★ECM Records
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 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.
Monograph
Solo album by Norwegian violinist Nils Økland, playing his own pieces on Hardanger fiddle, violin and viola d'amore. Recorded July 2007 in Olavskirken, Avaldsnes, Norway, engineered by Audun Strype. CD, ECM 2069, 2009.
Gianluigi Trovesi all'opera - Profumo di Violetta
Gianluigi Trovesi (piccolo and alto clarinet, alto saxophone) with Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli and the Filarmonica Mousiké conducted by Savino Acquaviva, in a suite on Italian opera from Monteverdi to Puccini. Recorded September 2006, Teatro Serassi, Villa d'Almè (Bergamo).
Sky & Country
ECM debut of Fly, the leaderless trio of Mark Turner (tenor and soprano saxophone), Larry Grenadier (double bass) and Jeff Ballard (drums). Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York, in 2008 and produced by Manfred Eicher. CD, ECM 2067, 2009.
New York Days
Enrico Rava's quintet with Stefano Bollani (piano), Mark Turner (tenor saxophone, his ECM debut), Larry Grenadier (double bass) and Paul Motian (drums): nine Rava pieces and two group improvisations. Recorded February 2008, Avatar Studios, New York.
Snow
Eight-part suite by Stephan Micus, who plays every instrument and sings every voice: duduk, bass duduk, Bavarian zither, sinding and doussn' gouni harps, charangos, hammered dulcimers, nay, gongs. Recorded 2005-2007 at MCM Studios; his 18th ECM album.
Dans les arbres
Debut album of the Norwegian-French improvising quartet Dans les arbres: Xavier Charles (clarinet, harmonica), Ivar Grydeland (guitar, banjo, sruti box), Christian Wallumrød (piano), Ingar Zach (percussion). Recorded July 2006, Festiviteten, Eidsvoll.
Songs Of An Other
Third ECM album by Greek singer Savina Yannatou with the Thessaloniki ensemble Primavera en Salonico: traditional songs from Armenia, the Balkans, Kazakhstan, Italy and Greece, arranged mostly by Kostas Vomvolos. Recorded October 2007, Sierra Studios, Athens.