Siwan, the transcultural, trans-idiomatic musical collective — an Algerian lead singer, a kemençe player from Turkey, an Iranian master of the tombak, an innovative Norwegian drummer, and an energetic string section of baroque specialists — setting verses by Ummayad princess Wallada bint al-Mustakfi (1010-1091) and contemporaries including Ibn Zaydun (1003-1071)  and Ibn Sara As-Santarini (1043-1123).

‘Recorded live at the Middelheim Festival in Antwerp, Edizione Speciale brings together a team of young improvisers who play Rava’s music with fire and élan, accompanying his fountain of melodic ideas, while also taking advantage of the free space that the extensive musical forms open up. The group’s repertoire includes material from the trumpeter/flugelhornist’s early recording Enrico Rava Quartet (1978), and Wild Dance (2015), plus a rendition of Once Upon A Summertime — the English version of Michel Legrand’s La valse des lilas — as well as the universally known Cuban song Quizás, Quizás, Quizás.’

The pianist’s ECM debut, marking ten years of music-making in Norway; with double-bassist Christian Meaas Svendsen and drummer Per Oddvar Johansen.
‘There is an ascetic rigour in her playing, as well as a sense of space suggesting affinities with Japanese classical music. Ayumi views the trio as “more like a chamber ensemble. We share a flow of energy, even in silence.”’

The master oudist with Jack DeJohnette, Django Bates and Dave Holland.
‘Not only one of the year’s best ECM releases; it’s a classic-in-the-making that should ultimately be considered one of the label’s very best recordings in its nearly fifty-year history’ (All About Jazz).

With Bill Frisell and Ben Street carrying on from the Declaration Of Musical Independence line-up, plus pianist David Virelles.

Trio Tapestry — with Marilyn Crispell and Carmen Castaldi.

The great Argentinean bandoneon player in his first purely solo recording for more than thirty years.
‘A powerful reminder of Dino’s gifts as a musical storyteller of great subtlety. His pieces in this intimate recording reach back to early memories: Don Caye, subtitled Variations on the work of Cayetano Saluzzi, is a most touching dedication to his father. Throughout, the bandoneonist reflects upon the fleeting passage of time.’
Wonderful music, warmly recommended.

Crafted, swinging, soulful Middle Eastern jazz, led by oud and bass clarinet. Dedicated to the great Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. (Why he didn’t win the Nobel Prize isn’t a mystery.)