The stage set on the Terje Rypdal video is incredible, like some 70s sci-fi Stonehenge!
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Had some free time so here are more ECM related videos and band suggestions:
Gateway, a meeting of 3 masters in John Abercrombie, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette
On that note here is âTrio Beyondâ, a tribute band to Tony Williamsâ Lifetime groups, with John Scofield, Larry Goldings and Jack DeJohnette. They recorded one album called Saudade on the label.
Charles Lloyd recorded with several great bands while on the label. This might be my favorite (although missing Brad Mehldau on piano, who was on the 2 albums they recorded together).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXo84bIAys0
This is the seminal âConference of the Birdsâ band led by Dave Holland. The album is an ECM mainstay, as they also put out a lot of important Free Jazz albums, especially in the 1970âs and early 80âs.
If you do like Free Jazz, my recommendations on the label are Sam Riversâ âContrastsâ; âARCâ by Chick Corea, Barry Altschul and Dave Holland and âCircle: Paris Concertâ with Anthony Braxton joining them; âOld and New Dreamsâ and âPlayingâ by Old and New Dreams (Don Cherry, Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden & Paul Motian).
Some people donât know or remember that the first âReturn to Foreverâ album is actually a solo Chick Corea album on ECM, and fortunately there is fantastic footage of that early band with Airto Moreira on drums:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mah3EfheWz8
Dave Hollandâs Quintet of the early 2000âs is another important band on the label. Very funky music:
And finally, four records I want to point out of large ensemble bands on the label that are really worth checking out. The first is the âItalian Instabile Orchestraâ self-titled record. Next is the french Orchestre National de Jazzâs record called âCharmediterraneanâ with Gianluigi Trovesi and Anouar Brahem as guest musicians, both label stalwarts. The third record is Trovesiâs own âProfumo di Violettaâ which is Trovesiâs love letter to the opera and was recorded with a traditional large horn-heavy italian band. Finally Enrico Rava made a record called âOn the Dance Floorâ which is all Michael Jackson covers with the Parco della Musica Jazz Lab. Very weird to hear MJâs songs being done by a bunch of young Italian jazz musiscians with Rava leading in his characteristic laid back style.
More when I rememberâŠ
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Dammit, I barely hit submit and remembered Dino Saluzzi, the fantastic bandoneon player and true heir to Astor Piazolla - but so much more. A total genius. Anything he recorded on ECM is worth listening to, but âOjos Negrosâ with cellist Anja Lechner, âSenderosâ with drummer Jon Christensen and âCitĂ© de la Musiqueâ are some of my favorites. A few videos:
Arild Andersen, with Jon Balke on piano, 2 ECM greats.
Steve Tibbetts âSafe Journey.â I have a bunch of ECM but thatâs the one that stays in permanent rotation.
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Thank you so much. I started from the top with Ralph Townerâs Solstice and will work my way down, I get the feeling this might get expensive 
Fluid Rustle 
Absolutely love this and will be checking out the rest of his work.
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It was my entry point into the ECM catalog, and a great album!
ECM, this thread will no doubt end up with me spending money I donât have!
Amazingly, picked up promo copies of a couple of Pat Metheny albums here in BK, definitely the best LP pressings in my modest collection.
Conference of the Birds is great. My most played ECM release.
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This was gifted to me last week. No idea if itâs hard to find or not but definitely a quality document and includes a two page spread of Eichner and Jarrett playing table tennis 
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This record is beautiful. Copping it now. 
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did a 3 hour ECM mix with ijf Boulet for the Stroom label when it was still a radio channel some years ago:
https://www.mixcloud.com/ijfijfijfijf/ecm-special/
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https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mzqadzyY-dclNmpsmzFcvI-2FBXNmpd3E
Always really dug this. Itâs like Mu Part 3.
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Absolutely, forgot to mention this. Pristine recording of 2 geniuses.
Yeah thatâs exactly what it is. Just two of the best guys doing their best. Never gets old.
My favorite ECM releases:
Julian Priester Pepo Mtoto, Love, Love
Benny Maupin, The Jewel in the Lotus
Kenny Wheeler, Music for Large and Small Ensembles
Pat Metheny, Offramp
Steve Reich, Music for 18 Musicians
Leo Smith, Divine Love
Anouar Brahem, Le pas de chat noir
Old and New Dreams, Old and New Dreams and Playing
Azimuth, Azimuth, How It Was Then, The Touchstone, Azimuth â85
Marion Brown, Afternoon of a Georgia Fawn
Elton Dean, Boundaries
Codona, Codona 1, 2, and 3
Don Cherry & Ed Blackwell, El CorazĂłn
Dollar Brand, African Piano
Jon Hassell, Power Spot
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcYqvNCL8k8&ab_channel=MickGoodrick-Topic
RIP Mick Goodrick. he recorded this sole record for the label, and I like it a lot. Much more influential guitar player than most people know. Taught at Berklee for a long time, mentored people like Pat Metheny.
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Bright Size Life with a young Jaco Pastorious, Bob Moses and Pat Metheney is one of the greatest ever. Kenny Wheeler - Music for Small and Large Ensemble, is a masterpiece.
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