ECM and European jazz

Location · 1969 → · Europe · Hybrids and world

Label founded in Munich in 1969 by Manfred Eicher: "the most beautiful sound next to silence". Also FMP (1969), Globe Unity, the Polish scene (Komeda, Stańko). Köln Concert, 1975.

What is still debated

ECM is a worldwide hub (Norway, Brazil, Tunisia), not a branch.

Where it comes from

• Free jazz
• Modal
• French jazz
• Polish jazz
• Free improvisation and European free

What it gave rise to or influenced

• Nordic jazz
• Jazz of the Maghreb and the Near East
• Renaissances (Los Angeles, London)

Artists

• Pat Metheny (1954, guitar)
• Vijay Iyer (1971, piano)
• Michel Petrucciani (1962–1999, piano)
• Jan Garbarek (1947, saxophone)
• Abdullah Ibrahim (1934–2026?, piano)
• Tomasz Stańko (1942–2018, trumpet)
• Emile Parisien (1982, soprano saxophone)
• Paul Motian (1931–2011, drums)
• Manu Katché (1958, drums, percussion)
• Anne Paceo (drums, vocals, composition)
• Airelle Besson (1978, trumpet)
• Louis Sclavis (1953, clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone)
• Vincent Peirani (1980, accordion)
• Stéphane Kerecki (double bass)
• Esbjörn Svensson Trio (piano, double bass, drums (trio))
• Tord Gustavsen (1970, piano)
• Enrico Rava (1939, trumpet)
• Michael Wollny (1978, piano)
• Bill Frisell (1951, guitar)
• Wadada Leo Smith (1941, trumpet, flugelhorn, koto, kalimba, atenteben)
• Henri Texier (1945, double bass)
• Dhafer Youssef (1967, oud, vocals)
• Norma Winstone (1941, vocals, lyrics)
• Marcin Wasilewski (1975, piano)
• Terje Rypdal (1947, guitar, composition)
• Avishai Cohen (trompettiste) (1978, trumpet)
• Shai Maestro (1987, piano, composition)
• Dino Saluzzi (1935, bandoneon)
• Nik Bärtsch (1971, piano, percussion)
• Wolfgang Muthspiel (1965, guitar)
• Paolo Fresu (1961, trumpet, flugelhorn)
• Stefano Bollani (1972, piano)
• Enrico Pieranunzi (1949, piano)
• Gianluigi Trovesi (1944, clarinets, saxophone)
• Maria João (1956, vocals)
• Julia Hülsmann (piano)
• Anouar Brahem (1957, oud)
• Jack DeJohnette (1942–2025, drums, piano, melodica)
• Bernardo Sassetti (1970–2012, piano, composition)
• Eberhard Weber (1940, double bass, electric double bass, cello)
• Daniel Humair (1938, drums)
• Marco Mezquida (1987, piano, organ)
• Michiel Borstlap (1966, piano, composition)
• Yuri Honing (1965, saxophone)
• Hein van de Geyn (1956, double bass)
• Jasper van 't Hof (1947, keyboards, piano, synthesizers)

Tracks to start with

• The Köln Concert, Part I — Keith Jarrett (1975)
• Officium (Parce mihi Domine) — Jan Garbarek & Hilliard Ensemble (1994)
• Witchi-Tai-To — Jan Garbarek & Bobo Stenson (1973)
• Balladyna — Tomasz Stańko (1975)
• Where We Used to Live — Esbjörn Svensson Trio (2006)
• November 99 — Manu Katché (2005)
• Bright Shadows — Anne Paceo (2019)
• Radio One (Football Games on Radio One) — Airelle Besson (2016)
• To Django — Richard Galliano (1996)
• Napoli's Walls — Louis Sclavis (2003)
• Dream Brother — Vincent Peirani (2015)
• La chanson de Maxence — Stéphane Kerecki (2014)
• Dodge the Dodo — Esbjörn Svensson Trio (1999)
• Soul of Things I — Tomasz Stańko Quartet (2002)
• Graceful Touch — Tord Gustavsen Trio (2003)
• Cromosomi — Enrico Rava (2004)
• Nachtfahrten — Michael Wollny (2015)
• Lookout for Hope — Bill Frisell Band (1988)
• Togo — Henri Texier Azur Quintet (1998)
• The Epistle of Love (Pt. 1) — Dhafer Youssef (2025)
• Making Music — Zakir Hussain (1987)
• Distance — Norma Winstone (2008)
• January — Marcin Wasilewski Trio (2008)
• Into the Silence — Avishai Cohen (trompettiste) (2016)
• The Dream Thief — Shai Maestro (2018)
• Kultrum pampa — Dino Saluzzi (1983)
• Modul 47 — Nik Bärtsch's Ronin (2010)
• Rising Grace — Wolfgang Muthspiel (2016)
• Liberata — Paolo Fresu, A Filetta & Daniele di Bonaventura (2011)
• Un sasso nello stagno — Stefano Bollani (2009)
• Amarcord — Enrico Pieranunzi (2003)
• Villanella — Gianluigi Trovesi & Gianni Coscia (2000)
• Saris e Capulanas — Maria João & Mário Laginha (1998)
• Not Far From Here — Julia Hülsmann Quartet (2019)
• Le pas du chat noir — Anouar Brahem (2002)
• One for Eric — Jack DeJohnette (1980)
• Simple City — Tim Berne (2012)
• Indigo — Bernardo Sassetti (2004)
• The Colours of Chloë — Eberhard Weber (1974)
• La cantonale — Daniel Humair (2020)
• Táctil — Marco Mezquida (2026)
• Memory of Enchantment (Michiel Borstlap) — Michiel Borstlap (1997)
• True — Yuri Honing Acoustic Quartet (2012)
• Bring Me the Disco King — Yuri Honing Acoustic Quartet (2012)
• The Long Journey — Jean-Michel Pilc & Hein van de Geyn (2002)
• Hoomba-Hoomba — Jasper van 't Hof's Pili Pili (1985)

Sources

• EN : ECM Records

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