Terje Rypdal
Terje Rypdal guitar, flute
Inger Lise Rypdal voice
Ekkehard Fintl oboe, English horn
Jan Garbarek tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet
Bobo Stenson electric piano
Tom Halversen electric piano
Arild Andersen electric bass, double-bass
Bjørnar Andresen electric bass
Jon Christensen percussion
I've been listening too some of my 70's stuff (as always) and often times I get drawn to my early ECM catalog.
Another thing that I frankly have Too much time for is my Amazon store. (I'd rather have a job to go too) Amazon has that clever software that try's to track where you go and select (and propose to you) thing you might want to buy in the future. So...I get a lot of advertising for groups like Chick Corea's Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi (wow, they never pushed this before)
Miles, Heck they even sent me a link to Arve Henriksen.
BUT NO RYPDAL...AND NO EARLY ECM'S
I remember when I was a young, teenage jazz fan, I loved Miles bitches brew and Larry young/Tony Williams. The first time I saw Miles it blew me away! It was too much, went literally over my head.
But I came to love mile's stuff and he became my favorite.
This was when record companies limited what was released, no bonus stuff..or box sets. Just the album and you waited for the next to come out. I was a hendrix nut too, and there was plenty of weird releases and bootlegs...just a lot! But with Miles
No bootlegs, no weird releases. I ran out of stuff, and it seemed like nobody
"brewed" like miles.
Then I discovered the ECM label.The covers were exquisite, just great art and nice concise credits too. The production was cool too, literally! Icy and clean. "The ECM sound"was a selling point all by itself. ECM covered and released some American jazz artist's but what I really enjoyed was hearing european artist's.
My first Non-US artist I really went for was Terje Rypdal, again since I was looking for more "brew" type music I quickly grabbed both Rydal LP's that were out at the time. Rypdal "Terje Rypdal" ECM 1016 and "What Come's after" ECM 1031. Notice, I had Missed Rypdal's first release for over a year.
I think, actually what really grabbed me was Gateway's first release too.
I had seen Abercrombie with Gato barbieri's band and right away knew
he was a favorite!
But, In this period ECM, along with Impulse! Muse, Cobblestone,
was putting out just amazing ground breaking music. See The list I provided.under the review of Rypdals sessions.
Keep It Like That - Tight open's the LP with a funky electric bass beat,
slow and solid, Rypdal joins in and comps choppy electrified licks.
Its a slow burbling brew. Finally Jan Garbarek's burning tenor
takes over with various honks and beeps. Next (briefly)
Bobo Stenson shows off his funky side with a short clavinet/
electric piano solo and finally Terje Rypdal plays a solo
over the entire ensembles sound. Here he shows what the talk
back in 72 (oh..BoB Seger there!) anyway, what guitar heads
(like me) were mumbling about.It aint Bitches Brew..
but its a nice brew all the same.
Rainbow opens very quiet, with Garabreks soprano over and around what
sounds like possibly bowed guitar. Its almost orchestral, yet limited
instrumentation. Rypdal doubles on flute, showing nice
feel for this new instument.
Electric Fantasy Opens quietly as well, with a dreamy feel
Albeit briefly, somehow Ekkehard Fintl, Garbarek and Rypdal manage
to double and make their instruments sound like an orchestra.
Inger Lise Rypdal's voice makes its session debut here,
adding another dreamlike texture, the master Jon Christensen
lays a subtle background on his cymbals as Rypdal and mates create
a sonic palate for Lise's vocals to cover. Just beautiful.
And for my crew, between National Healths Amanda Parson's
and Inger Lise it open up our ears to a new possibility.
Lontano II Is again very quiet, and it was a new thing at the time
to hear a "guitar- hero" who understood the value of space and silence.
Nice tricks by Rypdal here, stretching and bending.
Tough Enough Opens with a rypdal "announcement" that hes going to be heard this time, Its interesting...his tone is almost telecaster-country. As he knocks off riffs,
in the back you can hear a second level of axe-strangulation.
Then it all kicks in, really ala Miles "right-off" I not
even sure Rypdal had heard "right-off, it was released February 24, 1971 in
the United States and probably later in Europe. I just
think good minds work along the same lines.
Recorded August 1971
ECM 1016
Terje Rypdal What Comes After...
Terje Rypdal guitars, flute
Barre Phillips basses
Jon Christensen percussion, organ
Erik Niord Larsen oboe, English horn
Sveinung Hovensjø electric bass
Bend It
Opens with a repeating electric bass line with Rypdal's great tone electric guitars soloing over and around.Clearly, from the start we hear that Mr. Rypdal has been
doing some serious "woodshedding".
His tone and attack have improved greatly since the first release.
"Bend it" comes clearly through the Miles/Mahavishnu filter but Rydal has his own
thing going on.
Yearning features the first extended solo acoustic guitar that I can recall
from rypdal. Its mostly a duet with Erik Niord Larsen's oboe.
Its a delicate interlude and again reminds us that Rypdal (like any good
composer) recognizes the value of "quiet time".
Icing is the music from a dream.Rypdal's touch here is light as is drummer Christensen,who wisely lays off providid bells and a light touch backbeat.Barre Phillips on acoustic bass weave into the mix, which also features
an other worldly oboe, the tune builds to a subdued crescendo then lays off..into..
What Comes After where Rypdals electric guitar is more powerful. He trades off Larsen's oboe while Christensen pushes the combo forward and Hovensjø comes into the mix.The tempo is slow, but with restrained power.Layers of guitars blend off solo's by other members.This, to me is basically early Odyssey music, a taste of where rypdal is moving forward to.
Séjours Opens with bowed bass and oboe, (think hendrix electric church). Here rydal picks up the flute showing off his mixed talents. Sejours is lovely, spacy, storybok music.
Back Of J. Ah yes J. I like to think this is for me. (not!) Barre Phillip and Rypdal play acoustic ( rypdal on spanish guitar) over cymbal washes.Its a laid back ending to a session that shows off many musical ideas.
After listening to "What Comes After" I was left waiting for more. Fortunately Rypdal's
"Whenever I Seem To Be Far Away" and "Odyssey" came fairly soon after, providing
more wonderful sounds to enjoy.
Recorded August 1973
ECM 1031
Here are some other early releases from ECM that I loved.
ECM 1012
Bobo Stenson
Underwear
℗1971 Recorded May 18 & 19, 1971 at the Bendiksen Studio, Oslo
Engineer: Jan Erik Kongshaug
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1015
Jan Garbarek Quintet
SART
℗1971 Recorded April 14 & 15, 1971 at the Arne Bendiksen Studio, Oslo
Engineer: Jan Erik Kongshaug
Produced by Manfred Eicher
Also reissued on CD as part of a box set ECM 2146/48
ECM 1016
Terje Rypdal
℗1971 Recorded August 12 & 13, 1971, Bendiksen Studio, Oslo
Engineer: Jan Erik Kongshaug
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1022
Chick Corea
Return To Forever
℗1972 Recorded February 2 and 3, 1972 at A & R Studios New York City
Engineer: Tony May
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1024
Gary Burton / Chick Corea
Crystal Silence
℗1973 Recorded November 6, 1972 at Arne Bendiksen Studio, Oslo
Engineer: Jan Erik Kongshaug
Produced by Manfred Eicher
Also reissued on CD as part of a box set ECM 2036/39
ECM 1028
Paul Motian
Conception Vessel
℗1973 Recorded November 25, 26, 1972 at Butterfly and Sound Ideas Studios, New York
Engineer: Kurt ... / George Klabin
Produced by Manfred Eicher
This album is part of the ECM Touchstones series.
ECM 1031
Terje Rypdal
What Comes After
℗1974 Recorded August 7 and 8, 1973 at Arne Bendiksen Studio, Oslo
Engineer: Jan Erik Kongshaug
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1039
Dave Liebman
Lookout Farm
℗1974 Recorded October 10 & 11, 1973
Generation Sound Studios
Engineer: Tony May
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1042
Eberhard Weber
When I first heard Weber..I was AMAZED!
The Colours of Chloë
℗1973 Recorded March 1975 at Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg
Engineer: K. Rapp, M. Wieland
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1043
Bennie Maupin
really, More Mwandishi ( a very good thing)
The Jewel In The Lotus
℗1974 Recorded March 1974, Record Plant, New York
Engineer: Dennis Ferrante
Produced by Manfred Eicher
Remastered by Manfred Eicher with Jan Erik Kongshaug in Oslo in February 2007.
Released on CD by ECM in August 2007.
ECM 1044
Julian Priester Pepo Mtoto
really, More Mwandishi
Love, Love
℗1974 Recorded June 28 & September 12, 1973 at Different Fur Music, San Francisco
Engineer: John Viera and Dane Butcher
Produced by Julian Priester and Pat Gleeson
ECM 1045
Terje Rypdal
Just wonderful music
Whenever I Seem To Be Far Away
?1974 Recorded 1974 in Oslo and Ludwigsburg
Engineer: Kongshaug and Wieland
Produced by Manfred Eicher
Also reissued on CD as part of a box set ECM 2136/39
ECM 1046
Dave Liebman
Drum Ode
?1975 Recorded May 1974, Record Plant, New York
Engineer: Jay Messina
Produced by Manfred Eicher
Available as a digital download from Amazon.com.
ECM 1047
John Abercrombie
Here is Abercrombie LET LOOSE!
Timeless
?1975 Recorded June 11 & 12, 1974, Generation Sound Studios, New York
Engineer: Tony May, Jan Erik Kongshaug
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1048
Paul Motian
Tribute
?1975 Recorded May 1974, Generation Sound Studios, New York
Engineer: Tony May, Martin Wieland
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1050
Keith Jarrett
Belonging
?1974 Recorded April 24 and 25, 1974 at Arne Bendiksen Studio, Oslo
Engineer: Jan Erik Kongshaug
Produced by Manfred Eicher
Released in Japan as UCCU-5213
ECM 1051
Gary Burton Quintet w/ Eberhard Weber
What a great band
Ring
?1974 Recorded July 23 and 24, 1974 at Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg
Engineer: Martin Wieland
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1054
Richard Beirach
Eon
?1975 Recorded November 1974 at Generation Sound Studios, New York
Engineer: Tony May
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1057
Bill Connors
Theme To The Gaurdian
?1975 Recorded November 1974 at Arne Bendiksen Studio, Oslo
Engineer: Jan Erik Kongshaug
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1059
Arild Andersen
Clouds In My Head
My first taste of this great bassist
?1975 Recorded February 1975 at Arne Bendiksen Studio, Oslo
Engineer: Jan Erik Kongshaug
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1060
Ralph Towner
Solstice
?1975 Recorded December 1974 at Arne Bendiksen Studio, Oslo
Engineer: Jan Erik Kongshaug
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1061
John Abercrombie / David Holland / Jack DeJohnette
Incredible, a desert island disk!
Gateway
Recorded March 1975 at Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg
Engineer: Martin Wieland
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1062
Collin Walcott
Cloud Dance
Abercrombie is all over this!! A wonderful session.
Recorded March 1975 at Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg
Engineer: Martin Wieland
Produced by Manfred Eicher
ECM 1063
Enrico Rava
The Pilgrim And The Stars
a great session...where I first heard Ravas playing...Abercrombie is all over this!!
Recorded June 1975 at Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg
Engineer: Martin Wieland
Produced by Manfred Eicher
This album is part of the ECM Touchstones series.
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