A rundown of recent ECM Records releases: Ralph Towner, Chris Potter, Tomasz Stanko and Avishai Cohen

Every now and then I give a rundown of recent releases on the ECM Records label.  They were one of the early advocates of what’s loosely termed Nordic Jazz (typically serene, ambient to the point of flirting with new age or minimalism, and often imbued with folk music from Norway or thereabouts) as well as the even more loosely termed World Jazz (jazz with specific or vague regional folk influences).  In any event, me and the music of ECM Records go way back and some of my very favorite albums were released by the label, so out of fondness if nothing else, every now and then I write up a column like this one and put down a few words about recent releases of note.

Let’s begin.

Ralph Towner – My Foolish Heart

Ralph Towner isn’t breaking any new ground here.  This isn’t his first solo set, and My Foolish Heart doesn’t fall out of line with his past solo recordings.  Furthermore, the album doesn’t stray far from the ECM Records aesthetic.  Towner has recorded for that label for decades, and no matter whether it’s a solo set, a duo collaboration or an ensemble work, the guitarist is going to provide some potent atmospherics.  But what distinguishes Towner’s personal voice from the rest of the crowd (aside from its sublime beauty) is how he instigates the illusion of edginess… the sense that the abiding serenity might suddenly crack in two and get replaced by something just a little bit dangerous.  His rendition of title-track “My Foolish Heart” speaks to that effect, as the brief, unexpected bursts and punchy bits of melody stir the air with just enough tension to keep the ear wary and at attention.  But that said, the reason to scoop this album up is because of its immense peacefulness, and how it pairs immaculately with either the rising sun or the gentle embrace of moonlight on a Summer’s eve.

Your album personnel:  Ralph Towner (classical & 12-string guitars)

Stream an album track at the ECM Records site.

Learn more about the album on the ECM Records site.

Available at:  Amazon

Chris Potter – The Dreamer is the Dream

There’s always a sense of professionalism in the way saxophonist Chris Potter goes about constructing an album, and his newest doesn’t take a detour from his successful formula.  This straight-ahead session invites melodies to take plenty of time in the spotlight, allows the rhythmic components plenty of opportunities to stray from the beaten path, and fits in numerous slots for each member of the quartet to squeeze in some solo contributions.  The title-track “The Dreamer is the Dream” is a case in point, as the bass solo from Joe Martin is a nice conversational aside, yet remains connected to the composition’s established dialog…. the sense of which is cemented in place by the drums and cymbals of Marcus Gilmore.  Potter receives widespread acclaim as one of the top saxophonists on the scene, and nothing about his performance on The Dreamer is the Dream will change that opinion.  Nothing particularly groundbreaking about his newest, but that’s an ancillary concern when the music is this solid.

Your album personnel:  Chris Potter (tenor & soprano saxophones, bass clarinet, clarinet, ilimba, flute, samples), David Virelles (piano, celeste), Joe Martin (double bass) and Marcus Gilmore (drums).

Learn more about the album on the ECM Records site.

Available at:  Amazon

Tomasz Stanko New York Quartet – December Avenue

Not enough importance can be attached to the pairing of trumpeter Tomasz Stanko and pianist David Virelles.  Stanko has a breathy sound that plumes out and slowly dissipates, like dream imagery fading under pressure of waking sunlight.  Virelles, on the other hand, shapes a melody with the precise folds and creases of origami, and the resulting imagery is a sharp picture, clear as unblemished glass.  The balance between those two, and how each quality complements the other, is a huge boon to the overall sound of this album.  Hazy acoustics and an atmospheric presence never becomes susceptible to the risk of sleepiness, and the striking moments of clarity and definition never threaten to obliterate the dreamlike imagery summoned up by the New York Quartet.  Ultimately, however, this is an album to kick back and just lose oneself in.

Your album personnel:  Tomasz Stanko (trumpet), David Virelles (piano), Reuben Rogers (double bass) and Gerald Cleaver (drums).

Learn more about the album on the ECM Records site.

Available at:  Amazon

Avishai Cohen – Cross My Palm With Silver

There’s a seriously mesmerizing effect to how trumpeter Avishai Cohen paints a song as the shadow to swing.  He plays tricks with the tempo, making something conventional feel otherworldly, while allowing a strong melodic afterimage to linger long after the music shows it won’t necessarily behave as expected.  His newest is no different in that regard, and his quartet with pianist Yonathan Avishai, bassist Barak Mori and drummer Nasheet Waits alternates between songs spun from moonlight and those that suddenly flame up in dramatic bursts of intensity.  It’s the kind of thing that’s conducive to full immersion in the present moment while simultaneously gazing out at the album’s enticingly close horizon line.  You can’t go wrong with this one.

Your album personnel:  Avishai Cohen (trumpet), Yonathan Avishai (piano), Barak Mori (double bass) and Nasheet Waits (drums).

Learn more about the album on the ECM Records site.

Available at:  Amazon