All 16 posts
A guide to ECM Records, founded by Manfred Eicher in 1969, exploring its recording philosophy of reverberation and negative space, the classical New Series, 10 essential gateway albums from Keith Jarrett to Arvo Part, a…
What actually became free in free jazz? Tracing the structural shift away from repeating chord changes and fixed bar lengths through instrumentation, time design, and 8 essential albums from 1959 to 1966.
Discover how electric bass and 8-beat drums transformed jazz into physical groove from 1967 to 1976 through 8 essential albums led by Head Hunters.
Explore the birth of Afrobeat in 1970s Lagos with Fela Kuti, Tony Allen, and Africa 70, featuring a chronological timeline and 8 essential albums.
Trace the quiet lineage of Brazilian music from 1959 bossa nova to 1970s MPB across 10 essential albums by Joao Gilberto, Jobim, and Milton Nascimento.
A guide to spiritual jazz from 1964 to 1973 and beyond, tracing sustained modal playing across 8 essential albums ordered by actual recording date.
A structural and acoustic guide to the Bill Evans Trio's June 25, 1961 recordings on Sunday at the Village Vanguard with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian.
How Keith Jarrett's 1975 solo improvisation on a flawed rehearsal Bösendorfer at the Cologne Opera House became the best-selling solo jazz album.
Explore five landmark ECM Records albums through primary recording engineer and studio data, from Keith Jarrett to Arvo Part.
Walk through Miles Davis's 1959 masterpiece Kind of Blue: the 30th Street Studio sessions, all 5 modal jazz tracks, pitch history, and listening tips.
Explore the recording rooms behind 3 landmark ECM albums: Chick Corea's Return to Forever, Keith Jarrett's The Koln Concert, and Pat Metheny's debut.