ECM Records Podcast

In this 15th episode of the ECM Podcast, we get together with German pianist Julia Hülsmann, whose new album “The Next Door”, was just released. It’s the second album by her quartet lineup with Uli Kempendorff on saxophone, Marc Muellbauer on bass and Heinrich Köbberling on drums. Julia talks about her different approaches to creating new music, what her colleagues bring to the table and what “fluidity” has to do with it all.

In this 14th episode of the ECM Podcast we’re joined by Norwegian drummer and composer Gard Nilssen, whose ECM leader-debut, “Elastic Wave”, features André Roligheten on saxophone and Petter Eldh on bass. Together the three are known as Acoustic Unity. Gard Nilssen talks about his new album, his influences – such as Ornette Coleman and Louis Moholo – and what Jon Christensen’s ride-cymbal has to do with it all.

In this 13th episode of the ECM Podcast, we meet up with Enrico Rava and Fred Hersch to discuss their duo album “The Song Is You”, produced by Manfred Eicher. We talk about friendship in music, the dynamic of this duo and the music they love to play together.

In this 12th episode of the ECM podcast we’re joined by the acclaimed American guitarist and long-time ECM recording artist Steve Tibbetts, whose discography-spanning anthology „Hellbound Train“ was released in July 2022. The double album comprises music from eight albums recorded over 40 years, from as early as his debut for the label, Northern Song, from 1982. Steve explains the nature of this double-disc set and talks about his collaborators over the years, his influences as well as the tuning and sampling techniques that make his guitar playing so unique.

In this 11th episode of the ECM podcast, we’re joined by saxophonist, bandleader and composer Oded Tzur, who released his latest ECM album “Isabela” alongside Nitai Hershkovits on piano, Petros Klampanis on bass and Johnathan Blake on drums. Oded talks about love, classical Indian music, rhythms and inspirations.

In this 10th episode of the ECM Podcast, we’re joined by trumpeter Mathias Eick, whose latest record, “When we leave” features his band with violinist Håkon Aase, Andreas Ulvo on piano, bassist Audun Erlien, Stian Carstensen on pedal steel guitar as well as drummers Torstein Lofthus and Helge Andreas Norbakken. In our conversation Mathias talks about his influences, the album tracks’ titles, his band and the “art of goodbye”.

In this ninth episode, we meet guitar legend John Scofield to talk about his first-ever solo album, “John Scofield”, released on May 6. In our conversation, John talks about his solo work, what inspires him and how to stay fresh.

In this eight episode, we catch up with Norwegian pianist and composer Tord Gustavsen, whose newest trio record, “Opening”, was released on 8 March. On the album, Tord is joined by his longtime collaborator Jarle Vespestad on drums and new addition Steinar Raknes on bass. Tord talks about what happens when you’re able to channel spontaneous inspiration into your music, the new addition to the trio on bass, how songs just come to him in the spur of the moment, and much more.

In this seventh episode, we are joined by saxophonist, bandleader and composer Mark Turner, whose new album, “Return from the Stars”, was released on 25 March. The album features Mark’s quartet with Joe Martin on bass, trumpeter Jason Palmer and Jonathan Pinson on drums. Mark talks about his fascination for sci-fi novels, the titles of his compositions and his work with Manfred Eicher, who produced the album.

In this sixth episode, we meet with Israeli trumpet player, composer and arranger Avishai Cohen, whose fifth album as a leader for ECM Records, “Naked Truth”, was released on February 25th. The album features his long-time comrades: pianist Yonathan Avishai, bassist Barak Mori and drummer Ziv Ravitz. Avishai talks about the inspirations and the process of creation that guided this album, the journey of the band and the music as well as about the importance of letting go.

In this fifth episode, we got together with pianist Kit Downes to talk about his third leader date with ECM called „Vermillion“. The new record was recorded at the Auditorio Stelio Molo in Lugano and produced by Manfred Eicher. On it, Kit introduces us to his piano trio featuring bassist Petter Eldh and drummer James Maddren. The pianist talks about his longstanding relationship with his collaborators, their many qualities, about how the compositions for this album evolved and the experience of recording them in Lugano with Manfred Eicher.

In this fourth episode, we met with pianist Vijay Iyer in Central Park New York and talked with him about his new trio album called "Uneasy" which was recorded with Linda May Han Oh and Tyshawn Sorey in New York. Vijay talks about his relationship with the trio, the repertoire of this project and the "unease" this album is about.

In this third episode, we are meeting with Jakob Bro, the Danish guitarist who made his first appearance on ECM as a member of drummer Paul Motian’s band. For his fifth album as a leader for ECM, Bro presents a new trio featuring Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen and Spanish drummer Jorge Rossy. Jakob talked to the signification of his titles, the particularity of this trio, and what inspired this album Uma Elmo.

In the second episode pianist, bandleader and composer Shai Maestro, talks about his new quartet album called “Human” on ECM Records, recorded together with producer Manfred Eicher in studio La Buissonne, in the south of France. Shai talks about the process of composition, the evolution of his band, and about what being human means for him.

In this first episode, saxophonist, bandleader and composer Joe Lovano talks about his new trio album called „Garden of Expression“ which was recorded together with producer Manfred Eicher in Lugano, Switzerland. A conversation about the evolution of „Trio Tapestry“ with Marilyn Crispell and Carmen Castaldi, about how he sees the momentum of the music in the melody and the harmonic sequence, about how creating music within the music is an artistic goal for him, and about how the „Seeds of Change“ on the group’s debut have taken root in „Garden of Expression“.