Ask ECM - Part 2

[Joe Barnsley]

Manu Katche's site has an excellent video, produced by Manfred Eicher, on the recording of the new CD. Nice insight to see Manfred's involvement.

http://www.manu-katche.com/actualites.htm

I have stumbled across a few of these ECM videos. All very interesting. Would it be possible to have a library of them on the ECM site with notice when a new one is added?

Better distribution here recently - thanks Steve if your hand was in that.

[ecmrictax]

Thanks a lot, Steve. I've been a long time ECM fan and collector since the early 1970s. There is no collection of music I know (other than ECM) that so perfectly combines visual and aural artistry. This label is the primary source of broadening my appreciation of music, and I thank you for giving us a window into this process.

[Nakajima]

Hello Steve,

Wow, it's been a long time. By the way,
I found in Jazzecho that Keith Jarret's
"Hymns / Spheres" (ECM 1086 /87) will be available on CD
on November 30. Is that true?

If it is, we will be able to enjoy "Hymns" for the
first time on CD, which sounds good for the world-wide
Keith Jarrett fans.

Thanks in advance,

n-jima

[jelliott]

Hello Steve,

Wow, it's been a long time. By the way,
I found in Jazzecho that Keith Jarret's
"Hymns / Spheres" (ECM 1086 /87) will be available on CD
on November 30. Is that true?

If it is, we will be able to enjoy "Hymns" for the
first time on CD, which sounds good for the world-wide
Keith Jarrett fans.

Thanks in advance,

n-jima

Hi n-jima,

I've just pre-ordered this on Amazon UK along with the long promised Jack Dejohnette's Specail Edition box. Both released 3 December. Hymns seems to be complete now.


Hi Steve,

Some great new ECM releases lately, loving Solo Guitarra especially as well as the new Food. Thanks for these. Quick reissue question, I ssem to remember seeing some discussion on here ages ago about a reissue of Abercrombie and Towner's 2nd album, any word on that?


Thanks,
Jim.

[Nakajima]

Hello again, Steve

I am very sad to hear that Maja Weber, Eberhard's wife and
an excellent painter, died in 2011. To commemorate her,
would you publish a collection of her artworks from your
affiliated publishers, such as Lars Müller? I will be waiting
for her book all the way. Thanks,

n-jima

[Bren]

Hello Steve...just enquiring whether you know the release date for the Keith Jarrett Trio "Somewhere",that I gather was going to be out this year but was put back because of the "Sleeper" recording...Many thanks Bren

[alethestar]

Hello Steve, one question about "El encuentro" documentary release. I found it in pre-order on Amazon just in the dvd version. A blu ray version is it schedule too?
Thank you a lot!
ALE

[Steve Lake]

Hello Steve, one question about "El encuentro" documentary release. I found it in pre-order on Amazon just in the dvd version. A blu ray version is it schedule too?
Thank you a lot!
ALE

The film "El Encuentro" is a DVD only release. Best, Steve

[Steve Lake]

.just enquiring whether you know the release date for the Keith Jarrett Trio "Somewhere",that I gather was going to be out this year but was put back because of the "Sleeper" recording...Many thanks Bren

"Late Spring, approximately," according to my distribution colleagues.
We are still shaping the release schedule for next year. Best, Steve

[Steve Lake]

Hi Steve,

Some great new ECM releases lately, loving Solo Guitarra especially as well as the new Food. Thanks for these. Quick reissue question, I ssem to remember seeing some discussion on here ages ago about a reissue of Abercrombie and Towner's 2nd album, any word on that?


Thanks,
Jim.

Glad you like the José Luis Montón. One of my favourites also. Regarding Abercrombie/Towner, no concrete news to share.
best
Steve

[Rex Bachmann]

Glad to discover this thread and this forum.

I, too, am eager to complete my Ralph Towner collection on CD and would very much like to see "Five Years Later" made available for purchase in that format.

My chief concern here, however, is to inquire after more obscure fare.

(1) "Desert Marauders" (ECM 1106), by Art Lande & Mark Isham (Rubisa Patrol)

(2) "Piano. Harfe" (ECM 1281), by Michael Fahres (so far as I can tell, the only New Series album not released on CD)

(3) "Winterreise" (ECM 1235), by Hajo Weber & Ulrich Ingenbold (an ethereal and dreamy listening experience)

Any of these even beïng considered for CD release? What are the criteria for re-mastering and reïssuance on CD? Old albums are generally goïng to sell sizable numbers anyway, so it can't be strictly based on sales projections.

Any information that enlightens your decision process will be appreciated.

Thanks.

[WTK]

Hello Steve,

I have noticed a compilation CD offered on eBay titled 'Dinner Jazz with ECM.' It appears to be from Canada. The concept of this disc seems so far from the carefully cultivated ECM image that I am left somewhat baffled. Can you offer any insight?

The tracks are:-
# Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life
# Egberto Gismonti - Loro
# Gary Burton/Chick Corea - What Game Shall We Play Today
# Kenny Wheeler - three forths in the Afternoon
# Marcin Wasilewski - Diamonds And Pearls
# Bobo Stenson - Send in the Clowns
# Charles Lloyd - What’s Going On
# Paul Bley - Circles
# Enrico Rava - The Man I Love
# Jacob Young - The Promise
# Bill Frisell - Lonesome
# Manu Katche’ - Pieces of Emotion
# Pat Metheny - Au Lait
# Tomasz Stanko - So Nice
# Oregon - Beside a Brook

[Steve Lake]

[QUOTE=WTK;956102]Hello Steve,

I have noticed a compilation CD offered on eBay titled 'Dinner Jazz with ECM.' It appears to be from Canada. The concept of this disc seems so far from the carefully cultivated ECM image that I am left somewhat baffled. Can you offer any insight?

/QUOTE]


You are not alone in your bafflement. And while having nothing against either “dinner” or “jazz” it's hard to feel positive about the graphic art direction or background music implications of this sampler put together by Jazz.FM91, ‘Canada's Premier Jazz Radio Station’, and marketed and manufactured by ECM's distributor, Universal Canada. Apparently the station has a programme called Dinner Jazz, hence the title, and apparently they regularly play ECM titles. ECM Munich was not involved in the repertoire selection. Best, Steve

[BrianL1]

Steve - a note of thanks for the re-issue of Keith Jarrett's Hymns Spheres. Very nice to see this now on CD in it's entirety. The packaging is great too - I like the mini-LP replica sleeve with the rice-paper inner sleeves for the CDs.

The recent balance of re-issues, archival live material, and new releases has been great.

[HammondFreak]

Hello Steve - Could you share with us your releaseplans for first half 2013? Thanks Terje

[Steve Lake]

Can’t give specifics on first half year since things are still taking shape. But up until the end of March/beginning of April the following should have made their way into the world:


ECM 2220 Eleni Karaindrou “Concert in Athens” with Kim Kashkashian, Jan Garbarek and others

ECM 2258 Chris Potter “The Sirens” with Craig Taborn, David Virelles, Larry Grenadier, Eric Harland

ECM 2286 Stefano Battaglia Trio “Songways”

ECM 2304/05 Tomasz Stanko New York Quartet “Wisława”
w/David Virelles, Thomas Morgan, Gerald Cleaver

ECM 2311 Charles Lloyd / Jason Moran “Hagar's Song”

ECM 2072 Stefano Scodanibbio “Reinventions” with Quartetto Prometeo

ECM 2312 Music of Victor Kissine played by Kremerata Baltica / Gidon Kremer

ECM 2276 Quercus with June Tabor, Iain Ballamy, and Huw Warren

ECM 2275 Iva Bittová solo (violin, voice, kalimba)

ECM 2274 Giovanni Guidi Trio with Thomas Morgan and Joao Lobo “City Of Broken Dreams”

ECM 2314 Third Reel with Nicolas Masson (tenor, clarinet) Roberto Pianca (guitar), Emanuele Maniscalco (drums)

Plus 2 more boxes in Old & New Masters series – ECM 2260-65 Paul Motian 6 CD set (discussed here awhile ago) and ECM 2316-20 Charles Lloyd 5 CD set. (The Lloyd is called just “Quartets” and features all the Oslo recordings with Charles and Bobo Stenson)

And ECM 2350-55 6 CD set “Selected Signs”- an anthology edition made for the exhibition “ECM – A Cultural Archaeology” at Haus der Kunst, Munich

Lots of good things ... and more in preparation...

best, Steve

[Nakajima]

Hello Steve,

When will the 2013 ECM Catalogue be available?
And is it also downloadable as a pdf file from your site?

Thanks,

N-jima

[Steve Lake]

Hello Steve,

When will the 2013 ECM Catalogue be available?
And is it also downloadable as a pdf file from your site?

Thanks,

N-jima

End of March. And, yes, will also be available as downloadable pdf.

best, S.

[steveoat]

Hi Steve,

Are there any plans to reissue any of the long out of print Richie Beirach and Dave Liebman titles, notably:

Hubris
Elm
Eon
Lookout Farm
Drum Ode

I know that some of these are available as MP3, but the sound quality notably suffers.

Any plans for CD reissue?

[Robwilock]

Hello Steve,

I want to a Tomasz Stanko gig with Chris Potter in NYC two years ago which was positively transcendent. Now that both artists are on ECM, are there any plans for them to record together? Or were any of the collaborative shows recorded? Thank you for taking the time to answer this and all of the other questions on this forum. Much appreciated!

Regards,
Rob

[Steve Lake]

Hi Steve,

Are there any plans to reissue any of the long out of print Richie Beirach and Dave Liebman titles, notably:

Hubris
Elm
Eon
Lookout Farm
Drum Ode

I know that some of these are available as MP3, but the sound quality notably suffers.

Any plans for CD reissue?

All of those have been available on CD in Japan, and Drum Ode was also released as CD in Europe (currently out of print, though).
We will reissue these at some point...

best, S.

[Steve Lake]

Hello Steve,

I want to a Tomasz Stanko gig with Chris Potter in NYC two years ago which was positively transcendent. Now that both artists are on ECM, are there any plans for them to record together? Or were any of the collaborative shows recorded?

Regards,
Rob

No plans at present for collaborative recording with Chris and Tomasz. Individually, of course, they have outstanding albums newly released - Potter's "The Sirens" and Stanko's "Wislawa"... Tremendous playing all round, and overlapping personnel - with David Virelles making highly creative contributions to both discs.

Best,
S.

[relyles]

Has any consideration ever been given to a recording featuring Mark Turner's quartet with either Ambrose Akinmusire or Avishai Cohen? I ask since the cooperative "Fly" has now released two recordings on ECM and Turner also appeared on ECM releases by Billy Hart and Enrico Rava.

[CoolSprings]

Hi Steve - apologies in advance if already asked and answered but did not see in search of prior posts: while I still miss the ritual of playing LP's and beauty of the album covers, have to say that the ECM high resolution download releases sound magnificent and in the few cases where I compared noticeably better than the CD issue counterparts.

I understand why the various sites have licensing restrictions by territorial markets, but curious why some titles are being offered in a high resolution download in some markets but not others? A couple of examples I can point to include: the DeJohnette Special Edition Collection available in 24/96 format from HighResAudio site but not the US HDtracks? Judith Berkson's Oylam in 24/96 available from Qobuz and Gubemusic but not elsewhere?

Are you able to say if this is generally a financial or rights consideration issue or 'just haven't gotten to it yet' timing issue? Curious because have to admit I'm now trained to wait for the high res download release and holding off on purchasing titles that I'm sure in past I would have bought CD immediately upon release. And certainly when I see issued on one high res download site, I'm going to wait for it to become available on a site which I can access from my market.

(Otherwise considering a trip to Germany just to access download of the DeJohnette set: fond memories of hearing that band in Philadelphia immediately after release of the first album - though I think with Chico Freeman instead of Blythe - they were pretty amazing live!)

Thanks

[Steve Lake]

Hi Steve - apologies in advance if already asked and answered but did not see in search of prior posts: while I still miss the ritual of playing LP's and beauty of the album covers, have to say that the ECM high resolution download releases sound magnificent and in the few cases where I compared noticeably better than the CD issue counterparts.

I understand why the various sites have licensing restrictions by territorial markets, but curious why some titles are being offered in a high resolution download in some markets but not others? A couple of examples I can point to include: the DeJohnette Special Edition Collection available in 24/96 format from HighResAudio site but not the US HDtracks? Judith Berkson's Oylam in 24/96 available from Qobuz and Gubemusic but not elsewhere?

Are you able to say if this is generally a financial or rights consideration issue or 'just haven't gotten to it yet' timing issue? Curious because have to admit I'm now trained to wait for the high res download release and holding off on purchasing titles that I'm sure in past I would have bought CD immediately upon release. And certainly when I see issued on one high res download site, I'm going to wait for it to become available on a site which I can access from my market.

(Otherwise considering a trip to Germany just to access download of the DeJohnette set: fond memories of hearing that band in Philadelphia immediately after release of the first album - though I think with Chico Freeman instead of Blythe - they were pretty amazing live!)

Thanks

I am not entirely up to date with the different arragements with the various international high res platforms. But I just asked about the Special Edition set and that is coming soon at HD Tracks. So, no need to visit Germany ;-) Timing of digital release is usually related to physical release schedules in the different markets.

Agree that Special Edition was a terrific live band. (So was its predecessor, the New Directions group with Lester Bowie, John Abercrombie and Eddie Gomez).

Best, Steve

[7/4]

I am not entirely up to date with the different arragements with the various international high res platforms. But I just asked about the Special Edition set and that is coming soon at HD Tracks. So, no need to visit Germany ;-) Timing of digital release is usually related to physical release schedules in the different markets.

Agree that Special Edition was a terrific live band. (So was its predecessor, the New Directions group with Lester Bowie, John Abercrombie and Eddie Gomez).

Best, Steve

there's a great idea, the New Directions with Abercrombie box....thank me later.

[Observer123]

Hi,

was the Chick Corea Return to Forever 180g vinyl reissue made from an analogue master or from the digital master of the CD?

[alethestar]

Hello Steve,

any news about the 2013 ECM Catalog?
Thank you for everything!

Best regards,
ALE

[steveoat]

Hi Steve,

I just purchased the Jan Garbarek and Arild Andersen collections on the Old and New Masters Edition.

When I looked at the CDs, I was surprised that they were AAD masterings, which were very prevalent in the early era of CDs.

I wonder why these were not remastered. Clearly, these were done in the early days of digital mastering and many advances have been made since then. Look at the RVG remasters on Blue Note and the recent remasters on Verve and Concord Jazz, of the original OJC releases. The vast majority of these are greatly improved over the original early 80's and 90's releases.

I would think if you would go to the trouble of reissuing these recordings, you would also try to make them as close to the original (analog) masters as possible.

I am happy to have these long out of print recordings, but am disappointed that they were not remastered.

Would be happy to hear your comments.

Bruce

[Steve Lake]

Hello Steve,

any news about the 2013 ECM Catalog?
Thank you for everything!

Best regards,
ALE

The 2013 illustrated catalogue – now 172 pages long - has finally arrived in our office and warehouse and will be available from ECM web shop from next week - and from our distributors and good record stores (if there any left in your neighbourhood) shortly thereafter. We’ll also post the catalogue online as a PDF file very soon.

Best, Steve