ECM Explorations From April 25-29 the prestigious concert hall Philharmonie de Paris dedicated a concert series to ECM — themed ECM Explorations –, which included a wide variety of ECM artists in sold-out performances that received standing […]
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“We are all tributaries of the inspiration of the moment and that goes for all musicians… It’s the magic of the moment that counts along with the preparation. It’s all a question of collective inspiration.” Anouar Brahem, born in Tunis in 1957, was ten when he began studying the oud at the National Conservatory in the city, and later pursued his apprenticeship with the great master Ali Sriti. As Stéphane Ollivier has written: “Brahem is the oud’s conjuror, a master at bringing out the acoustic magic which this age-old traditional Oriental lute carries inside its calabash: the musical heritage of the Arab and Islamic worlds.” Brahem undertook a mission to restore the oud to the status of an emblematic solo instrument in Arab music, and at the same time expanded the tradition by working with musicians from other idioms.
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Anchored in the idea that, despite all obstacles, the human experience casts a net of possibilities, Defiant Life – Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith second duo recording for ECM – proves a profound meditation on the human condition and both the suffering and resilience it entails. An ethereal iridescence glistens between Leo Smith’s unmistakable trumpet wail and Vijay’s textural key strokes on piano and Fender Rhodes, conjuring multi-dimensional spaces of thoughtful musical conversation. “We work from our individual languages and materials,” notes Vijay in his extensive liner note, as well as “our methods of aural attunement, and what I would call a shared aesthetic of necessity”. A necessity both urgent and peaceful, ominously stated in the first long-track “Sumud”, then dressed in bluesy undertones throughout the “Floating River Requiem”, still doubtful but with silver linings on “Elegy: The Pilgrimage” and devastatingly beautiful in the concluding “Procession: Defiant Life”. If the album is a contemplation on life as such, then it is its sense of wonder that comes to full expression here. Recorded within two days at Lugano’s Auditorio Stelio Molo, Defiant Life was produced by Manfred Eicher.
Defiant Life
A third selection of iconic ECM covers has been treated to strictly limited Fine Art Prints with superior aluminum frames, available in two sizes (A2 / A3) for purchase in the ECM webshop. New album covers available are: Keith Jarrett’s Belonging, Pat Metheny Group’s Offramp, Arvo Pärt's Alina and Anouar Brahem's The Astounding Eyes Of Rita. Printed with Canon Lucia Prom pigment ink on Hahnemühle Photo Rag ® bright White, 310g/m², 100% cotton. Each print comes with an official certificate of authenticity.
Fine art prints
The independent record label ECM – Edition of Contemporary Music – was founded by producer Manfred Eicher in 1969, and to date has issued more than 1800 albums spanning many idioms.
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