ECM Records Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode #22 - Ralph Alessi: It's Always Now May 27, 2023

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In the 22nd episode of the ECM Podcast, trumpeter Ralph Alessi talks about his new quartet recording "It's Always Now", on which he is joined by pianist Florian Weber, bassist Bänz Oester and Gerry Hemingway on drums. The album was produced by Manfred Eicher. Ralph gets into the differences of being a musician in the US and Europe, talks about education in music and about the art of naming songs.

Episode #21 - Zsófia Boros: El último aliento May 06, 2023

Show notes

In the 21st episode of the ECM Podcast, Zsófia Boros joins us to talk about her new album "El último aliento". The Vienna-based, Hungarian guitarist recorded the album at the Auditorio Stelio Molo in Lugano, with Manfred Eicher producing. On the record Zsófia interprets contemporary Argentinian compositions from Carlos Moscardini, Joaquín Alem, Quique Sinesi and Alberto Ginastera as well as expressive pieces by French composer Matthias Duplessy. In our conversation Zsófia talks about the recording session in Lugano, about how she lets instinct guide her choices of repertory, and she outlines her relationtionship to the songs she interprets and how they become her "good friends".

Episode #20 - Ralph Towner: At First Light Apr 15, 2023

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In the 20th episode of the ECM podcast, we are joined by acclaimed American guitarist Ralph Towner, who has been with ECM since back in 1973, when his debut for the label was released. On his new solo album, “At First Light”, recorded in Lugano in 2022, the guitarist presents new and familiar original compositions as well as a couple of songs from the Great American Songbook, performed on classical guitar. In our conversation, Ralph goes all the way back to the beginnings of his collaboration with Manfred Eicher and talks about his days as a piano player, or studying guitar in Vienna and then founding the band Oregon. Of course, we also speak about his new record.

Episode #19 - Sebastian Rochford/Kit Downes: A Short Diary Mar 12, 2023

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In this 19th episode of the podcast, we are joined by British drummer and composer Sebastian Rochford, whose leader-debut for ECM, “A Short Diary”, was just released and finds him in intimate performances of deep feeling and hymn-like clarity, together with pianist Kit Downes. The album is dedicated to Rochford’s father, Aberdeen poet Gerard Rochford (1932-2019) and to his family. Seb talks about loss, grief and how the music of this special album came to him.

Episode #18 - Mette Henriette: Drifting Feb 12, 2023

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In this 18th episode of the podcast, we are joined by the Norwegian saxophonist-composer Mette Henriette, whose sophomore recording for the label, “Drifting”, was just released and finds her in an intimate trio setting with Johann Lindvall on piano and Judith Hamann on violoncello. Mette talks about the relationship between improvisation and composition, how important it is to give ideas time to let them mature, as well as about the recording, mixing and mastering of her new album in Oslo, France and Munich.

Episode #17 - Benjamin Lackner, Mathias Eick, Jérôme Regard, Manu Katché: Last Decade Dec 04, 2022

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In this 17th episode of the ECM Podcast we got together with German-American pianist Benjamin Lackner, whose ECM debut “Last Decade” features Mathias Eick on trumpet, Jérôme Regard on bass and drummer Manu Katché. Benjamin talks about the recording of the album at Studios La Buissonne, about his past ten years and why they ended up as the album’s title, about studying with his teachers Charlie Haden and Brad Mehldau as well as about what it’s like to work with this specific group and the groove that they bring.

Episode #16 - Jakob Bro & Joe Lovano: Once Around The Room - A Tribute To Paul Motian Nov 06, 2022

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For this 16th episode of the ECM Podcast we met up with both Joe Lovano and Jakob Bro whose new album “Once Around The Room” is a tribute to Paul Motian and features bassists Thomas Morgan, Larry Grenadier and Anders Christensen as well as both Joey Baron and Jorge Rossy on drums. Joe and Jakob talk about the influence of Paul Motian in their music and their life, the importance of “transmission” and much more.

Episode #15 - Julia Hülsmann Quartet: The Next Door Oct 17, 2022

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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.

Episode #14 - Gard Nilssen Acoustic Unity: Elastic Wave Oct 01, 2022

Show notes

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.

Episode #13 - Enrico Rava & Fred Hersch: The Song Is You Sep 12, 2022

Show notes

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.

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