Muzica ECM Records, Gen: World

1990

Anouar Brahem - oud
Bechir Selmi - vioara
Lassad Hosni - percutie

Recorded in 1990, Barzakh was the ECM debut of Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem, and an album that immediately captured the attention of press and public with its gracefulness and authority. “Phenomenal…this is pure Arab music, without ‘world music’ frippery,” wrote Karl Lippegaus in Stereo. Brahem is joined here by Bechir Selmi, the sensitive violinist from the Musical Ensemble of Tunis, and percussionist Lassad Hosni, whose earthy frame drum and speeding darbouka would come to be important components of later Brahem recordings including Conte de l’incroyable amour and Astrakan Café. Beyond the improvisatory brilliance, Barzakh gave notice also of Brahem’s gift for writing arresting themes and luminous melody, as illustrated by “Raf Raf”, “Parfum de Gitane”, “Kerkenah” and other pieces here.

Initially published in April 1991, vinyl is reissued in October 2017 as audiophile 180g pressing.

• Numar discuri: 1
• Greutate Vinil: 180g

• Gen muzica: World
• Tip Album: VINIL

1977
Egberto Gismonti - chitara, pian, voce, flaute
Nana Vasconcelos - percutie, berimbau, voce

Egberto Gismonti’s Dança das Cabeças (recorded 1976) was the first ECM disc from the brilliant Brazilian guitarist and pianist and the first document of Egberto’s collaboration with percussionist Nana Vasconcelos. It was a revelatory blending of sounds, Gismonti’s finely sculpted compositions irradiated by Nana’s Afro-Brazilian rhythm concept and his rainforest sounds. Dança das Cabeças won the German Record Critics Prize as Album of the Year in 1977.

Initially published in March 1977, vinyl is reissued in October 2016 as audiophile pressing taken from the original analog tapes.

• Numar discuri: 1
• Greutate Vinil: 180g

• Gen muzica: World
• Tip Album: VINIL

2018
Steve Tibbetts - chitara, pian
Marc Anderson - percutie
Michelle Kinney - violoncel, drone

One-of-a-kind guitarist and record-maker Steve Tibbetts has an association with ECM dating back to 1981, with his body of work reflecting that of an artist who follows his own winding, questing path. The BBC has described his music as “an atmospheric brew… brilliant, individual.”

Life Of…, his ninth album for the label, serves as something of a sequel to his 2010 ECM release, Natural Causes, which Jazz Times called “music to get lost in.” Like the earlier album, Life Of… showcases the richness of his Martin 12-string acoustic guitar, along with his gamelan-like piano and artfully deployed field samples of Balinese gongs; the sonic picture also incorporates the sensitive percussion of long-time musical partner Marc Anderson and the almost subliminal cello drones of Michelle Kinney.

• Numar discuri: 1
• Gen muzica: World
• Tip Album: CD

1989
Shankar - vioara dubla
Zakir Hussain - tabla
Vikku Vinayakram - ghatam
Jon Christensen - tobe

Multi-instrumentalist L. Shankar’s fascinating evolution as a musician and composer took yet another intimate turn with M.R.C.S. Dedicated to Shankar’s father, V. Lakshminarayana, it also boasts master percussionists Zakir Hussain (tabla), Vikku Vinayakram (ghatam), and drummer Jon Christensen. The depths of the album’s experiences are forever aquatic, as in the opening “Adagio,” which floats Shankar’s double violin insights on a dark and winding current. Filmic and vivid, its gauche stretches a fine canvas for the pigments that follow.

“All I Care” marries the rhythmic edge of “March” (an interlude from Christensen) with Shankar’s cosmic pizzicato and gossamer comet trails, the latter reaching glorious improvisational heights that can only end in fadeout, lest their perpetuity be harmed. The music travels away from us, ever tuneful, into the tabla-infused “Reasons.” Here, Hussain trail-marks a scurrying snare, backing more winged artistry from the leader.

• Numar discuri: 1
• Greutate Vinil: Normal

• Gen muzica: World
• Tip Album: VINIL

• Numar discuri: 1
• Greutate Vinil: Normal

• Gen muzica: World
• Tip Album: VINIL