ECM

Similarly to any previous Tunisian oud player Anouar Brahem's album,his new double release "Souvenance" contains very limited amount of jazz. Main difference is if previously he played well done world music with touch of improvisation added as spices to make good dish a bit more delicious, here he plays well composed,tuneful chamber music with touch of Eastern exotic. In both cases his music didn't contain groove (what isn't a bad surprise for many ECM sound connoisseurs) and contains very limited improvisational moments. For those who doesn't care much about such formalities, this double CD set contains lot of tuneful instrumental music ,tastefully prepared. For jazz fans here are a few really jazzy pieces as well. You decide

Edited by snobb - 09 Dec 2014 at 6:22am

The ECM album I would recommend from this year would be Mark Turner's 'Lathe of Heaven' - I am a huge fan of his sound.

Watched the live performance of this album in Paris and the compositions were mind-blowing. Check it out.

Another related new ECM release is this year's Jacob Young album, where Marcin Trio plays in whole on support.It looks they are on the top of the wave now 

I see there is current ECM star sax player Mark Turner playing on Harrell's Trip . His new album is quite nice (ECM release, just few steps above). BTW he played here in my hometown last Friday, didn't see him though

Hey Matt, it's nice to hear from you again. I see you're on Tomasz Stanko herd 

Cuban pianist and current Tomasz Stanko New York Quartet member David Virelles third album (and his debut on ECM) is both  some fresh air in refreshing label program and step forward in artist career. Non-orthodox  quintet (David's piano is supported by two acoustic bassists and two percussionists) demonstrate excellent example of "new Latin" jazz - still based on emotionally colored tunes and musicianship more than on virtuosity, this music is heavily influenced by ECM-type clear chamber sound and quite free,in moments on dissonant border,improvisations more usual for adventurous avant-garde musicians.The result is great - what looks like mish-mash on paper, in a form of real music sounds as very interesting new sound, giving to Latin jazz tradition a new life.

Clarinetist Louis Sclavis is  ECM label's "French voice". His tenth album on this label is tuneful,deeply rooted in European chamber music,almost melancholic in places and warm uncharacteristically for ECM recordings (recorded in French renowned Studio La Buissonne near Avignon). Main surprise here is addition of Iranian classical percussionist Kevyan Chemirani to Clavis regular band. Central Asian classic tradition surprisingly well fits to advanced European chamber jazz, resulting music doesn't become variation of world fusion but represents something what could be tagged as "Eurasian chamber jazz". One among ECM most interesting this year's releases

Edited by snobb - 29 May 2015 at 3:30am

Austrian acoustic guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel is playing around his home country and Central Europe for years, last year he debuted on ECM as collaborator playing with Ralph Towner. "Driftwood" is Wolfgang label debut album,acoustic  trio with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Brian Blade.Obviously influenced by Towner's music, Wolfgang plays aerial down-tempo dreamy music, often lyrical,in moments warm and with feel-able European chamber tradition. It sounds quite nice, but are not enough essential and somewhere in the middle of the album the listener feels like he listens same long song,not beautiful enough to continue such a long time.

Edited by snobb - 17 Jun 2014 at 9:08am

Polish Simple Acoustic Trio started playing refined European post bop two decades ago and after glorious days on domestic market in 2004 signed contract with ECM becaming Marcin Wasilewski Trio (and adapting their sound for ECM standard). After 3 ECM albums they co-operates here on new ECM album with two Norwegians - Jim Hall and John Abercrombie former student guitarist Jacob Young and sax player Trygve Seim.

Edited by snobb - 27 Sep 2014 at 3:03pm

snobb wrote: Swiss pianist Colin Vallon second album on ECM (and fourth work released during decade he's active). Characteristic European chamber jazz, still unusually warm for ECM Oslo studio recordings. Together with basist Patrice Moret Vallon are part of Albanian singer Elina Duni band (as well ECM artist)    listen here: http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/mp3/colin-vallon-trio/4317