Tord Gustavsen/Stanko/EST

quote:

Originally posted by Gary Shaw:
Hi Diccus,

You might find a link between the way Esbjörn Svensson played piano and some of Chick Corea's work.

Spotify have his Children's Songs (though they're not really). They're all lovely but if you try just one....go for number 4... or number 6...or...

Cheers Gary

One piano trio CD I bought recently is 'The end of a summer' by the Julia Hulsmann Trio. It really is excellent, a bit like Tord Gustavsen.

Nigel

Hi Lontano-

Thanks, I'll add the EST CD's to my ever growing list of music to get....

Bruce

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:
70's albums well worth checking out - Keith Jarrett's European Quartet - has Garbarek on it - very melodic stuff.

Two of the greatest albums ever by anyone.

Even better in some ways is the live Personal Mountains, if for nothing else the epic title track, not heard on any other album. Plus, the best versions of the sublime Innocence and Prism.





One more of Jarrett's many masterpieces, is his first solo album, Facing You, one of the few solo albums not recorded live, and one of his very best, all the more so because it's his first.





I'd agree with just about every recommendation here, but especially Garbarek's I Took Up the Runes.

Another top-of-the-pantheon ECM classic is Kenny Wheeler's Gnu High, with Jarrett, Holland, and DeJohnette. Wonderful writing by Wheeler, and a loose, joyful and profound spontaneous performance, Jarrett in particular.





Composer/Guitarist/pianist Ralph Towner's masterpiece, Solstice, is not to be missed. An iconic album, with Jan Garbarek, Eberhard Weber, and Jon Christensen.





One more of the very best, and sadly not mentioned by many, is Art Lande's Rubisa Patrol, with Mark Isham, Bill Douglass, and Glen Cronkhite.





Enjoy,
Fred

Diccus - any updates? Anything that has grabbed/not grabbed you to report?

No updates yet have been suffering from a ECM (Excruciating Cranial Migraine)overload this weekend but have got all the recommendations marked.....will feed back soon...thanks again

I also like EST a lot. I saw them live a few years ago in Stockholm, it was a real treat. Their double-live CD released last year is perhaps their best.
A Naim CD in the same category that I keep returning to is Unions first release.

Hans

quote:

Originally posted by droodzilla:
I might as well put in a word for this, while we're on the subject of European jazz:



Benedikt Jahnel Trio - Modular Concepts

Very accessible but wonderful piano trio music, clearly influenced by the minimalism of Steve Reich & co.

I'm sure Adrian would second this recommendation

I like this

...oh and thanks for the recommendations Fred and all

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:

quote:

Originally posted by droodzilla:
I'm sure Adrian would second this recommendation

Absolutely - a superb album and in my top albums of the year, as is this one,

This is very good too... Spotify is a grand thing

quote:

I like this

Glad you're enjoying it Diccus. If you look on YouTube you'll find videos of the trio playing every track on the album.

Cheers Droodz

Just being playing Bob Stenson Trio ( wih Anders Jormin and Paul Motian), Goodbye.

Beautiful jazz which leads off with the most serene and lyrical version of Send in the Clowns.

Other great Piano Trio albums (soemwhat) in the EST vein on ECM, are the titles "Achirana" and "The Triangle" with Arild Andersen, John Marhall and Vassilis Tsabropoulos. Worth a listen if you havent heard them.

Is their any truly bad music on ECM? Not sure I've heard any.

Colin some good recomendations there. I really like Achirana a lot. I saw the band play it live once and it was excellent.

To answer your question if there are any bad ECM albums. Bad might be the wrong word but there are certainly some that are a little challenging and not so listenable but they tend to be less available. Overall the ECM catalogue
is one of the best of any label in the world and certainly the finest in contemporary jazz and classical music of the last 40 years.

quote:

Originally posted by HansW:

A Naim CD in the same category that I keep returning to is Unions first release.

Speaking of the Naim label, this gives me the perfect opening to suggest these fine Naim albums, which will very likely appeal to fans of Gustavsen, Stanko, and EST, and of the ECM label in general:


Dreamhouse




Remember the River




Since Forever




Enjoy!

Fred

I have them all Fred and have RTR on both CD and Vinyl

PS, on your next album, can Steve bring Pat along with him to add a little guitar? That could be interesting!

quote:

Originally posted by bdnyc:

I am a big fan of piano jazz ... I am a big fan of Tord Gustavsen's work, and prefer the more meditative players who use space creatively in their playing or composing, or both.

Bruce, I think the three albums of mine I've suggested right above this are tailor made to fit your taste. I hope you get a chance to check them out.

All the best,
Fred

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:
I have them all Fred and have RTR on both CD and Vinyl

PS, on your next album, can Steve bring Pat along with him to add a little guitar? That could be interesting!

Thanks for your steadfast support, Adrian ... I'm truly grateful.

Obviously, I'd be beyond thrilled to have Pat Metheny add some guitar to the mix. Back in the day, I frequently recorded with guitar when the opportunity presented itself. Another guitarist I'd be very interested in recording with is Bill Frisell.

All best,
Fred

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:
Another guitarist I'd be very interested in recording with is Bill Frisell.

All best,
Fred

I could see Bill fitting in well with your sound. I have seen him a couple of times recently, with Ornette Coleman and then with Motian/Lovano. A very intersting and thoughtful guitarist.

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:

quote:

Originally posted by HansW:

A Naim CD in the same category that I keep returning to is Unions first release.

Speaking of the Naim label, this gives me the perfect opening to suggest these fine Naim albums, which will very likely appeal to fans of Gustavsen, Stanko, and EST, and of the ECM label in general:


Dreamhouse




Remember the River




Since Forever




Enjoy!

Fred

Amazing Fred, he's got the same name as you

I have the first two Fred Simon albums, and excellent they are too. I bought the third, but could not stand the reed playing of Paul McCandless, so the CD was returned. Very disappointing.

Nigel

quote:

Originally posted by hungryhalibut:

I have the first two Fred Simon albums, and excellent they are too. I bought the third, but could not stand the reed playing of Paul McCandless, so the CD was returned. Very disappointing.

Thanks for the kind words about Dreamhouse and Remember the River ... glad you dug them.

But sorry you didn't enjoy Since Forever. What's puzzling to me is that you single out McCandless, but he also plays on Remember the River, which you said you liked. His playing is essentially the same on both, my composing hasn't really changed, and both albums were recorded in the same place under similar circumstances.

Can you be specific about what it was that you "could not stand" in McCandless' playing on Since Forever but which somehow didn't bother you on Remember the River?

All best,
Fred

quote:

Can you be specific about what it was that you "could not stand" in McCandless' playing on Since Forever but which somehow didn't bother you on Remember the River?

Hi Fred

'Could not stand' is probably not my best description ever!! His playing seemed over dominant, and did not really seem to 'fit in' - I just wanted him to shut up and let me hear the other players. An emotional thing really, rather than something I can easily rationalise, or try to explain.

Best regards

Nigel

In recommend mode. I think these two are excellent





Near Gale in particular