ECM in review (Part V)

In the final batch of our year’s roundup, we take another look at the most recently released recordings on ECM, the last ones of 2024. In October, Tord Gustavsen’s new album Seeing saw the light of day, presenting a new chapter in his series of acclaimed trio recordings. In his article for the Swiss paper Die Weltwoche, Peter Rüedi wrote: “Improvisation is kept short, concentrated on concise moments. Gustavsen counters the innovation imperative of the jazz avant-garde with the simple idea ‘You don’t need to invent a new language to tell a new story’. This music is too good not to be true.” Avishai Cohen returned with his quartet on Ashes To Gold, an album on which, “Out of madness and sadness, Cohen created a cathartic thing of beauty,” according to Downbeat magazine. Six more albums arrived in November, spearheaded by the phenomenal second outing of music from Keith Jarrett’s famed Deer Head Inn session with Gary Peacock and Paul Motian – a recording, on which Jarrett himself noted “I think that you can hear on this tape, what jazz is all about.” Rave reviews are flooding in from around the globe. “Song-based jazz-imagining at its best” said The Guardian, while the Financial Times called it “fluid, focused and fresh – top-drawer piano-trio jazz.” There’s something special in store for the Deer Head Inn recordings on ECM in 2025… Colin Vallon’s Samares and Stephan Micus’s To The Rising Moon arrived on the same day, presenting two very different musical perspictives. In regard to Samares, Die Weltwoche’s Peter Rüedi said „The music of this trio sounds as if it has always existed,” while the Sounds and Books blog said “the notes and chords shine and sparkle” on Micus’s new album. A sort-of Scandinavian trio of records was released at November’s end, with Jacob Bro, Thomas Stronen and Arild Andersen each leading alone, in duo or more richly populated contexts. Taking Turns, recorded in New York’s Avatar Studio a decade ago, finds Danish guitarist Jakob Bro joined by a multi-generational cast of improvisers, highly distinctive players all. Many have called it the record of the year, and the Financial Times noted how, “the Danish guitarist’s slowly unfolding harmonies give space to an excellent ensemble”. Musical messages from Oslo, New York, Basel and Lugano – recorded between 2018 and 2022 – are juxtaposed and recombined on Relations, Norwegian drummer Thomas Strønen new recording of duets. Jazz Views: “On careful and repeated listening, in addition to programming my listening to isolate the partnerships where they do not run consecutively, there is much to enjoy.” Lastly, Arild Andersen, one of jazz’s most widely acclaimed bassists, presented his first solo album with Landloper – characteristically broad in its musical scope and creative range. UK Jazz News: “It’s all very impressive and lovely to listen to without being facile”.