More ECM brilliance

Posted by: Dev B on 03 October 2002

I picked up a few albums this weekend, as recommended by my Jazz guru Paul Janove from Grahams. Weirdly enough, I started with Anouar Brahem and Dave Holland, mainly becasuse I have other brilliant things from these two and then weirdly enough, both albums were featured on Late Junction last night on Radio 3.

Both of these are highly recommended and the case of Anouar Brahem just goes to show the mans continuing brilliance.

(the stuff below is nicked from the ecm website to give you a flavour)

- Anouar Brahem, Le pas du chat noir

Hypnotic, magnetic new album by Anouar Brahem which adds a new dimension to our knowledge of this exceptional Tunisian musician.
"Le pas du chat noir" gives the clearest indication yet of the work of Brahem as composer and features a spacious "chamber music" that resonates with the freshness of improvisation. The instrumentation is unique: oud, piano, accordion. Brahem's writing for this combination is highly evocative, meticulously controlled and sparse. Half of the magic, as he notes, resides in the not-played, in the marvellous mingling of overtones, sounds that rise from the piano to blend with the warm tones of the oud and the breath of the accordion's bellows.

- Dave Holland Big Band, What Goes Around

The long awaited debut recording of Dave Holland's Big Band, with a programme of favourite Holland tunes newly orchestrated for large ensemble. At the nucleus of the big band is the multi-award winning Dave Holland Quintet (with Steve Nelson, Robin Eubanks, Chris Potter, and Billy Kilson) Their characteristic sound established a direction for the larger ensemble. Taking his cue from the great examples of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and Charles Mingus, Holland has arranged the material to showcase the strengths of the players.

Posted on: 03 October 2002 by calum scott

Hi Dev,

glad to see there's someone else out there appreciates the stuff that ECM puts out. My post on the Rarum series didn't generate the kind of response I'd expected.

BTW have you tried ordering vinyl direct from ECM?

Cheers,

Calum

Posted on: 03 October 2002 by Dev B

Hi there Calum,

Nice to hear from you!

ECM are one of my favourite labels! This lot are philistines

regards

Dev

ps. email your numbers would you, my hard disk crashed recently and swiped my address book

Posted on: 03 October 2002 by calum scott

and I thought they were all cool and sophisticated like wot we are.

Numbers on the way,

Calum

Posted on: 03 October 2002 by David Hobbs-Mallyon

Dev,

On you description the first sounds like a 'classic' ECM release. The second sounds a bit more unusual for ECM - any more details?

David

Posted on: 03 October 2002 by Dev B

Hi David,

Dave Holland has done a few really good albums for ECM 'Not for Nothing', 'Prime Directive', etc. This builds upon this work by adding the colour of a 'big band' context, the extra instruments add more colour and diversity to the groups playing, although the strong bassist theme of Dave Holland's albums continues. The music, ironically enough has enough 'space' and 'pauses' which is really interesting and very unusual for a large ensemble piece.

Incidentally, I saw the Dave Holland Octect live at the Royal Festival Hall last year and it was really enjoyable. I feel this album build on this.

regards

Dev

Posted on: 03 October 2002 by calum scott

and I thought they were all cool and sophisticated like wot we are.

Numbers on the way,

Calum

Posted on: 03 October 2002 by Keith Mattox

quote:
Originally posted by Dev B:

...

- Dave Holland Big Band, What Goes Around

The long awaited debut recording of Dave Holland's Big Band, with a programme of favourite Holland tunes newly orchestrated for large ensemble. At the nucleus of the big band is the multi-award winning Dave Holland Quintet (with Steve Nelson, Robin Eubanks, Chris Potter, and Billy Kilson) Their characteristic sound established a direction for the larger ensemble. Taking his cue from the great examples of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and Charles Mingus, Holland has arranged the material to showcase the strengths of the players.

I picked this up from the local shop a couple of days ago and very much look forward to listening to it - I also picked up his latest from the quintet Not For Nothin'.

BTW, as I've done before - I highly recommend Extensions.

Finally, if you ever get the chance to see him live, do it!

Cheers

Keith.

Posted on: 06 October 2002 by bob atherton

This guy is THE bass player for me. I have talked with him many times & he has a great sense of humour & appears to have his perspective on life sorted.

I believe that I have every recording that he has made on ECM. Chorus is also one of my favourites.

Bob

Posted on: 06 October 2002 by bob atherton

"In your opinion, where should I go next with him - what's closest to Chorus?"

This is a tough one as Chorus is a hard act to follow. May I suggest a sideways step to Jan Garbarek, Legend Of The Seven Dreams. Eberhart plays fine bass on this one & the whole feel is very ethereal. This album is probably my favourite ECM title, & I have got quite a few!

Happy listening,

Bob

Posted on: 07 October 2002 by fred simon

I'm a long-time fervent fan of Eberhard Weber. I have most of his albums, all of which I love, but a few faves are:

Fluid Rustle
Silent Feet
Little Movements
Colours of Chloe
Yellow Fields
Later That Evening
Endless Days

Posted on: 09 October 2002 by Colin Lorenson

I buy loads of their stuff. Recent favourites are Suzanne Abuehl - April. Grrrreatt... in the best fast show jazz club style.

Absolutely must haves are the Ralph Towner solo guitar albums - Solo Concert, Ana and Anthem - the man is a genius and these are stunning pieces of music in a style all of his own. Cannot recommend them any higher.

Colin Lorenson

Posted on: 23 March 2003 by fred simon

I have the 10 LP set. I wasn't aware of a single disc compilation.

The full set is a paragon for me. Am I a Jarrett freak? So be it.

Posted on: 24 March 2003 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly

Blast

I thought this was about some ace new Electronic Counter Measures....

Mike

Posted on: 24 March 2003 by John C

I get bored by most ECM releases.

Dave Holland's Conference of the Birds is an exception.

John

Posted on: 24 March 2003 by fred simon

quote:
Originally posted by John C:
I get bored by most ECM releases.

More and/or stronger coffee, John.