Ballads

Since 1969 ECM has stood for pioneering and continuous music production, an anniversary which prompts reflections upon the journey so far. The Touchstones series of reissues highlights albums made along the way and includes many recordings which now count as milestones in the history of jazz and improvisation.

First released in the spring of 1971, these historic recordings from March and July 1967 capture the sound of a genre being born in the free ballads of Annette Peacock, played with extraordinary sensitivity by Paul Bley's trio. Annette Peacock: "Critics introduced new terms, describing this music as sparse, understated, minimal, radically lyrical. The free ballad captured the imagination of listeners for ECM and became requisite for the transformation of accomplished players."

FEATURED ARTISTS
Paul Bley Piano
Gary Peacock Double-Bass
Mark Levinson Double-Bass
Barry Altschul Drums