Once Charlie Haden enters a collection he should never leave it again. That's the rule here. For more great Charlie Haden on ECM check out Old and New Dreams group (also a couple good releases on Black Saint)
The follow-up is also great, if you end up liking that one: Jan Garbarek / Egberto Gismonti / Charlie Haden : Magico (2) - Carta De Amor
Listening to on JAPO.... Lennart Åberg Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Percussion Bobo Stenson Piano, Percussion Palle Danielsson Bass Leroy Lowe Drums, Percussion
Another Japo! That looks really good. I recently picked up the following: A mixed bag with excursions into what sounds like modern classical but interesting record.
It seems this is one of my longer kicks. This is the only music right now that sounds good to me at any time of day: waking up in the morning, throughout the afternoon while I'm writing, running errands, or doing chores, and drifting off to sleep at night with my headphones on. It's easy music to get lost in. I hear something new (or rather, my ear follows a different rhythmic pattern) every time. Still not 100% sold on Awase, which might be my least favorite of the ECM releases. I think I find it a little too hazy, soft, and minimal. I know that probably sounds ridiculous coming from an ECM fan, but what I loved about the earlier albums (especially Stoa and Holon, both masterpieces imo) was their density, and the way that density and the group's insane staccato rhythmic puzzles were rendered via Manfred's clear and spacious production; I felt that those two albums, in particular, were a perfect blend of two seemingly disparate (and equally brilliant) aesthetics. Awase, on the other hand, is the first Ronin release that I find myself getting a bit bored listening to straight through. I don't think it has anything to do with the altered lineup (though I really do think Bjorn Meyer was the perfect bassist for this band), but maybe it's a transitional record. I still think it's a very good album--Bartsch is incapable of making anything but--but after several months it has yet to grow on me, so I'm giving up on it ever being a favorite.
ECM is a bit behind with their news on the latest HiRes reissues, so here's the list of the 30 albums so far (the last 10 of the announced 40 albums will be released next week): ECM 1006: Wolfgang Dauner - Output ECM 1008: Robin Kenyatta - Girl From Martinique ECM 1013: David Holland/Derek Bailey - Improvisations For Cello And Guitar ECM 1053: Michael Naura - Vanessa ECM 1074: Jack DeJohnette's Directions - Untitled ECM 1098: Julian Priester And Marine Intrusion - Polarization ECM 1103: Jack DeJohnette - New Rags ECM 1106: Art Lande and Rubisa Patrol - Desert Marauders ECM 1113: Tom van der Geld/Children At Play - Patience ECM 1124: Steve Kuhn - Non-Fiction ECM 1134: Tom van der Geld - Path ECM 1146: Double Image - Dawn ECM 1166: Enrico Rava - »Ah« ECM 1176: John Clark - Faces ECM 1184: Gary Burton Quartet - Easy As Pie ECM 1194: First Avenue ECM 1213: Steve Kuhn Quartet - Last Year's Waltz ECM 1217: Lask ECM 1226: Gary Burton Quartet - Picture This ECM 1235: Hajo Weber/Ulrich Ingenbold - Winterreise JAPO 60004: Herbert Joos - The Philosophy Of The Fluegelhorn JAPO 60012: OM - Kirikuki JAPO 60014: Larry Karush/Glen Moore - May 24, 1976 JAPO 60020: Rena Rama - Landscapes JAPO 60022: OM with Dom Um Romao JAPO 60024: Contact Trio - New Marks JAPO 60035: Tom van der Geld/Children At Play - Out Patients JAPO 60036: Contact Trio - Musik JAPO 60037: Alfred Harth - Es herrscht Uhu im Land JAPO 60039: Globy Unity Orchestra - Intergalactic Blow
^^ Very cool to have streaming access to those. I have found some of them on LP, but most are not easy to find. Wondering if they will add Gallery (ECM 1206) someday.
Just got it couple days ago as part of the Touchstones series, never heard it before and I can't praise it high enough. I think Keith Jarrett is at his very best here. Actually sometimes it feels like it's more his album than Kenny Wheeler's but it doesn't matter - great musicians, great songs, listening on repeat.
Michael Naura - Vanessa (1975) ECM 1053, HiRes 24/96 with Wolfgang Schlüter/Eberhard Weber/Joe Nay/Klaus Thunemann
MEGA LIKE!!! One of the great Wheeler albums for sure and a favorite of mine. I also rate The Widow in the Window very highly and what a lineup: Wheeler, John Taylor, John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, and Peter Erskine.
Just listened to this today due to its new digital release. What a wonderful album, ordered up a copy of the vinyl immediately.
Nice. Yeah, it's great stuff. I hope to find an original copy in the wild one day... although the copy listed on discogs for 35€ from a German seller is really tempting.
I just finished listening to side 2 of The Koln Concert by Keith Jarrett. One of my favorite titles is Night by John Abercrombie. Michael Brecker is a freaking monster player and his playing makes me wanna cry on this album.
Giving this one a listen again this morning. Recently updated my home office / solitude room headphone rig with a Liquid Spark amp and the Spark is really bringing out the spaciousness in this recording. I also love the contrast between all of the electronics vs. the organic sound of the trombone.
I was listening to Paul Motion...'the room above her' last night. While I respect the recording quality, which is very fine, the music just leaves me cold.
Listened to this one today. As I mentioned earlier, this band sounded a lot like early Weather Report (except with a John Abercrombie style guitarist rather than keyboards) and even more so with Dom Um Romao present. If you like that style it's a fun listen.
Eberhard W. on fire on the tune "Hills"! My favorite so far on this album. Almost presages the sound of Steps Ahead. Interesting that this was only released in Germany (according to Discogs), no Manfred E. producing and recorded at Windrose Studios, Hamburg. Until this time I had never heard of it, even in passing.
I totally agree. Eberhard smokes in these barely 3 minutes of "Hills". It's kind of a forgotten gem... and one of a few ECM grails on vinyl. Hard to grasp, why it was never reissued in any form the last 40 years until now.
