ECM’s Vinyl Bounty

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(Photo: Courtesy ECM)

ECM continues to issue new albums on vinyl, with the latest batch of LPs released in March.

Pianist Bobo Stenson’s trio with bassist Anders Jormin and percussionist Jon Fält captivates on Sphere, a deep breath of open spontaneity where nuance and understated interplay offer a sophisticated improvisational experience.

Ralph Towner’s At First Light presents the guitarist delivering a stunning solo performance marked by tone, taste and joy. “My solo recordings have always included my own compositions, in which there are trace elements of the many composers and musicians that have attracted me,” Towner writes in the liner notes. Those influences include everyone from George Gershwin and John Coltrane to Bill Evans and Jon Dowland.

Ralph Alessi’s It’s Always Now presents the trumpeter in a new quartet setting. Moving to Switzerland in 2020 gave him an opportunity to play with a new set of musicians, including pianist Florian Weber, drummer Gerry Hemingway and bassist Bänz Lester on this recording. DB

(ecmrecords.com)



  • Rodney_Holmes_Courtesy_Meinl.jpg

    A drummer’s drummer, Rodney Holmes gigged with everyone from Joe Zawinul and Carlos Santana to Steve Kimock and the Brecker Brothers.

  • DB26_Critics_Poll_Montage.jpg

    Clockwise from top left, Mary Halvorson, Patricia Brennan, Adam O’Farrill, Keith Jarrett’s At the Deer Head Inn: The Complete Recordings, Sheila Jordan and Jaki Byard.

  • Cassandra_Wilson_%40_2026_Mark_Sheldon-2_copy_2.jpg

    Wilson’s ability to connect to audiences helped her to win two Grammy awards and multiple other accolades. She was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2022.

  • Pritesh_Walia_courtesy_Pritesh_Walia.jpg

    “The love from the jazz and music community restored my faith in humanity,” Walia wrote in an online post upon his release from detention at an ICE facility.

  • Poncho.jpeg

    ​Percussionist Poncho Sanchez was among the artists scheduled to perform at the now-canceled inaugural LA Jazz Festival.