Jarrett, Arvo Part, Chick Corea, Valentin Silvestrov and The Art Ensemble Of Chicago quietly reaching and influencing everyone from Radiohead and Efterklang to such unlikely ambient gloom merchants as SunnO))) and Fennesz and the chilly cool of the Rune Grammofon and Touch Music labels. So, whether it's the Scandinavian jazz of Christian Wallumrod, the Holy Minimalism of Arvo Part or the pulsing power of Steve Reich's original Music For Eighteen Musicians, which ECM releases should we splurge our hard-earned on? Tell us, please.
As ever, the best comments and recommendations will appear in the magazine. Cheers!
Posted by Ross_Bennett at 3:33 PM GMT 12/10/2009
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The picture you chose says it all; Keith Jarrett: The Köln Concert. Genius.
Posted by marvkelly at 3:56 PM GMT 07/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Steve Reich - Music For 18 Musicians - although the later version on Nonesuch is also very good
Posted by Pete S at 4:55 PM GMT 07/10/2009 Report Abuse
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One of my favorite ECM releases is from 1999, Roscoe Mitchell and the Note Factory's Nine to Get Ready. It covers bop, funk, avant garde, modern classical and ambient on one CD. The band includes Matthew Shipp, Craig Taborn, William Parker, Hugh Ragin and others. The opener, Leola, is a meditation: For Lester B honors Lester Bowie; Hop, HipBip,Bir, Bop starts with a slow pulse by soon moves to an avant garde onslaught only to end with that slow pulse.
Posted by Frank C at 3:39 AM GMT 09/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Charlie Haden's Ballad of the Fallen; Pat Metheny's Bright Size Life; Chick Corea's Return to Forever (1972 - not to be mistaken with the group formed later in the seventies); John Abercrombie's Getting There; Keith Jarrett's Sun Bear Concerts...and the list goes on and on...
Posted by Anonymous at 1:15 AM GMT 10/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Charlie Haden's Ballad of the Fallen; Pat Metheny's Bright Size Life; Chick Corea's Return to Forever (1972 - not to be mistaken with the group formed later in the seventies); John Abercrombie's Getting There; Keith Jarrett's Sun Bear Concerts...and the list goes on and on...
Posted by Marcelo G. at 1:15 AM GMT 10/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Regarding ECM (How to buy) You have to include a Pat Metheny Group album (they melded world music and prog to their jazz) and my vote goes to First Circle (1984) because of ites variety , the epic tiltle tarck, its accessability (its certainly not snobby jazz) and fun! Yes it's a very FUN jazz album. There I said it.
Daniel Gibson, Atlantic Highlands, NJ (USA)
Posted by Daniel Gibsons, Atlantic Highlands, NJ at 4:18 PM GMT 10/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Dave Holland - Conference of the Birds
Posted by drevhud at 9:33 PM GMT 11/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Got to include something from Eberhard Weber... He played on many others' ECM releases (Metheny, Garbarek...) but his own CDs (or LPs as they were when I first started listening to them) contain some sublime tunes, double bass playing and usually also Rainer Bruninghaus on keyboards as an added attraction. "Silent feet" is my favourite, with "Yellow fields" close behind.
Posted by JonH at 12:22 PM GMT 12/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Got to include Jan Garbarek, Rites. This is an absolute classic piece of work drawing influence upon nordic folk music, and more ambient dance rhythms. CD2 is completely mesmeric We Are The Stars and The Moon over Mtatsminda.
Posted by seanie o'shea at 7:16 PM GMT 12/10/2009 Report Abuse
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The Gateway albums, probably the best things in Jazz :)
John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette
Posted by Megalomaniac at 9:42 AM GMT 13/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Nowadays it's popular to focus on Jarrett's solo piano work as epitomising the ECM label, but the albums which I think are more worthy of attention are 'Belonging' and 'The Survivors' Suite'. The former establishing the template for European, or Nordic if you like, 'chamber' jazz; the latter, one of the last inspirational free improv albums from the '70s.
Since those days, there have been a endless stream of extraordinarily high quality albums from this label:
Bobo Stenson / War Orphans
Tord Gustavsen Trio / Being There
Nik Bartsch's Ronin / Stoa
Tomasz Stanko / From the Green Hill
Ketil Bjornstad / The Sea II
Christian Wallumrod / No Birch
The only disappointment in recent years has been the lack of vinyl; ECM artwork is as much an identifying feature of the label as Eicher's love of deep reverb. ECM generally looks and sounds so much better on vinyl.
Posted by Florette69 at 11:50 AM GMT 13/10/2009 Report Abuse
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The new STEVE KUHN CD ; "Mostly Coltrane" ..sublime. Featuring Joe Lovano. For all you out there with a billion- pounds Stero system.
Posted by PHIL GOSEZ at 11:54 AM GMT 14/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Hauntingly beautiful sounds abound at ECM, but Crystal Silence featuring Chick Corea and Gary Burton is a truly magical work. Honourable mention to Return To Forever's self-titled debut.
Posted by Gord D at 12:40 AM GMT 15/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Keith Jarrett/Jan Garbarek/Palle Danielsson/Jon Christensen: My Song (1977). This album is easily accessible to pop listeners and offers beautifully haunting melodies, like the opener "Questar" and especially the title track "My Song". Sometimes I find Jan Garbarek' saxophone a little too much in the foreground, but then again, his contributions are quite uplifting. Keith Jarrett and Palle Danielsson sound like they were made for playing together.
Posted by Claudia at 5:41 PM GMT 15/10/2009 Report Abuse
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I agree with the Gateway trio. All are excellent. The John Abercronbie "Timeless" album I never tire of. It's always on my iPod. Keith Jarrett's "Belonging" with the track "Long as You Know Your Living Yours", stolen by Steely Dan for Gaucho, is a gem. The whole "My Song" is perhaps his best ever. And Eberhard Weber. Amazing stuff.
Posted by xray jr at 10:13 AM GMT 16/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Jan Garbarek's "Dis" is extraordinarily beautiful. Stark, atmospheric and uniquely evocative, a wind harp set on the coast of southern Norway provides the tonal backdrop for Garbarek's gorgeous european folk based themes.
Posted by Blaise Cassell at 12:51 PM GMT 17/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Jan Garbarek / Ustad Fateh Ali Khan & Musicians From Pakistan - "Ragas And Sagas" is a perfect meld of east and western folk traditions that doesn't concede to any notions of "world music" accessibility or populist musical compromise. Its also fantastically, timelessly beautiful.
Posted by Blaise Cassell at 12:58 PM GMT 17/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Can't go wrong with any ECM Metheny or 70's Jarrett, in my opinion. But if I were to give just one place to a single artist, my list in no particular order would be ...
Facing You - Keith Jarrett
Offramp - Pat Metheny Group
Music For 18 Musicians - Steve Reich
Gnu High - Kenny Wheeler
Solo Concert - Ralph Towner
Prime Directive - Dave Holand Quintet
Later That Evening - Eberhard Weber
Bass Desires - Marc Johnson
Being There - Tord Gustavsen
Power Spot - Jon Hassell
Posted by Mike S at 7:44 AM GMT 18/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Although strictly classical, Arvo Part's Alina is a stunningly beautiful collection of stark and timeless minimalism. Carefully picked notes resonate against heavy silences, and the overall effect is extraordinarily powerful. Part is an absolute giant of twentieth century music, and he manages to blend the modern and ancient influences with a mastery of form and control few can manage.
Posted by BobRoberts at 5:36 AM GMT 19/10/2009 Report Abuse
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I took up the runes by Jan Garbarek is a must
Posted by arild at 11:00 AM GMT 19/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Terje Rypdal - If Mountains Could sing
Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life
Keith Jarret - Belonging
Eberhard Weber -Colors of Chloe
Gary Burton - Dreams So Real
Bill Frisell - Lookout for Hope
David Holland - Conference of the Birds
Jack Dejonnette - Special Edition
Charles Lloyd - All My Relations
Man, I lost track. I'm sure there are a bunch of newer releases. Most things I've bought with the ECM label on the cover have been good to great, so take a chance.
Posted by Randy at 8:38 PM GMT 19/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Hmm ... this is a tricky one. ECM relesases have been a huge part of my listening life for the past 20 years. But twist my arm very hard and I'll go for this dynamic dozen...
1. Gianluigi Trovesi & Gianni Coscia - "In Cerca di Cibo"
2. The Dowland Project w/ John Potter & John Surman - "Romaria"
3. Vassilis Tsaboropoulos & Anja Lechner - "Chants, Hymns & Dances"
4. Arvo Pärt - Alina (Sivakov, Bezhrodny, Malter & Schwalke)
5. Eberhard Weber - "The Colours of Chloë"
6. Eleni Karaindrou - "Elegy of the Uprooting"
7. Anouar Brahem - "Le Pas du Chat Noir"
8. Stefano Battaglia - "Re: Pasolini" (note: first disc only)
9. Jimmy Giuffre Trio - "1961"
10. Trygve Seim - "Different Rivers"
11. Peter Erskine Trio - "Time Being"
12. Keith Jarrett - At The Blue Note Complete (6CDs)
Posted by Mr Snoutychops at 10:52 AM GMT 20/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays - As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichite Falls is an absolute must.
Posted by Neil Jung at 1:54 PM GMT 20/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays - As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichite Falls...couldn't agree more...beautiful
overall my favorite?
Ralph Towner - Solstice (all players top notch, especially Jon Christensen...incredible drum / cymbal work
Posted by Anonymous at 7:17 PM GMT 21/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Excellent selections so far! I just want to add these gems not mentioned before:
Charles Lloyd/ Billy Higgins: Which Way is East
Chick Corea: Children's Songs
Chick Corea: Piano Improvisations Vol. 1 & 2
Charlie Haden/ Jan Garbarek/ Egberto Gismonti: Magico
Pat Metheny: 80/81
Posted by Anonymous at 2:24 AM GMT 23/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Michael Galasso "Scenes" 1982
Actually I tracked this solo record for violin after being mesmerized by the "In teh Mood for Love" soundtrack, also composed by Galasso.
Posted by carlos soares at 4:49 PM GMT 23/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Michael Galasso "Scenes" 1982
Actually I tracked this solo record for violin after being mesmerized by the "In the Mood for Love" soundtrack, also composed by Galasso.
Posted by carlos soares at 4:50 PM GMT 23/10/2009 Report Abuse
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ECM is one of the best labels in modern art music.
Some of my favourites:
1. Francois Couturier: Nosthalgia – Song for Tarkovsky
Heartfelt tribute to the legendary Russian movie-director
2. Hartmann - Concerto Funèbre a.o.
Expresses the pain of second world-war by a German composer
3. Eleni Karaindrou - Trojan Women
Haunting greek tragedy
4. Mansurian - Viola Concerto/Violin Concerto a.o.
Nice overview of this composer's work featuring Kim Kashkashian and Jan Garbarek
5. Frank Martin - Polyptyque/Passacaille a.o.
A major composer waiting to be discovered
6. Silvestrov - Leggiero, Pesante
The 1st ECM disc I bought, may still be the best among the many ECM Silvestrov releases
7. Kancheli/Schnittke - Vom Winde Beweint/Viola Concerto
Nobody does "quiet" better than Kancheli
Posted by Ivar de Vries at 6:23 PM GMT 23/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Here's a few less well known ECM ones I really like:
1. Steve Tibbetts "Safe Journey" (this album is in my private Top 10, so imaginative and so criminally underrated!)
2. Steve Tibbetts "Northern Song" (sounds like a very slow New Age album at first, until you listen more carefully and get blown away by the silent intensity!)
3. Edward Vesala "Nan Madol" (I fianlly went to Nan Madol, this album sparked my curiosity many, many years ago!)
4. Egberto Gismonti & Nana Vasconcelos "Duas Voces" (could there be such a thing as a Brazilian Power Duo?)
5. Egberto Gismonti & Nana Vasconcelos "Danca das Cabecas" (a great guitar player and my favorite percussionist!)
Posted by Andreas Schmitz at 5:43 AM GMT 26/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Travels - Pat Metheny Group. Perfect album to start with. Thats how I got into PMG. Bought during the summer of its release. Always makes me remember that summer. Especially 'Are You Going With Me?
Posted by chris at 3:29 AM GMT 29/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Steve Tibbetts' amazing "Exploded View". Aptly titled!
Posted by mbuck at 8:56 PM GMT 29/10/2009 Report Abuse
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Keith Jarrett - The Köln Concert. Lovely, luminous, enlightening. I heard this LP every night for a year and never tired of it. I still hear new details. How anyone could play piano like that is mind-boggling.
Posted by Ice Cream For Quo at 12:59 PM GMT 02/11/2009 Report Abuse
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Keith Jarrett - Solo Concerts: Bremen and Lausanne
Dark, brooding, soulful, gospel-fused improvised madness. The CD version stiches together the Lausanne set into a 64 minute maelstrom. Troubling, but an experience of sheer beauty.
Posted by Hugh Macpherson at 9:09 PM GMT 03/11/2009 Report Abuse
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Pat Metheny Group: Travels
The perfect PM primer. Defines the ECM feel to that point, yet also explains why Metheny had to leave the label an album or two later. Drop the needle (it has to been on vinyl) and feel the energy from the first (double) beat. Utterly essential.
Posted by Hugh Macpherson at 9:16 PM GMT 03/11/2009 Report Abuse
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Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians
OCD for the ears. Bliss.
Posted by Hugh Macpherson at 9:26 PM GMT 03/11/2009 Report Abuse
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Typical weird dream. Soundtrack was a repetitive riff on organ overlaid with layered vocalizations somewhere between gibberish and a Dave Thomas (Pere Ubu) solo album that I've forgotten the title of - but engaging and pleasant in a way. Drifted in and out of sleep until my consciousness posed the question "Am I dreaming this or is this coming from the clock radio?" Turned out to be the latter - Meredith Monk - Turtle Dreams being played on CFNY FM 102.1 in Brampton (Masters & Moderns was the program, Michael Compeau the announcer/programmer).
Other recommendations:
Ralph Towner & Gary Burton - Matchbook
Ralph Towner - Diary
Ralph Towner - Solstice
Kenny Wheeler - Deer Wan
Avro Part - Da Pacem
David Darling - Clouds
John Surman - Edges of Illusion
Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians
Pat Metheny Group - Bright Size Life
Pat Metheny - Rejoicing
Jan Garbarek & The Hilliard Ensemble - Officium
Some of the music is a moody and evocative as the cover photographs, other times it transcends time and space to pull in some new or long forgotten dimension. It's jazz as chamber music but without the swing or stuffyness of either, or chamber music untied from insistent time signatures and intentions. Music for contemplation or music for being fully in each moment. Sometime both at the same time. Music that compells listening; not music as aural equivalent of scented candles.
Posted by Frederick Harrison at 5:48 AM GMT 20/11/2009 Report Abuse
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Nobodies ementioned Gacbarek/ Husssein/ Shankar/ Gurtu and the Eastern Rythmns meet East European Folkn Melodies on the " Wondrous " - " SONG FOR EVERYONE "
Also John Surmans Tranquil Masterpiece - " CORUSCATING "
Posted by Anonymous at 5:54 PM GMT 27/11/2009 Report Abuse
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