Jazz /
Third Round
Third ECM album by drummer Manu Katché: eleven originals with Tore Brunborg (saxophones), Jason Rebello (piano, Rhodes) and Pino Palladino (bass), plus guests Jacob Young (guitar) and Kami Lyle (voice, trumpet). Recorded December 2009, Studios La Buissonne; released 2010.
The River of Anyder
Ten pieces by Stefano Battaglia, each named after a mythical or literary place, played by his trio with Salvatore Maiore (double bass) and Roberto Dani (drums). Recorded November 2009 at the Auditorio Radiotelevisione Svizzera, Lugano; released 2011.
For Two
Eighteen short duets by Michael Mantler, partly notated and partly improvised, for classical pianist Per Salo and jazz guitarist Bjarne Roupé. Piano recorded June 2010 at Studios La Buissonne, guitar August 2010 in Copenhagen; released 2011.
Oylam
Solo ECM debut of New York singer, keyboardist and cantor Judith Berkson: her own songs, jazz standards, Schubert, cantorial music and Yiddish song, with voice, piano, Wurlitzer, Rhodes and Hammond. Recorded April 2009 at Artesuono, Udine, produced by Steve Lake.
Fabula Suite Lugano
Second ECM album by Christian Wallumrød's sextet with Eivind Lønning, Gjermund Larsen, Tanja Orning, Giovanna Pessi and Per Oddvar Johansen: through-composed chamber music recorded June 2009 at Auditorio Radio Svizzera, Lugano, produced by Manfred Eicher.
Kuára - Psalms and Folk Songs
Trio of Finnish drummer Markku Ounaskari, pianist Samuli Mikkonen and Norwegian trumpeter and singer Per Jørgensen improvising on Russian psalms and Karelian, Vepsian and Udmurt folk songs. Recorded May 2009 at Rainbow Studio, Oslo.
Dark Eyes
First album by Tomasz Stańko's quintet with Alexi Tuomarila, Jakob Bro, Anders Christensen and Olavi Louhivuori: eight Stańko pieces and two by Krzysztof Komeda, recorded April 2009 at Studios La Buissonne, produced by Manfred Eicher.
And If
Second ECM album by Israeli pianist Anat Fort and the first by her working trio with Gary Wang (double bass) and Roland Schneider (drums), ten Fort originals. Recorded February 2009, Rainbow Studio, Oslo; ECM, 2010.
Restored, Returned
Tord Gustavsen's first ensemble album after his trio trilogy, with Tore Brunborg (saxophones), Kristin Asbjørnsen (vocals, W.H. Auden settings), Mats Eilertsen (double bass) and Jarle Vespestad (drums). Recorded January 2009, Rainbow Studio, Oslo; ECM, 2009.
Mostly Coltrane
Steve Kuhn, Coltrane's pianist in early 1960, plays Coltrane pieces and two standards with Joe Lovano (tenor saxophone, tárogató), David Finck (double bass) and Joey Baron (drums). Recorded December 2008, Avatar Studios, New York; ECM, 2009.
Lost on the Way
Louis Sclavis quintet album on themes from Homer's Odyssey, with Matthieu Metzger (saxophones), Maxime Delpierre (guitar), Olivier Lété (electric bass) and François Merville (drums). Recorded September 2008, Théâtre de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines; ECM, 2009.
Far Side
Live recording by Roscoe Mitchell and The Note Factory (Corey Wilkes, Craig Taborn, Vijay Iyer, two bassists, two drummers), made on 17 March 2007 at the Stadtsaal, Burghausen, during the Burghausen jazz festival. Released by ECM in 2010.
Chiaroscuro
Duo album by Ralph Towner (classical, 12-string and baritone guitars) and Paolo Fresu (trumpet, flugelhorn): Towner originals, two improvisations and Blue in Green. Recorded in October 2008 at Artesuono, Udine, produced by Manfred Eicher, released by ECM in 2009.
As Ney
ECM debut of Cyminology: Cymin Samawatie (vocals), Benedikt Jahnel (piano), Ralf Schwarz (double bass) and Ketan Bhatti (drums, percussion), singing Farsi texts by Samawatie, Rumi, Hafez and Forough Farrokhzaad. Recorded in 2008 at Rainbow Studio, Oslo, released in 2009.
Stone In The Water
Stefano Bollani's Danish trio with Jesper Bodilsen (double bass) and Morten Lund (drums), playing originals and pieces by Veloso, Jobim and Poulenc. Recorded in October 2008 at Avatar Studios, New York, produced by Manfred Eicher, released by ECM in 2009.
The First Two Gigs
An improvising quartet featuring four of the finest and most innovative musicians, who have extended the ranges of their respective instruments - piano, saxophones, harp and double bass - into new, uncharted territories. As well as having exceptional techniques, they are all virtuoso listeners, so that these first two performances as a quartet sound as if they have being working together for years. 68 minutes.
The End of a Summer
First ECM album by the Julia Hülsmann Trio: Julia Hülsmann (piano), Marc Muellbauer (double bass), Heinrich Köbberling (drums). Recorded in March 2008 at Rainbow Studio, Oslo, produced by Manfred Eicher, released in 2008.
Live At Belleville
Live album by Arild Andersen (double bass, live electronics) with Tommy Smith (tenor saxophone) and Paolo Vinaccia (drums), recorded in September 2007 at Belleville, Oslo, and the Drammen Theatre. Produced by Manfred Eicher, released by ECM in 2008.
Fasil
Song cycle on the life of Aisha by Marc Sinan (guitar) and Julia Hülsmann (piano, compositions) to texts by Marc Schiffer, with Yelena Kuljić (voice), Lena Thies (viola), Marc Muellbauer and Heinrich Köbberling. Recorded March 2008, Rainbow Studio, Oslo.
The Astounding Eyes Of Rita
Anouar Brahem (oud) with Klaus Gesing (bass clarinet), Björn Meyer (bass) and Khaled Yassine (darbouka, bendir), eight Brahem compositions dedicated to Mahmoud Darwish. Recorded October 2008, Artesuono Recording Studio, Udine, produced by Manfred Eicher.