ECM Records Podcast

In the 50th episode of the ECM podcast we're joined by Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith to speak about their second offering as a duo "Defiant Life", which follows their almost a decade old collaboration for ECM, 2016's "A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke". Vijay and Wadada talk about the album's main themes: resistance, defiance, the art of the present and much more.

In the 49th episode of the ECM podcast Norwegian trumpet player Mathias Eick speaks about his new record "Lullaby", recorded in Oslo and produced by Manfred Eicher. We talked about musical education, lyrics, the magic of the studio and so much more.

In the 48th episode of the ECM podcast we're joined by the German-American pianist Benjamin Lackner, to discuss his new record "Spindrift", recorded with Mathias Eick, Mark Turner, Linda May Han Oh and Matthieu Chazarenc - produced by Manfred Eicher. Benjamin talks about dynamics in the band, creative process and routine, the healing properties of music and more.

In the 47th episode of the ECM podcast the Norwegian percussionst Thomas Strønen joins us to discuss his latest album "Relations" - a collaborative project with Craig Taborn, Chris Potter, Sinikka Langeland and Jorge Rossy - produced by Manfred Eicher. Strønen talks about promises, distance, sounds and much more.

In the 46th episode of the ECM podcast we're joined by the German violoncellist Anja Lechner to discuss her frist solo album after years of collaboration with ECM: "Bach/Abel/Hume", produced by Manfred Eicher. Anja talks about freedom, composer's dynamics, the art of playing solo and much more.

In the 45th episode of the ECM podcast we're joined by the Swiss pianist Colin Vallon, who talks about his new trio record "Samares", on which he is joined by his longstanding trio with Patrice Moret on bass and Julian Satorius on drums. Colin talks about his family tree, botanical inspirations, how he collects objects on travels which he uses to make music, and much more.

In the 44th episode of the ECM podcast we're joined by two guitar heros, Jakob Bro and Bill Frisell, and discuss Jakob's new album "Taking Turns" recorded alongside an all-star lineup and produced by Manfred Eicher. We talked about Paul Motian, Lee Konitz, ECM-history and guitar cases.

In the 43rd episode of the ECM podcast the pianist Marilyn Crispell joins us to discuss her trio album "Amaryllis", originally released on CD in 2001 and now available, for the first time, on vinyl as part of the Luminessence series. We talked about Marilyn's journey in music, her friendship and collaboration with Paul Motian and Gary Peacock, the encounters that changed her life and much more.

In the 42nd episode of the ECM podcast drummer Ziv Ravitz and pianist Yonathan Avishai of Avishai Cohen's quartet join the podcast to discuss the group's new album "Ashes To Gold". They talk about the art of "Kintsugi", the choice of hope and light and storytelling.

In the 41st episode of the ECM podcast we're joined by Florian Weber, who's new recording "Imaginary Cycle" sees the pianist in the company of a major brass section plus a flute. Florian talks about the various inspirations that went into the cycle, including madrigals and Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble's "Officum" album. He talks about his conpirators in music, the process of developing this major musical project in collaboration with producer Manfred Eicher and about how in music, asking a question can be a lot more interesting than finding the answer.

In the 39th episode of the ECM podcast, Lucain Ban and Mat Maneri join us to discuss the fascinating process of making their new album "Transylvanian Dance". They talk about Béla Bartók, the duo's shared passion for folk music, and the beauty of transmission.

In the 38th episode of the ECM podcast, we're joined by the trio of Alice Zawadzki, Fred Thomas and Misha Mullov-Abbado, who present a rare alchemy on their trio debut "Za Górami", fusing folk idioms from a multitude of sources with free flowing interplay and fluid structures. Inhabiting their own stylistic realm, the trio encompasses folk song, chamber music, improvisation and acoustic jazz, and presents the full span of their reach in a mesmerizing whole. Alice, Fred and Misha talk about the meaning behind the Polish term "Za Górami", the emotional impact of Ladino songs, how the three came together and where they meet in music as well as aobut the recording session at the Auditorio in Lugano, and more.

In the 37th episode of the ECM podcast, we're joined by Italian pianist Giovanni Guidi, whose new album "A New Day" features his trio with bassist Thomas Morgan and João Lobo on drums, plus the new and exciting addition of James Brandon Lewis on saxophone. Giovanni talks about the individual band members, the collaboration with Manfred Eicher as a producer and what "A New Day" means to him.

In the 36th episode of the ECM podcast, the legendary singer Norma Winstone joins us to talk about her new duo album "Outpost of Dreams", recorded in duo with pianist Kit Downes. Norma talks about her incredible career, her history with ECM and the collaboration with Kit Downes.

In the 35th episode of the ECM podcast we're joined by saxophonist Oded Tzur, whose third recording for the label features an altered version of his quartet, with Nitai Hershkovits on piano, Petros Klampanis on bass and new arrival Cyrano Almeida on drums. "My Prophet" was recorded at Studios La Buissonne, in Southern France, and produced by Manfred Eicher. Oded talks about love, faith and how music can save lives.

In the 34th episode of the ECM podcast we're joined by pianist Fred Hersch, whose solo-debut for ECM Records, "Silent, Listening", was recorded in Lugano, in 2023 and produced by Manfred Eicher. In the conversation, Fred talks about the close collaboration with Manfred Eicher, the serendipity of life and how special this album is to him.

In the 33rd episode of the ECM podcast we're joined by Arve Henriksen and Harmen Fraanje, whose duo debut "Touch of Time" presents the musicians in both freely improvised forms and carefully wrought themes, picking up and finishing each other's phrases. They talk about their approach to improvising, how "Touch of Time" presents exactly where they meet in music and about how various literature informed the titles on this album.

In the 32nd episode of the ECM podcast we're once again joined by Vijay Iyer, whose new album "Compassion" is the pianist's second outing with his trio of Linda May Han Oh on bass and drummer Tyshawn Sorey and was co-produced with Manfred Eicher. Vijay talks about the state of the world, the bond created when making music in collaboration with others, album titles and compassion.

In the 31st episode of the ECM Podcast we're joined by the French Saxophonist Matthieu Bordenave, whose second leader-date for ECM, "The Blue Land" features a quartet with Florian Weber on piano, bassist Patrice Moret and new addition James Maddren on drums. The album was produced by Manfred Eicher. Matthieu talks about the inspirations behind the music, his approach to composition and how it all comes together in collaboration with Manfred Eicher.