Paul Motian ECM Box

[Steve Reynolds]

I have been enjoying the first 4 discs for a bit now. I had heard Psalm and It shoud've happened a long time ago in the past but I havn't moved on to those later recordings via this box as of yet.

The trio discs with Brackeen are wonderous, with Le Voyage sounding like no other recording I own.

The sound of these recordings are nothing like the current ECM offerings I have heard with the bass recorded as nicely as I have ever heard - Haden on Tribute sounds incredible and JF Jenny Clark on Le Voyage the same.

comments welcome

Charles Brackeen soprano and tenor saxophones
Carlos Ward alto saxophone
Joe Lovano tenor saxophone
Billy Drewes tenor and alto saxophones
Sam Brown acoustic, electric guitars
Paul Metzke electric guitar
Bill Frisell guitar, guitar synthesizer
Keith Jarrett flute, piano
Leroy Jenkins violin
Becky Friend flute
Charlie Haden double bass
David Izenzon double bass
J.F. Jenny-Clark double bass
Ed Schuller double bass
Paul Motian drums, percussion

CD 1
Conception Vessel (ex-ECM 1028)
Georgian Bay
Ch´i Energy
Rebica
Conception Vessel
American Indian: Song of Sitting Bull
Inspiration from a Vietnamese Lullaby

CD 2
Tribute (ex-ECM 1048)
Victoria
Tuesday Ends Saturday
War Orphans
Sod House
Song for Ché

CD 3
Dance (ex-ECM 1108)
Waltz Song
Dance
Kalypso
Asia
Prelude
Lullaby

CD 4
Le Voyage (ex-ECM 1138)
Folk Song for Rosie
Abacus
Cabala/Drum Music
The Sunflower
Le Voyage

CD 5
Psalm (ex-ECM 1222)
Psalm
White Magic
Boomerang
Fantasm
Mandeville
Second Hand
Etude
Yahllah

CD 6
It should´ve happened
a long time ago (ex-ECM 1283)
It should´ve happened a long time ago
Fiasco
Conception Vessel
Introduction
India
In the Year of the Dragon
Two Women from Padua

Recorded November 1972, May 1974, September 1977, March 1979, December 1981 & July 1984

ECM 2260-65

[jlhoots]

Agreed - great box set!

[alankin]

I picked this up but haven't gotten to it yet. The Soul Note box is also a good box.

[mjzee]

I'm currently listening to the Soul Note box. His recordings have an interesting quality, like no other "free-ish" jazz I know. Almost a rustic, folk-like quality. He also doesn't shy away from having beautiful melodies and sonorities (on occasion). I really hear how he influenced the Jarrett "American" quartet. Does the ECM box differ from the Soul Note box, or is it more of the same? The Soul Note seems to begin when the ECM ended.

[Steve Reynolds]

having heard a few of the Soul Note recordings over the years, I think the ECM material is stronger, better sounding and is more diverse. Each disc save for the two trio sessions with Brackeen, are all quite unlike each other.

And the Brackeen sessions are priceless - unavailable for many years, and as you may know, Brackeen is not very well documented in relation to his abilities.

[NIS]

Of coarse I haven't heard everything he has done but "Tribute" is easily my favorite Paul Motian

[Guy Berger]

I'm currently listening to the Soul Note box. His recordings have an interesting quality, like no other "free-ish" jazz I know. Almost a rustic, folk-like quality. He also doesn't shy away from having beautiful melodies and sonorities (on occasion). I really hear how he influenced the Jarrett "American" quartet. Does the ECM box differ from the Soul Note box, or is it more of the same? The Soul Note seems to begin when the ECM ended.

Mostly different. The ECM box includes these four albums:

1. Conception Vessel (1972, ECM - mixed ensembles)

2. Tribute (1974, ECM)

3. Dance (1977, ECM - trio with Brackeen and Izenzon)

4. Le Voyage (1979, ECM - trio with Brackeen and Jenny Clark)

Then the group with Frisell and Lovano gets started, albums dispersed on both labels:

5. Psalm (1981, ECM, add Billy Drewes and Ed Schuller)

6. The Story of Maryam (1983, Soul Note, with Jim Pepper and Schuller)

7. Jack of Clubs (1984, Soul Note, with Pepper and Schuller)

8. It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago (1985, ECM, trio only)

9. Misterioso (1986, Soul Note, with Pepper and Schuller)

10. One Time Out (1987, Soul Note, trio only)

1-4 sound quite distinct from the later albums due to different personnel. Within 5-10, the different production values of ECM and Soul Note give the albums a different vibe.

Anyway, I also recently picked up the ECM box. I've had four of the albums in this box (1, 2, 3, 5) but wanted 4 & 6 (I've heard a few tracks apiece from these two). Of the ones I've heard separately, Tribute is definitely my favorite. Dance was a bit of a disappointment, quite restrained. And Psalm is a fun listen but the Soul Note quintet albums are better IMHO.

[StarThrower]

After a couple months of hesitation, I relented and ordered a copy. I already have Tribute, and Psalm, and a few of the Brackeen tracks on the Rarum compilation, but for 30 bucks it's worth having the rest of the material.

[alankin]

Does anyone have the Winter & Winter "On Broadway" box? I have some of the other JMT/W&W Motian titles and like the ones I have.

[jlhoots]

Does anyone have the Winter & Winter "On Broadway" box? I have some of the other JMT/W&W Motian titles and like the ones I have.

I don't have the box. I do have several of the single CDs.

They're very good IMHO.