LARS DANIELSSON with Bugge Wesseltoft + Nils Petter Molvær — Mélange Bleu (2006) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

"A masterpiece - a convincing, finely balanced blend of acoustic moods and electronic ambient sounds." - JAZZTHING ACT
Tracklist :
1    Mélange Bleu    3:59
 Written-By, Arranged By – Lars Danielsson
2    Makro 5:29
 Written-By, Arranged By – Lars Danielsson
Sampler [Beats & Samples] – Mario Basanov, Vytas Basanov
3    Les Coulisses 4:47
Written-By, Arranged By – Bugge Wesseltoft, Lars Danielsson
4    Ironside 7:39
 Written-By, Arranged By – Lars Danielsson
Synthesizer – Gustaf Ljunggren
Voice – Caecilie Norby
5    Judas Bolero    19:49
 Written-By, Arranged By – Lars Danielsson
6    Minor People 3:52
 Written-By, Arranged By – Lars Danielsson
Piano [Solo] – Bugge Wesseltoft
7    Sketches Of Twelve 10:33
Written-By, Arranged By – Bugge Wesseltoft, Lars Danielsson
8    Naive    5:28
 Written-By, Arranged By – Lars Danielsson
9    Bacchanalia 4:07
 Written-By, Arranged By – Lars Danielsson
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Lars Danielsson
10    After Zero    4:17
 Written-By, Arranged By – Lars Danielsson
Credits :
Lars Danielsson – Cello, Acoustic Bass, Fender Bass, Piano, Fender Rhodes
Bugge Wesseltoft – Piano
Nils Petter Molvær – Trumpet
Eivind Aarset – Guitar
Jon Christensen – Drums, Percussion
Anders Engen - Drums
Jan Bang – Samples, Livesampling
Pål ''Strangefruit'' Nyhus – Vinyl Channeling
Vytas & Mario Basanov – Beats & Samples
Cæcilie Norby - Voices
Gustaf Ljunggren – Steel Guitar, Syntheziser
Xavier Desandre Navarre - Percussion

LARS DANIELSSON — Libera Me (2004) SACD, Hybrid | APE (image+.cue), lossless

This intriguing set features the compositions and bass playing of Lars Danielsson. The music is beautifully recorded, often sparse (à la ECM) and thoughtful. The instrumentation varies from track-to-track even if the mood tends to stay quiet and reflective. Soprano-saxophonist David Liebman is featured on "Libera Me," singer Caecilie Norby has a guest pop vocal on "Newborne Broken," and the Danish Radio Concert Orchestra is heard with their huge string section on a few numbers, sometimes sounding a little sleepy. Other than a few spots for Nils Petter Molvaer's introspective trumpet, most of the other solos are by bassist Danielsson. This melodic set works well as both background music and for close listening although it develops slowly. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Asta    5:38
Written-By – Lars Danielsson
2    Suffering    6:39
Written-By – Lars Danielsson
3    The Teacher    2:49
Written-By – Lars Danielsson
4    Newborn Broken    5:35
Lyrics By – Cæcilie Norby
Music By – Lars Danielsson
Voice – Cæcilie Norby
5    Libera Me    7:19
Arranged By – Lars Danielsson
Written-By – Gabriel Fauré
6    Shimmering    6:01
Written-By – Lars Danielsson
7    Granada    6:29
Written-By – Lars Danielsson
8    Both Sides Now    3:15
Written-By – Joni Mitchell
9    Forever You    4:03
Written-By – Lars Danielsson
10    Bird Through The Wall    2:13
Written-By – Lars Danielsson
11    Cornelia    6:48
Written-By – Lars Danielsson
– BONUS TRACK –
12    Asnah    7:22
Cello, Sampler – Lars Danielsson
Drums – Jon Christensen
Orchestra – DR Danish Radio Concert Orchestra
Percussion – Xavier Desandre Navarre
Sampler – Jan Bang
Trumpet – Nils Petter Molvær
Voice – Cæcilie Norby
Credits :
Acoustic Bass, Cello, Piano, Producer – Lars Danielsson (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5)
Conductor – Frans Rasmussen
Cymbal [Cymbals] – Anders Kjellberg (tracks: 2, 4)
Drums – Jon Christensen (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8 to 10)
Guitar – Carsten Dahl (tracks: 2, 9), Lars Danielsson (tracks: 4)
Orchestra – DR Danish Radio Concert Orchestra
Percussion – Jon Christensen (tracks: 6, 10), Xavier Desandre Navarre (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5)
Piano – Tobias Sjögren (tracks: 4)
Sampler [Samples] – Jan Bang (tracks: 6)
Saxophone [Soprano] – David Liebman (tracks: 5)
Trumpet – Nils Petter Molvær (tracks: 1, 6, 10)
Vocals – Cæcilie Norby (tracks: 4)

MARILYN MAZUR'S FUTURE SONGS — Small Labyrinths (1997) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    A World Of Gates 2:12
Composed By – M. Mazur
2    Drum Tunnel 2:24
Composed By – A. Kleive, M. Mazur
3    The Electric Cave 1:43
Composed By – E. Aarset, M. Mazur, N. P. Molvær
4    The Dreamcatcher 5:45
Composed By – Marilyn Mazur
5    Visions In The Wood 5:30
Composed By – A. Kleive, K. Hovman, M. Mazur
6    Back To Dreamfog Mountain 6:03
Composed By – M. Mazur
7    Creature Talk 1:11
Composed By – A. Kleive, M. Mazur
8    See There 7:18
Composed By – M. Mazur
9    Valley Of Fragments 1:21
Composed By – Future Song
10    Enchanted Place 3:12
Composed By – Future Song
11    Castle Of Air 4:20
Composed By – M. Mazur
12    The Holey 7:13
Composed By – M. Mazur
Credits :
Bass [Basses] – Klavs Hovman
Drums – Audun Kleive
Guitar – Eivind Aarset
Percussion – Marilyn Mazur
Piano, Keyboards – Elvira Plenar
Producer [Album Produced By] – Manfred Eicher
Saxophone [Saxophones] – Hans Ulrik
Trumpet – Nils Petter Molvær
Voice – Aina Kemanis

MANU KATCHÉ - Touchstone for Manu (2014) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A specially-price limited edition compilation of the best of Manu Katché on ECM. Here the French drummer is joined in performances of his tunes by an outstanding cast of soloists including Jan Garbarek, Tomasz Stanko, Nils Petter Molvӕr, Trygve Seim, Mathias Eick, Marcin Wasilewski, Tore Brunborg, and Jacob Young. Recorded 2004 -2012 in Oslo, New York and Pernes-les-Fontaines, and drawn from his widely acclaimed albums “Neighbourhood”, “Playground”, “Third Round” and “Manu Katché”. ecm
Tracklist :
1    Song For Her 6'31
(Manu Katché)
2    Number One 6'13
(Manu Katché)
3    Take Off And Land 4'02
(Manu Katché)
4    So Groovy 5'52
(Manu Katché)
5    Morning Joy 5'29
(Manu Katché)
6    Keep On Trippin' 5'32
(Manu Katché)
7    Senses 4'12
(Manu Katché)
8    Swing Piece 4'50
(Manu Katché)
9    Running After Years 6'16
(Manu Katché)
10    Slowing The Tides 5'35
(Manu Katché)
11    Bliss 4'20
(Manu Katché)
Credits :
Manu Katché - Drums
Jan Garbarek - Tenor Saxophone
Tomasz Stanko - Trumpet
Marcin Wasilewski - Piano
Slawomir Kurkiewicz - Double Bass
Trygve Seim - Tenor Saxophone
Mathias Eick - Trumpet
Jacob Young - Guitar
Pino Palladino - Bass
Jason Rebello - Piano
Jim Watson - Piano, Hammond B3 Organ
Tore Brunborg - Saxophones, Tenor Saxophone
Nils Petter Molvaer - Trumpet, Loops    

MANU KATCHÉ - Manu Katché (2012) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Eponymously-titled album from Manu Katché. On his fourth ECM disc, Manu’s unique drumming sets the scene and direction, with compositions and arrangements radiating outward from its rhythm-patterns. His strongly propulsive yet relaxed groove is unlike any other drummer’s, and it lifts up the soloists. Personnel in the ever-changing Katché band currently includes Norwegians Nils Pettter Molvær and Tore Brunborg, first heard together on ECM in the band Masqualero in the 1980s: they still play most attractively together. British keyboardist Jim Watson also makes a strong showing with minimalistically-insistent as well as lyrical piano and thick, swirling organ. Recorded March 2012 in the South of France, and issued on the eve of a major European tour. ecm
Tracklist :
1    Running After Years 6'23
(Manu Katché)
2    Bliss 4'22
(Manu Katché)
3    Loving You 4'38
(Manu Katché)
4    Walking By Your Side 5'31
(Manu Katché)
5    Imprint 5'19
(Manu Katché)
6    Short Ride 4'05
(Manu Katché)
7    Beats & Bounce 8'28
(Manu Katché)
8    Slowing The Tides 5'36
(Manu Katché)
9    Loose 5'28
(Manu Katché)
10    Dusk On Carnon 2'20
(Manu Katché)
Credits :
Manu Katché - Drums
Nils Petter Molvaer - Trumpet, Loops
Tore Brunborg - Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone
Jim Watson - Piano, Hammond B3 Organ

MARILYN MAZUR'S FUTURE SONG - Small Labyrinths (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Marilyn Mazur is best known today as the flamboyant percussionist at the heart of the Jan Garbarek Group (Twelve Moons, Visible World), speeding around an ever burgeoning array of multi-ethnic metal, wood and clay instruments. Garbarek: 'Marilyn is like the wind. An elemental force.' Prior employers Gil Evans, Wayne Shorter, and Miles Davis have similarly valued her pervasive, penetrating percussion. Marilyn drew up the blueprint for Future Song - an American-Danish-Nowegian-Yugoslavian musical alliance - while working the stadiums with Miles in 1989 and the group has survived with intact personnel for eight years. Mazur says: 'The music is intended to be like a living organism, expanding through specific dramatic sequences into more open structures. It represents a wide dynamic spectrum, explores many emotions.' Small Labyrinths is the Danish-American percussionist's leader-date debut for ECM. ecm
Tracklist :
1    A World Of Gates 2'12
(Marilyn Mazur)
2    Drum Tunnel 2'24
(Marilyn Mazur, Audun Kleive)
3    The Electric Cave 1'43
(Marilyn Mazur, Eivind Aarset, Nils Petter Molvaer)
4    The Dreamcatcher 5'45
(Marilyn Mazur)
5    Visions In The Wood 5'30
(Klavs Hovman, Audun Kleive, Marilyn Mazur)
6    Back To Dreamfog Mountain 6'03
(Marilyn Mazur)
7    Creature Talk 1'11
(Marilyn Mazur, Audun Kleive)
8    See There 7'18
(Marilyn Mazur)
9    Valley Of Fragments 1'21
(Marilyn Mazur)
10    Enchanted Place 3'12
(Marilyn Mazur)
11    Castle Of Air 4'20
(Marilyn Mazur)
12    The Holey 7'13
(Marilyn Mazur)
Credits :
Marilyn Mazur - Percussion
Aina Kemanis - Voice
Hans Ulrik - Saxophones
Nils Petter Molvaer - Trumpet
Eivind Aarset - Guitar
Elvira Plenar - Piano, Keyboards
Klavs Hovman - Basses
Audun Kleive - Drums

SIDSEL ENDRESEN - So I Write (1990) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist
1    So I Write 7'49
(Jon Balke)
2    This Is The Movie 6'02
(Jon Balke)
3    Dreamland 3'59
(Jon Balke)
4    Words 6'26
(Audun Kleive)
5    Mirror Images 5'09
(Django Bates)
6    Spring 5'06
(Audun Kleive)
7    Truth 7'20
(Eivin One Pedersen)
8    Horses In Rain 5'54
(Django Bates)
Credits :
Sidsel Endresen - Voice
Django Bates - Piano, Tenor Horn
Nils Petter Molvaer - Trumpet
Jon Christensen - Drums, Percussion
 

SIDSEL ENDRESEN - Exile (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The material on Exile, the second ECM album by singer/poet Sidsel Endresen, had its genesis in a commission from the Molde Inter­national Jazz Festival 1993. Working outward from the lyrics, using them as the basis for a larger form, Endresen conceived a series of linked songs, con­nected by atmosphere and theme that she was to title "Pagan Pilgrimage". Some musical ideas were communicated together with the lyrics to the co-composers she had chosen for the task; other pieces she developed herself, in collaboration with the arranger for the whole work: Morten Halle.

Audience reaction to "Pagan Pilgrimage" was extremely positive, and the Norwegian press seconded the crowd's emotions. Terje Mosnes, in leading daily Dagbladet, spoke of "seventy-five minutes of beautiful music, with evocative harmonies and dissonances and surprising melody lines". Mosnes continued: "Only an artist with strong musicality and vocal control can allow herself to choose such a naked, vulnerable form as she does, and still make the listening experience so gratifying and rich."

However, a successful stage presentation does not necessarily translate effortlessly into the recorded medium. In the studio (Oslo's Rainbow studio), the decision was taken to depart from the larger form of "Pagan Pilgrimage", and concentrate on the separate pieces. Some sections were excised altogether, new elements were added, including improvised pieces by Endresen and David Darling. The album, then, is presented as a collection of songs – lyrics by Endresen –  music by Django Bates, Jon Balke, Jon Eberson, Darling and Endresen herself – grouped under the title Exile. ecm
Tracklist
1    Here The Moon 2'29
(Sidsel Endresen)
2    Quest 6'31
(Jon Eberson)
3    Stages I, II, III 7'46
(Django Bates)
4    Hunger 6'25
(David Darling)
5    Theme I 2'11
(Sidsel Endresen, David Darling)
6    Waiting Train 3'50
(Jon Eberson)
7    The Dreaming 4'37
(Jon Balke)
8    Dust 7'59
(Jon Eberson)
9    Variation III 3'10
(Jon Christensen, David Darling)
10    Theme II 2'31
(Sidsel Endresen, David Darling)
11    Exile 8'08
(Sidsel Endresen)
Credits :
Sidsel Endresen - Voice
Django Bates - Piano, Tenor Horn
Nils Petter Molvaer - Trumpet
Jon Christensen - Drums, Percussion
David Darling - Cello
Jens Bugge Wesseltoft - Keyboards 

Nils Petter Molvær - Solid Ether (2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Solid Ether continues the work begun on the highly-popular Khmer. The Norwegian trumpeter's liquid sound floats weightlessly in ambient electronic aether, or vaults over thunderous beats, rock-derived guitar and the noises of DJ Strangefruit's spun turntables. Singer Sidsel Endresen guests on two acoustic cuts that offer a moment's respite from the heavy, heady grooves.  ecm
Tracklist :
1    Dead Indeed 7'30
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
2    Vilderness 1 7'48
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
3    Kakonita 4'59
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
4    Merciful 1 1'02
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
5    Ligotage 6'43
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
6    Trip 6'24
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
7    Vilderness 2 4'56
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
8    Tragamar 4'45
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
9    Solid Ether 5'12
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
10    Merciful 2 1'13
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
Credits :
Nils Petter Molvaer - Piccolo Trumpet, Trumpet, Synthesizer, Basses, Loops, Electronics, Samples, Synth-Bass, Percussion, Effects, Electronic Trumpet, Keyboard, Vocoder Trumpet, Voice Effects, Beats, Piano
Elvind Aarset - Guitar, Electronics
Audun Erlien - Bass
Paal Nyhus - Beats, Samples, Voices, Vinyl, Ambience
Per Linvall - Drums
Rune Arnesen - Drums
Sidsel Endresen - Vocal

Nils Petter Molvær - Khmer (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Massive beats and throbbing grooves underpin the Norwegian trumpeter's fiery solos in a project that forms a bridge between ECM's improvised soundscapes and the brave new world of trip-hop, drum'n'bass, ambient/illbient, techno, industrial, electronica and samples. Nils Petter Molvær may be best known for his jazz work - with most of the leading Scandinavian players and with Elvin Jones, Gary Peacock, and George Russell - but he also has vast experience as a rock sessioneer. Khmer brings jazz's freedom and pop/rock's sound potential together. ecm
Tracklist :
1    Khmer 4'59
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
2    Tløn 7'52
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
3    Access / Song Of Sand I 5'50
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
4    On Stream 5'01
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
5    Platonic Years 6'33
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
6    Phum 3'39
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
7    Song Of Sand II 6'10
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
8    Exit 2'42
(Nils Petter Molvaer)
Credits :
Nils Petter Molvaer - Trumpet, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Samples
Eivind Aarset - Guitars, Treatments, Talk Box
Morten Molster - Guitar
Roger Ludvigsen - Guitar, Percussion, Dulcimer
Rune Arnesen - Drums
Ulf W.O. Holand - Samples
Reidar Skar - Sound Treatment 

TRILOK GURTU - Spellbound (20013) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Indian-born percussionist Trilok Gurtu pays homage to avant-garde trumpeter Don Cherry with 2013's Spellbound. As a member of Cherry's band from 1976 to 1978, Gurtu experienced Cherry's cross-cultural approach to music firsthand, an approach that greatly influenced his own musical direction. Bookended by two tracks Gurtu recorded with Cherry prior to the pocket trumpeter's death in 1995, Spellbound picks up on Cherry's mix of groove-oriented sounds from Indian to Afro-Cuban music to funk, free jazz, classical, and ambient improvisation. Joining Gurtu here are a handful of trumpeters who, in their own way, evoke the adventurous spirit of Cherry's improvisation, including Italian trumpeter Paolo Fresu, Norway's Nils Petter Molvær, German multi-talent Matthias Schriefl, Lebanese quarter-tone trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf, and Turkey's Hasan Gözetlik. Spellbound is an engaging, stylistically varied album that truly evokes the magic of Cherry's music. by Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1    Improvisation Live: Don Cherry & Trilok Gurtu 0'33
Written-By – Don Cherry, Trilok Gurtu
2    Manteca 4'36
Arranged By – Trilok Gurtu, Tulug Tirpan
Bass – Jonathan Cuniado
Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Keyboards [Additional Keyboards] – Trilok Gurtu
Keyboards – Tulug Tirpan
Percussion [Additional Percussion] – Nitin Shankar
Trumpet – Hasan Gözetlik
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie, Walter Fuller, Luciano Gonzales
3    Jack Johnson / Black Satin 9'38
Arranged By – Trilok Gurtu
Bass – Jonathan Cuniado
Drums, Percussion, Tambura [Tumbura], Tabla – Trilok Gurtu
Keyboards – Tulug Tirpan
Keyboards [Additional Keyboards] – Carlo Cantini
Trumpet – Nils Petter Molvaer
Written-By – Miles Davis
4    Cuckoo 4'55
Arranged By – Trilok Gurtu, Wolf Kerschek
Bass – Jonathan Cuniado
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Trilok Gurtu
Keyboards – Tulug Tirpan
Trumpet – Ibrahim Maalouf
Written-By – Trilok Gurtu
5    Berchidda 5'33
Arranged By – Trilok Gurtu, Wolf Kerschek
Bass – Jonathan Cuniado
Drums, Percussion, Tabla, Keyboards [Additional Keyboards] – Trilok Gurtu
Keyboards – Tulug Tirpan
Trumpet, Effects – Paolo Fresu
Written-By – Trilok Gurtu
6    Like Popcorn 4'23
Arranged By – Trilok Gurtu, Wolf Kerschek
Bass – Jonathan Cuniado
Drums, Percussion, Tabla, Keyboards [Additional Keyboards] – Trilok Gurtu
Keyboards – Tulug Tirpan
Percussion [Additional Percussion] – Nitin Shankar
Trumpet – Matthias Schriefl
Written-By – Trilok Gurtu
7    Haunting 5'15
Arranged By – Trilok Gurtu, Wolf Kerschek
Bass – Jonathan Cuniado
Cello – Jakob Janeschitz-Kreigel
Drums, Percussion – Trilok Gurtu
English Horn – Helene Traub
Piano – Tulug Tirpan
Soloist – Matthias Höfs
Trumpet – Matthias Höfs
Written-By – Trilok Gurtu
Written-By [Solo For Matthias Höfs] – Wolf Kerschek
8    Universal Mother 6'29
Bass – Jonathan Cuniado
Drums, Percussion – Trilok Gurtu
Keyboards – Tulug Tirpan
Trumpet – Ibrahim Maalouf
Written-By – Don Cherry
9    Spellbound 4'32
Bass – Jonathan Cuniado
Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Keyboards [Additional Keyboards] – Trilok Gurtu
Keyboards – Tulug Tirpan
Trumpet – Nils Petter Molvaer
Written-By – Trilok Gurtu
10    All Blues 6'41
Arranged By – Trilok Gurtu, Tulug Tirpan
Bass – Jonathan Cuniado
Drums, Percussion, Tabla – Trilok Gurtu
Piano – Tulug Tirpan
Soloist [1st Solo] – Ambrose Akinmusire
Soloist [2nd Solo] – Matthias Höfs
Trumpet – Ambrose Akinmusire
Trumpet [Doublebell Trumpet] – Matthias Höfs
Written-By – Miles Davis
Written-By [2nd Solo] – Wolf Kerschek
11    Cosmic Roundabout / Brown Rice 4'39
Bass – Jonathan Cuniado
Drums, Percussion, Tabla – Trilok Gurtu
Keyboards – Tulug Tirpan
Trumpet, Effects – Paolo Fresu
Written-By [Brown Rice] – Don Cherry
Written-By [Cosmic Roundabout] – Trilok Gurtu
12    Thank You By Don Cherry 0'15
Speech – Don Cherry