When German producer Manfred Eischer launched the ECM label back in the ’70s it was considered as just one of the fringe jazz labels. Through the decades, though, ECM became renowned for innovation in jazz and one of the revered labels with specific sounds, including its off-shot labels.
To continue its development, the label has become the latest record company to launch an audiophile-focused vinyl reissue imprint with the announcement today (8 March) of the Luminessence series.
ECM says that Luminessence aims to “shed light on the jewels of the label’s deep catalog in elegant, high-quality editions.” Some albums will be offered in exclusive facsimile editions, others “framed in high-grade gatefolds that include new liner notes offering historical context and fresh perspectives, while again others have been long out of print or even never before released on vinyl.” Most will be cut from the original analog master tapes.
Launching the series on 28 April are Kenny Wheeler’s Gnu High and Naná Vasconcelos’ Saudades, which were recorded in 1975 and 1979 respectively. Gnu High was Wheeler’s ECM debut, featuring a stunning quartet with Keith Jarrett on piano, Dave Holland on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums.
Among the many other significant ECM recordings appearing on Luminessence will be Keith Jarrett’s Bremen Lausanne 3-LP box set Jan Garbarek’s Afric Pepperbird as well as Madar, by Garbarek and Anouar Brahem, which appears on vinyl for the first time. All of these records were produced by Manfred Eischer.
