Style: Free Improvisation
Vibe: Abstract, Responsive, Cerebral, Suspenseful, Kinetic, Free
Musical Qualities: Atonal, Improvisation, Sparse, Acoustic, Extended Technique, Instrumental
David Holland & Derek Bailey – Improvisations for Cello and Guitar Read More »
Style: Mystical Folk, New Age, Fourth World
Vibe: Ethereal, Meditative, Introspective, Airy, Searching, Healing, Mysterious, Soothing
Musical Qualities: Soft, Acoustic, Reverb-Heavy, Minimalistic, Instrumental
Instrumentation: Shakuhachi, Zither, Gender, Sarangi, Rabab, Bodhran, Angklung, Kyeezee, Bells, Acoustic Guitar
Stephen Micus – Koan Read More »
Style: Progressive Folk, Jazz Fusion, ECM Jazz
Vibes: Mystical, Pastoral, Ethereal, Ancient, Pagan, Earthy, Exploratory, Smooth, Spiritual
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Atmospheric, Complex, Instrumental, Uncommon Time Signatures, Percussive, Polyrhythmic, Progressive, Shred, Technical
Instrumentation: Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Congas, Drums, Kalimba, Synthesizer, Tabla, Electric Bass, Bongos
Steve Tibbetts – Yr Read More »
Styles: Samba-Jazz, Progressive Folk, Tribal Ambient
Moods: Ethereal, Tropical, Spacious, Ritualistic, Hypnotic, Pastoral, Open, Suspenseful, Soothing, Airy
Musical Qualities: Percussive, Sparse, Dynamic, Acoustic, Heavy Reverb, Electro-Acoustic Processing
Instrumentation: Berimbau, Acoustic Guitar, Flute, Dilruba, Piano, Percussion, Voices
Egberto Gismonti / Nana Vasconcelos – Duas Vozes Read More »
Styles: Modern Creative, Avant-Garde Jazz
Moods: Communal, Colorful, Eclectic, Ritualistic, Uplifting, Playful, Suspenseful, Mysterious, Abstract, Noir, Open
Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Percussive, Acoustic, Dynamic, Sparse
Art Ensemble of Chicago – Nice Guys Read More »
Style: ECM Jazz, Atmospheric Jazz Fusion
Vibe: Ethereal, Adventurous, Autumnal, Pastoral, Misty, Impressionistic, Complex, Intricate
Musical Qualities: Thematic Improvisation, Reverbed Production, Chorus FX, Melodic, Uncommon Time Signatures
Instrumentation: Upright Bass (w/ heavy chorus), Soprano Saxophone, Keyboards, Drums
Eberhard Weber – Yellow Fields Read More »
Personnel: John Abercrombie – Electric & Acoustic Guitars; Jack DeJohnette – Drums; Jan Hammer – Organ, Synthesizer, Piano
Style: Jazz Fusion
Vibe: Epic, Triumphant, Spacey, Bombastic, Pastoral (A2, B2, B3), Energetic
Musical Qualities: Shred, Rhythmic, Instrumental, Groovy, Progressive, Technical, Improvisation, Complex, Dynamic
John Abercrombie – Timeless Read More »
Style: Spiritual Jazz, Avant Garde Jazz Fusion
Moods: Mysterious, Earthy, Searching, Groovy, Exploratory
Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Rhythmic, Acoustic, Thematic
Instrumentation: Flute, Alto Saxophone, Clavinet, Piano, Upright Bass, Drums
Robin Kenyatta – Girl From Martinique Read More »
Style: Post-Minimalism, Ambient Jazz, Folk-Jazz, ECM Style
Moods: Meditative, Pastoral, Futuristic, Mysterious, Impressionistic, Hypnotic, Soothing, Searching
Musical Qualities: Electro-Acoustic, Minimalist, Instrumental, Pulse, Solo
Instrumentation: soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, synthesizer
John Surman – Upon Reflection Read More »
Featuring Collin Walcott – Sitar, Tabla; Jack DeJohnette – Drums; Dave Holland – Upright Bass; John Abercrombie – Guitars
Collin Walcott – Cloud Dance Read More »
featuring Chick Corea, Anthony Braxton, Bennie Maupin, Andrew Cyrille, etc…
Style: Modern Creative, Avant-Garde Jazz
Vibe: Mysterious, Suspenseful, Nature, Abstract, Surreal, Kinetic, Visceral, Earthy, Swirling, Pastoral (Side A)
Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Dynamic, Sparse, Acoustic, Atonal, Experimental Vocals, Extended Techniques, Dissonant, Percussive, Homemade Instrument
Marion Brown – Afternoon of a Georgia Faun Read More »
Style: Progressive Jazz, Post-Bop, Jazz Fusion
Vibe: Triumphant, Pastoral, Airy, Searching, Eclectic, Mysterious, Soothing
Musical Qualities: Thematic, Improvisation, Progressive, Odd Time Signatures, Atmospheric
Jack DeJohnette’s Directions – Untitled Read More »
Style: Ambient Folk, ECM-Jazz, New Age
Vibe: Soothing, Airy, Meditative, Pastoral, Winter, Open, Hypnotic, Nature
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Percussive, Sparse, Progressive
Instrumentation: 6 & 12-String Acoustic Guitars, Percussion (Kalimba, Shaker, Bongos, Congas, etc), Tape Loops
Steve Tibbets – Northern Song Read More »
Style: Experimental Big Band, Avant-Garde Jazz, Flamenco
Vibe: Mournful, Communal, Political, Anthemic, Conceptual, Conscious, Liberation, Sombre, Traditional
Musical Qualities: Polyphonic, Suite, Acoustic, Complex, Dynamic, Thematic Improvisation, Instrumental, Orchestral, political, Technical
Charlie Haden / Liberation Music Orchestra – Ballad of the Fallen Read More »
Style: Atmospheric Jazz, Jazz Fusion
Vibe: Airy, Ethereal, Open, Adventurous, Triumphant
Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Instrumental, Technical, Atmospheric
John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette – Gateway 2 Read More »
Style: Chamber Jazz, ECM Jazz
Vibe: Impressionistic, Peaceful, Lush, Triumphant, Climactic, Open, Airy, Bright
Musical Attributes: Progressive, Acoustic, Instrumental, Melodic, Improvisation (Structured, Chordal), Dynamic, Technical
Instrumentation: Upright Bass, Soprano Sax, Piano, Drums
Eberhard Weber’s Colours – Silent Feet Read More »
Personnel: Bill Connors – Acoustic Guitar, Jack DeJohnette – Drums, Gary Peacock – Upright Bass, Jan Garabek – Saxophone
Style: ECM Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Atmospheric Jazz
Vibe: Airy, Suspenseful, Smooth, Open
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Improvisation, Atmospheric, Technical, Instrumental
Bill Connors – Of Mist and Melting Read More »
Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Jazz
Vibe: Abstract, Communal, Exploratory, Rootsy
Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Poly-Free Improvisation, Dynamic
Art Ensemble of Chicago – Full Force Read More »
Released in 1979 on ECM Records Recorded June, 1978 Format: LP
Terje Rypdal / Miroslav Vitous / Jack DeJohnette Read More »
Released in 1978 on ECM Records Recorded August, 1977 Format: LP
Dave Holland – Emerald Tears Read More »
Released in 2018 on ECM Records Recorded July 2017 Format: LP
Andrew Cyrille / Wadada Leo Smith / Bil Frisell – Lebroba Read More »
Released in 1978 on ECM Records Recorded December 1977 Format: LP
Jan Garbarek – Places Read More »
Released in 1974 on ECM Records Format: LP
Bennie Maupin – The Jewel in the Lotus Read More »
While more cerebral than emotive, this live set is a frenzied demonstration of what four virtuosic musicians sound like when they give in to the intuitive whims of collective improvisation. Even when playing a composition, this quartet will stretch and mutate the melody into every possible pattern without ever playing it directly. The group interplay is often bombastic and can be overwhelming, but thankfully they vary the dynamics through mellower sections, as well as solo and duo pieces.
Circle – Paris-Concert Read More »
Released in 1983 on ECM Format: LP
Jan Garbarek Group – Wayfarer Read More »
Released in 1977 on ECM Records Format: LP, white label promo
Gary Peacock – Tales of Another Read More »
The German upright bassist and composer is joined by a jazz quartet, cello ensemble, and choir for a colorfully complex album of atmospheric improvisation, progressive structures, and sweeping orchestral arrangements, with occasional segments of groovy fusion or synthesizer spaciness, all draped in the warm, reverbed production ECM albums are known for.
Eberhard Weber – The Colours of Chloë Read More »
Spacious, Raga-inflected improvisations from Collin Walcott, Don Cherry, and Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos. Walcott has studied sitar directly under Ravi Shankar, and tabla under Alla Rakha, while trumpeter and flutist Don Cherry, after playing regularly with Ornette Coleman, has proceeded to travel around the world to study various musical traditions. Their wide influences come together organically to create meditative and exploratory music. A melodic and atmospheric fusion of airy flutes, watery sitar, hypnotic hammered dulcimer arpeggiations, driving webs of percussion, and bassy throat singing.
Collin Walcott/Don Cherry/Nana Vasconcelos – Codona Read More »
Released in 1981 on ECM Records Recorded in concert in May, 1980 at Amerika Haus München, Germany Format: LPx2
Art Ensemble of Chicago – Urban Bushmen Read More »
I highly recommend this album to fans of the innovative and exploratory period of jazz fusion of the early 70’s, where electric instrumentation, funk rhythms, experimental production techniques, and spacey synthesizers met the improvisation, freedom, and uplifting soul of the spiritual jazz of the 60’s. Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi trilogy, Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, Weather Report’s first LP are good touchstones, but this album truly offers something unique.
Julian Priester Pepo Mtoto – Love, Love Read More »
A hypnotic, meditative minimalist classic whose influence can be traced throughout several threads of modern music.
Steve Reich – Music for 18 Musicians Read More »
Album Information: Released in 1978 on ECM Records Recorded November 1977 at Talent Studio, Oslo Engineered by Jan Erik Kongshaug Cover by Don Leavitt Produced by Manfred Eicher Format: LP, promo copy Recommended Track: B1 – Ghost Dance
John Abercrombie – Characters Read More »
While living in London I had an apartment with a small garden. During he summer around 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning, just as the day began, Birds would gather here one by one and sing together, each declaring its freedom in song. It is my wish to share the same spirit with other musicians and communicate it to the people. -Dave Holland
Dave Holland Quartet – Conference of the Birds Read More »
The past, present, and future of jazz converge on this progressive new release from the legendary drummer Jack DeJohnette, who’s played on everything from Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew to albums with Keith Jarrett, Alice Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard, and numerous other masters since the late 60?s. Joining him are two descendants of the classic John Coltrane Quartet, Ravi Coltrane on tenor and soprano sax and Matthew Garrison (son of Jimmy Garrison) on electric bass and electronics. Rather than dwell in the shadows of their fathers, these two have already developed their own powerful and unique voices which are welcome additions to the jazz lineage.
Jack DeJohnette – In Movement Read More »
