After labeled as Wadada Leo Smith, so it Mississippi horn blower brought one of ECM’s greatest actually ever albums in the shape of Divine Love, an ethereal, three-tune opus whose title song try a 21-time tone poem in which trumpet, flutes, and you will diverse updated percussion intermingle to manufacture a tapestry away from voice. Lester Bowie, Kenny Wheeler, and Charlie Haden offer stellar cameos. Key tune: “Divine Like”

One of the first classic records inside ECM’s catalog, this spectacular discussion between vibraphone maestro Burton and you can old boyfriend-Kilometers Davis pianist Corea aided to ascertain the newest urbane visual that came to describe Manfred Eicher’s fledgling title. Registered in Oslo, the brand new set’s nine tunes shimmer with a transparent beauty and you can just take both protagonists connecting because if telepathically on a selection of question. Key song: “Amazingly Quiet”

7: Dave The netherlands Quartet: Fulfilling Of Wild birds (1972)

Just after ascending in order to fame having Kilometers Davis’ late 60s ring, Holland temporarily co-led an enthusiastic avant-garde group named Network, that have Chick Corea, prior to their first since a leader with this specific record, into the 1972. An increasingly modern type of brand new, open-finished avant-garde sounds, they have good contributions regarding woodwind people Anthony Braxton and you may Sam Rivers together with drummer Barry Altschul. Key tune: “Four Wind gusts”

6: Charles Lloyd: The water Is Broad (2000)

Away from 1989 in order to 2013, this revered Memphis saxophonist/flutist put out 16 albums getting ECM throughout the a respected red-colored area. Water Are Wide, a mix of great originals and you may tastefully-done conditions, finds Lloyd fronting an effective simpatico quintet filled with pianist Brad Mehldau and you may guitar player John Abercrombie. Exquisite. Key tune: “Brand new Monk And Mermaid”

5: Steve Reich: Tunes To possess 18 Music artists (1978)

Even the peak of Western pianist/composer Steve Reich’s minimalist graphic, the fresh 57-minute-enough time Audio To have 18 Writers and singers acquired their industry premier in the Brand new York’s City Hall within the 1976 immediately after which acquired a record album release through ECM 24 months later. You will find an analytical reliability into the piece, but, owing to repetition, their rivulets off rhythm and you may percussion live and you will inhale such an normal organization. A greatly influential album, Sounds Having 18 Painters is actually beloved from the David Bowie, which revealed it as “Balinese gamelan musical mix-dressing because the minimalism.” Trick tune: “Pulse: Parts We-IV”

4: Tap Metheny: Bright Proportions Existence (1976)

Now a much-my Honors to help you their label, Missouri fretboard maestro Metheny was just 21 when he registered this, their first record for ECM. A threesome date offering coming Weather Report representative Jaco Pastorius for the fretless bass, and you will drummer Bob Moses, Bright Dimensions Lifestyle demonstrably presented you to Metheny had already complex his own unique voice, style, and magnificence. A vivid portrait out of a guitar genius just like the an early on man. Key song: “Brilliant Dimensions Life”

3: Bennie Maupin: The fresh Gem On Lotus (1974)

A beneficial Detroit-born multi-reed son and you can flutist, Maupin’s profession achieved grip after the his appearance towards Kilometers Davis’ Sluts Produce and his registration inside Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi ring into the very early seventies. Hancock looks like section of a sextet on this, Maupin’s merely ECM record album, submitted within the Nyc having Manfred Eicher in the helm. The music is profoundly hypnotic and abstract (commonly to the stage of being eerie and you may otherworldly), but never lower than interesting. Key song: “The fresh new Treasure Throughout the Lotus”

2: Jan Garbarek-Bobo Stenson Quartet: “Witchi-Tai-To” (1974)

An early ECM vintage out of saxophonist Garbarek’s enormous collaboration with Swedish pianist Stenson. At the same time, the brand new 26-year-dated Norwegian had already established themselves as one of Europe’s leading reed members through one or two early in the day albums to possess Manfred Eicher’s label. That one, even if, featuring its glistening improv and symbiotic outfit really works, lay Garbarek for the several other category altogether. Trick track: “Kukka”