Bill Frisell, Thomas Morgan, and Their Unorthodox Cover Choices on ‘Epistrophy’
Guitarist Bill Frisell and bassist Thomas Morgan give us another quiet night at the Vanguard by way of the ECM label.
ecm records
Vijay Iyer and Craig Taborn Continue Their Explorations on ‘The Transitory Poems’
The Transitory Poems is a live recording of two jazz masters, Vijay Iyer and Craig Taborn, playing four-handed, exploratory improvisations on two pianos.
Larry Grenadier Plays 45 Minutes of Riveting Solo Bass on ‘The Gleaners’
Larry Grenadier offers solo jazz acoustic bass for about 45 minutes, but The Gleaners is varied and riveting, as we expect from an ECM recording.
Joe Lovano Keeps on Discovering and Surprising on ‘Trio Tapestry’
Joe Lovano's debut for the meditative ECM label both conforms to the meditative, gorgeous standard and transcends it through a sense of constant motion and surprise.
The Tord Gustavsen Trio Are Here to Melt Composition and Improvisation on ‘The Other Side’
After 11 years, Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen is back with a new trio, peddling a blend of traditional, sacred, and original music.
The Andy Sheppard Quartet Creates Jazzy Beauty on ‘Romaria’
The airy atmospherics of the Andy Sheppard Quartet move beautifully, slowly, and quite often in the same manner from performance to performance.
Guitar and Clarinet, Lovingly Processed by Electronics
On White, jazz's Marc Sinan and Oğuz Büyükberber prove that duet albums are only as limiting as your imagination.
Ketil Bjørnstad’s Beautiful Ode to Solitary Travel
Pianist Ketil Bjørnstad, singer Anneli Drecker, and poet Lars Saabye Christensen have created an unassuming masterpiece with A Suite of Poems.
Steve Tibbetts Takes the Road Less… Everything on ‘Life Of’
If you thought guitarist extraordinaire Steve Tibbetts was a subtle dude, you ain't heard nothing yet.
All Four of Arvo Pärt’s Symphonies Are Brought Together to Show Us a Fascinating Journey
Arvo Pärt's symphonies have sometimes been dismissed as too bracing and academic to be enjoyed on a basic appreciative level. This new set from ECM seeks to prove otherwise.
Nik Bärtsch and Ronin Make an Exceptional Return
Despite a lengthy break and some lineup changes, Nik Bärtsch's Ronin hasn't skipped a beat on Awase.
John Surman’s ‘Invisible Threads’ Is Music for Quiet Spaces
John Surman's trio create a space where a listener can drift along without getting tired. There's an energy to the playing that lifts one into a pleasant state and a good-humor to the enterprise as a whole.