ECM Records

ECM Records celebrates its 50th anniversary

Congratulations to ECM Records who celebrate their 50th anniversary this year.

50 years ago, in November 1969, the first ECM album was recorded, Mal Waldron’s Free At Last, made under the supervision of Manfred Eicher. Over the following five decades, a further 1600 recordings have been made: half a century of continuous work as an independent label with one artistic director. Around the world, a number of special events have been marking this milestone.

ECM’s new releases in the anniversary year include recordings of Joe Lovano, Ralph Alessi, Dominic Miller, Giovanni Guidi, Vijay Iyer/Craig Taborn, Bill Frisell/Thomas Morgan, Gianluigi Trovesi/Gianni Coscia, Dino Saluzzi, Louis Sclavis, Keith Jarrett, Avishai Cohen/Yonathan Avishai, and many more.

Highlights in ECM’s New Series include new albums of Eleni Karaindrou, András Schiff, Heinz Holliger/György Kurtág, Anna Gourari, Thomas Zehetmair and others.

Several releases of historical significance are slotted into the schedule. These include:

  • When Will The Blues Leave by Paul Bley, Gary Peacock and Paul Motian, live in Lugano in 1999.
  • Keith Jarrett’s 1987 concert recording of Book One of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier.
  • Remember Me, My Dear a live recording of Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble captured on the final tour of the Officium team in 2014.
  • An expanded edition of Mal Waldron’s Free At Last from 1969, with previously unreleased takes, photos from the recording session, and additional liner notes.
  • Furthermore, 50 titles have been added to the popular Touchstones series, bringing out-of-print albums back to the CD catalogue at special price.

    ECM’s vinyl programme is expanded in June with the addition of six classic albums, making their first appearance in audiophile LP format: Jan Garbarek In Praise of Dreams with Kim Kashkashian and Manu Katché; Nils Petter Molvaer Khmer; Charles Lloyd Voice In The Night with John Abercrombie, Dave Holland and Billy Higgins; Anouar Brahem Le pas du chat noir; and Manu Katché Neighbourhood with Jan Garbarek, Tomasz Stanko, Marcin Wasilewski and Slawomir Kurkiewicz.

    After half a century, ECM is still considered “the most important imprint in the world for jazz and new music” (The Independent). Its catalogue is critically-acclaimed as the finest of its kind. Curated by visionary founder Manfred Eicher, ECM has maintained a consistently high standard of artistry and production for the past 50 years. As the label enters a new decade, it continues to push boundaries and build on an incredible artistic legacy for future generations.

  1. Bones Of Gilead Richard Thompson 0:43

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  1. Chasing Shadows Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys 0:35

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  1. Fade & Fall (Love Not) Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band 0:30

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  1. Lost Show of Hands 0:51

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  1. Some Dreams Do Amy Speace 1:05

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  1. Kindness Ben Glover 1:00

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  1. Man, Friendship Kitty Macfarlane 0:37

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  1. Blues Run The Game Martin Simpson 0:30

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