Luminessence, ECM’s new audiophile vinyl-reissue series, is a kaleidoscope, shedding light on the jewels of the label’s deep catalogue in elegant, high-quality editions. The hallmarks of the series, original and evocative music, imaginatively played and sensitively produced. The recordings underline the scope and variety of ECM’s world of sound and these LPs are now heralded as classics.

• ECM Luminessence Series
• Audiophile Vinyl LP
• Gatefold Cover

Luminessence, ECM’s new audiophile vinyl-reissue series, is a kaleidoscope, shedding light on the jewels of the label’s deep catalogue in elegant, high-quality editions. The hallmarks of the series: original and evocative music, imaginatively played and sensitively produced. The recordings underline the scope and variety of ECM’s world of sound and the LPs are presented in different formats.

The series features albums that have changed perceptions of creative music making, albums now heralded as classics. Some are 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. Many of the re-issues are cut from the original analog master tapes and all Luminessence releases incorporate the striking cover art which has contributed to ECM’s renown.

One of the defining sound-worlds of the past half-century of recorded music is the distinguished repertory of ECM Records, which was founded by the Munich musician and producer Manfred Eicher, in 1969. The ECM sound is a trademark of the times, crystalline and reverberant, conveying both the intimacy of live performance and the warmth of a concert space.

With “daring and visionary spirit”, to quote a Downbeat review from the year of this album’s release, master improvisers John Abercrombie, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette forged a unique vision of trio interplay on their first joint effort under the Gateway moniker. The trio tackles Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette originals with a visionary idea of what three-way conversations in jazz could sound like. As The Observer remarked in an article of the time, “the telepathic ensemble playing and perfect execution make it difficult to believe that this music is almost completely improvised”. The players’ respectively unique instrumental signatures had already fully crystallised here, hinting at the music to come.

The Luminessence edition of the album arrives in a Tip-on gatefold, complete with previously unseen archival photos and new liner notes by Wilco’s Nels Cline.

One thing most recordings on the label share in common is the capturing of special moments in real time. That is what “Gateway” is, what it feels like so many years later, for as long as we have ears to listen. – from the liner notes by Nels Cline

Musicians:

John Abercrombie - Guitar
Dave Holland - Bass
Jack DeJohnette - Drums

Track Listing:

1. Backwoods Song
2. Waiting
3. May Dance
4. Unshielded Desire
5. Jamala
6. Sorcery I

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫