Hi Yelena: I got Nocturnal Animals a couple of days ago, and thank you. Give me a little bit to write the review, but in the meantime I just wanted to tell you that it is absolutely brilliant! Your playing, in my opinion, has never been better – so involving, so emotional. Arild, as always, is spot on – nice and tight. Thomas and Jon? Stunning. Just stunning. I played it for the first time today, and that turned into three full plays! You have outdone yourself, and that’s a mouthful!
Date: 5/30/2018, 6:22 pm, EDT
Name: Fernando Pamemes
Location: Cottonwood Heights, Utah
I’m here listening your Glass Song, and contemplating life before to go to work, and Irealized how beautiful piece of music is. Your compositions are just amazing good… Your CD’s are in the same rack where I have Chick, Jarrett, Hancock and John Taylor… I guess that will tell you where your music is in my list!! .Thanks Yelena!!! And I’m very lucky to chat with one of the greatest musicians of our time. Have a wonderful evening!!!
Date: 5/20/2018, 10:58 am, EDT
Name: Mike Greenblatt
Location: Easton, Pennsilvania
I just spent 74:28 in your gorgeous mysterious DESERT. You’re amazing.
Date: 5/9/2018, 7:45 pm, EDT
Name: Michael Greer
Location: Winchester, Virginia
Listening to my copy of Desert right now…this is great music! I really, really enjoyed that. My compliments to Arild, too! 🙂
Date: 1/6/2018, 10:01 am, EDT
Name: Kezz Furber
Location: Bath, Somerset
I recently received my much anticipated copy of “In The Shadow Of A Cloud”. Congratulations Yelena. Your rise to the very top of the jazz tree is meteoric, but so well deserved. We first met on fb about 10 years ago now, when things were very different for you. Since then, you have made magical recordings with many of my jazz favourites (Erskine, Hart, Andersen – and now Chris Potter – my favourite sax player since Coltrane). You are their equal and so obviously a musical inspiration to all you play with and compose for. Once again, congratulations. “In The Shadow Of A Cloud” is nothing short of a masterpiece. xx
Date: 10/13/2017, 12:05 pm, EDT
Name: Orchun Chalian
Location: Hastings, East Sussex
Hi Yelena im honored to meet you! I love your music so much and listen to it every day. I hope to see you live in UK thank you regards – Orchun
Date: 10/06/2017, 10:45 am, EDT
Name: Dan McClenaghan
Location: California
Hi Yelena: “Blooming Tall Phlox” has captivated me. I didn’t think I’d like your sound in an expanded ensemble setting, but I was wrong. Vibraphone/piano–even the Modern Jazz Quartet–and guitar/piano setting don’t usually grab my ear. There’s something about your arrangements that makes this one so exceptional. The band of course, is stellar. The bassist, I think, is crucial to the success. There’s something unusual about his approach that I can’t pin down. Best, Dan McClenaghan, AAJ.
Hello Yelena!! Glad to just discover you were featured on one of our major public radio stations here in Michigan with your music and great artist profile. You are a magnificent pianist and admire greatly your craft and presentation. Truly a superlative player. A west coast jewel worthy of center stage display everywhere. Your interpretations leave one wanting more. So happy for you and let’s connect soon, blessings to you.
Date: 8/30/2017, 5:01 pm, EDT
Name: Vottorio Lo Conte
Location: Ottenhöfen, Germany
Email: parisi.s@alice.it
Dear Yelena, Thanks for the music! I am listening to Forget Me Not. I like it much. The drummer is a world of her own! i write a review before I go to Italy. So calm e daring music. Sometimes similar to the Bobo Stenson’s trio, but also so different, deeper. Sorry, I write just right away what your music tells me. Best, Vittorio
Date: 8/26/2017, 8:10 am, EDT
Name: Sandra Dean-Marlowe
Location: Mountain View, California
Yelena – I have been enjoying your beautiful and poetic work on “In The Shadow Of A Cloud.” It is a wonderfully reflective and artful journey. Your prose is so descriptive, yet deceptively simple – so as to be understood universally. And you are a “conjurer!” of beautiful images through music and words (no wonder that the one review paralleled your work with references to Schumann, wasn’t it?), where twists of perception take the reader through perhaps a personal history, but also into the nostalgia of their own hearts. I read your work, and played your music for my husband today . . . and it inspired many memories of times with his own parents and grandparents. We looked up Tambov and the area referenced in your pieces. What a lovely afternoon! Thank you for your exquisite offerings. Blessings to you!
Date: 8/27/2017,12:30 am, EDT
Name: Mark Leaney
Location: Australia
Hi Yelena – just wanted to let you know that I’ve had In The Shadows on permanent rotation along with Blooming Tall, having recently bought both on iTunes. What great records – and both quite different. You must be enormously proud! Well deserved accolades too. Looking forward to catching you again sometime in the future. Regards, Mark.
Date: 8/16/2017, 8:30 am, EDT
Name: Patrick Frisco
Email: whfrjazz@gmail.com
Hi Yelena. Very nice recording. With our old friend from the motor city on drums. Love Gerald!! I will play from it often and put it up in our library.
Pat at WHFR-FM “SPIRITS REJOICE”
Date: 8/10/2017, 7:30 pm, EDT
Name: Bill Thompson
Discovered your music through Cevin Koultas‘ show Mingle. I love it. And am eager to keep exploring more.
Date: 6/7/2017, 4:30pm, EDT
Name: Stephen Principato
Email: steveprincipato@icloud.com
Hi, I love your music. So inspired and soulful. I’d love to purchase sheet music for Mommy’s Shawl. Is that possible? I look forward to hearing from you! Steve
Date: 6/18/2017, 1:17 pm, EDT
Name: Fernando Pamenes
Location: Utah, US
Not a musician but yet an avid listener at this point of my life I believe I can recognized right away when real music is made, and since I “discovered” Yelena’s music few years ago I got “hooked” with her music since then. Thanks Yelena for make the world more enjoyable with your music!!!
Date: 5/28/2017, 11:12 am
Name: Mike Cortina
Location: Managua, Nicaragua
I discovered Yelena through Spotify. I´m in LoVe with her seamless flow of modulations. Favorite for a few weeks now! FolloWing you, haPPyLiFe ¡
Date: 4/20/2017, 9:06 pm
Name: Cimone Crawford
Location: New York, NY
I’ve been listening to rock, jazz, folk, fusion, classical for some decades (all my life). Your music is so special, and has a profound depth that goes to the heart. Touched by ‘angels wings’… without wanting to sound religious.
Date: 4/18/2017, 11:02 am,
Name: Dr. Robert Weathers
Location: Southern California
Dear Ms. Eckemoff, So much beautiful music you’ve given us this past decade! May the fates shine kindly on us in California, and may you one day visit here in the West to share the good news of such high-quality jazz compositions, improvisation, and group interaction. Thank you for all your gifts to us, Yelena…I can’t wait for your new album to come out! Warm blessings to you! A true fan, Bob Weathers
Date: 3/27/2017, 11:52 pm, EDT
Name: Jacob Schoolcraft
Yelena, you are an amazing writer/pianist. I am overwhelmed by your compositions. I am so lucky to have discovered you.
When I play your music I feel that I am in touch with your soul, which to me is very beautiful and kind. Your visual art, such as the cover on your latest CD, is so very calming and peaceful. Not many humans have your gift of being able to let us see so clearly through the musical window into your inner being.
Thank you for sharing yourself with the world through your music and visual art. I hope we can stay in touch and remain musical soulmates as you write and play your music and I do my best to present your music to all who will listen.
John
Date: 1/11/2017, 11:00 am
Name: Simon Lasky
Location: UK
Hi Yelena, really enjoying your music – played on Saturday on BBC Jazz Line-Up show. Congratulation on the album,
Simon Lasky (UK piano player/composer)
Date: 1/11/2017, 10:58 am, EDT
Name: Jacob Schoolcraft
I’ve only just discovered your music. The only CD I have is “Leaving It All Behind”. I didn’t sample it. I bought it because of the cover. I discovered it on Amazon when I was searching for Modern Chamber Music. You seem untouchable and connected to another kind of realm detected within your universal compositions. I’m not totally certain what kind of level you are on….but I do know that it is esoteric, spiritual, intelligent,dissonant, consonant, melodically dark, complex and simplistic. You have a great originality about you. You are a very unique composer and a universally skilled pianist. I am amazed by your talents and I love the CD and the stories in the booklet..,….Johnny
Just a note to say that your album Glass Song is one of our all-time favorites.
I love you way you build it up from the very quiet sounds, add complexity as it goes along, the interconnections
with the bass are superb, and the drums offer restrained support. We listen to it in our bedroom very often. Just love it. Thanks so much for making your music.
We also have A Touch of Radiance, and will be looking for Leaving Everything Behind.
Sherman Aronson A jazz and classical lover for at least 50 years.
Date: 1/19/2016, 2:56 pm, EDT
Name: Kerry Ridgley
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
My copy of Everblue arrived today and I listened to it immediately (and am now listening to it again). I am astonished-I expected to like it without question, but…it is beyond my expectations! Everyone is in top form – I have never heard Tore sound better, and I have never heard Arild or Jon sound any better. And your playing is exquisite. The balance between all of you is so impressive. You sound as if you are all one.The sound, too, is pristine, of course. I am thrilled to have your music now a part of my life. Wow. And I didn’t even mention your composing…no wonder this album has gotten the accolades it has. Congratulations, and thank you, for something this beautiful and accomplished. I will be listening to this a lot in the coming days…weeks…months. And years…I’m sure. Now I can’t wait to hear more of your albums!
I’ve been reviewing now for fifteen years, since the year 2000, an there are a handful of artists who have just knocked me off balance with what they are doing–off balance in a very good way, I should add. They make music that stops my world, and makes me sit and listen, deeply. YOU are the latest addition to that list. Both “Lions” and “Everblue” are exquisite. Beautiful. Just beautiful.
It was lovely to meet you last night. My wife Carol, and I really enjoyed the performance you and your trio gave. Please pass this on to your co-performers last night. I especially like the cosy intimate atmosphere that a small club like ‘Spice’ has. It makes the playing very personal and immediate, I hope as much for your trio as the audience. I did, of course, buy the ‘Lions’ CD and I’m sure I’ll be playing this often, as I do your other releases. Do let me know when you’re playing in London next and I’ll try and get to see you again. In the meantime I’ll be keeping up to date via your ‘yelenamusic’ website for your forthcoming ventures. With very best wishes Geoff
Date: 4/19/2015, 11:48 am, EDT
Name: Misha Sakharoff
Location: Denmark
Dear Yelena, I’m enjoying Lions! Beautiful trio communication, artful, intuitive and inspiring – THANK YOU
Hello Yelena, I just purchased your Lions album and I wanted to let you know how wonderful I think it is. I’ve purchased your albums from Cold Sun forward, and your music always touches my soul in a way that very few others do. Please keep up the fantastic work that you do. It’s just absolutely beautiful. If you ever tour, please try to make it to the Detroit area (or somewhere in the midwest – I’d gladly travel to see you). Thank you for your gift of music. All the best, Bill Ragen
Date: 12/14/2015, 11:11 pm, EDT
Name: Dan McClenaghan
Web: http://www.allaboutjazz.com
Hi Yelena, I’ve been listening to “Lions” for a few days now. This is a wondrous work of art, and the poetry and the cover art complete the picture. When I first heard you, I thought you were very much in the ECM mode of making music. “Lions” doubles down on that. I’m wondering what would happen if you did get into the studio with Manfred Eicher (sp?). I don’t think his input could possibly improve on what you’ve created with “Lions.” It’s one of those rare discs (times 2 in this case) that makes me push everything back on the desk for a couple of weeks. It is so absorbing and beautiful. Review will go in this weekend.
Hi Yelena, I’ve been listening to “Lions” for a few days now. This is a wondrous work of art, and the poetry and the cover art complete the picture. When I first heard you I thought you were very much in the ECM mode of making music. “Lions” doubles down on that. I’m wondering what would happen if you did get into the studio with Manfred Eicher (sp?). I don’t think his input could possibly improve on what you’ve created with “Lions.” It’s one of those rare discs (times 2 in this case) that makes me push everything back on the desk for a couple of weeks. It is so absorbing and beautiful. Review will go in this weekend.
Best Dan, AAJ
Date: 12/6/2014, 2:37 pm, EDT
Name: Peter Van Olmen
Email: petervanolmenkdg@gmail.com
Dear Yelena,
My name is Peter Van Olmen and I am a writer. Your CD Glass Song is one of my favorite Cd’s to listen to while I’m writing. I love the songs, the gorgeous sound, the interplay of the instruments… So I’m looking forward to your next CD with the same trio: Lions. Do you have any idea when it will be released?
Kind regards, and thank you for the music!
Peter Van Olmen
Date: 10/30/2014, 9:43 am, EDT
Name: Robert Schribner
Location: Cherlton, NY
Hi Yelena. I wrote a recommendation for “A Touch of Radiance” on Amazon yesterday. There were already four excellent ones there, so I hope I brought some added perspective to your fine project. The recording has such a nice warm and relaxed vibe to it, it sounds like every cut was a first take. One review called you a Renaissance woman. I think that is what I took away from listening to it. The cover painting, the poetry, the compositions, the high quality musicians selected to perform and their relaxed, skillful performance are all tributes to your talent. Your compositions are very well suited to an expanded ensemble to my ears, but were brilliantly orchestrated on the recording. Congratulations on a wonderful project. I hope it gets the attention it deserves. And thanks for introducing me to it. Please stay in touch when you can and thanks for your friendship.
Date: 10/20/2014, 11:54 pm, EDT
Name: Marta Ulvaeus
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
We’ve added every release that has been sent to KCSB. And I’ve played your beautiful music a lot on my program! Your most recent release is brilliant! with Mark Turner and Billy Hart. You know how to pick band mates! But beyond that, your compositions and your playing are exquisite! Perhaps we could talk sometime.
Date: 9/30/2014, 5:00 pm, EDT
Name: Rosanne Forsyth
Location: Corrèze, Limousin, France
I love your music so much, the only Cd’s I want to hear recently are yours. You radiate beauty.
Hi Yelena, I love your music. It’s a pleasure to hear someone as unique and courageous as you. All the best ! Peter Schott
Date: 7/15/2014, 8:44 pm, EDT
Name: Cecile Stringfield
Location: Summerfield NC
Yelena, I know it must be a lot of work , but I do believe you have produced some wonderful music and have given people the enjoyment of hearing your music. Could even effect them in a very good way, spiritually. Your music is filled with inspiration, of emotion and experiencing life.
I really like your new album and your musical growth, Yelena. Bravo! GREAT RECORD! So proud of you!
Peter
Date: 3/31/2013, 8:36 pm, EDT
Name: Mark Leaney
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Hi Yelena – thanks again for a beautiful night of music at Birdland. My first time there and what a treat for me. My only regret was having no one to share it with! Nonetheless, I really enjoyed it – if you ever make it to Australia do let me know. Good luck with your new CD and catch you on the airwaves soon. Regards, Mark Leaney.
Date: 3/22/2013, 2:09 pm, EDT
Name: Wital Krawczenko
Location: Minsk, Belarus
Здравствуйте, уважаемая Елена Прослушал Ваш альбом…Выше всяких похвал!! Три голоса инструментов объединяются как один с синергией звука и тишины, которая перемещается с приливамии отливами – новая жизнь выходит из старого… Вдумчивый, глубокий альбом. Спасибо Вам :*))
Hello. I’m just discovering your music the past few weeks! It is wonderful. I’ve been catching up with many of your albums (well, the jazz ones I mean). I’ve always loved improvised jazz with classical elements, like the ECM style or ‘chamber jazz’ type material, and so love you too. And I think you have a strong, distinctive, individual approach. And marvelous you were able to get Peter Erskine and Arild Anderssen together finally on your new one. Best of luck and thank you.
Date: 3/4/2013, 11:18 pm, EDT
Name: Roger Chaplin
Glass Song was featured on Spotify. Until then I’d never heard of you, but I’m glad to have found your music!
Date: 2/25/2013, 9:34 pm, EDT
Name: Greg Simmoms
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
I dig the new record. Nice to hear Arild get such prominence throughout the date. The whole thing really sounds terrific.
Date: 1/31/2013, 9:03 am, EDT
Name: Gennady Chistyakov
Спасибо за чудесную музыку! Случайно нашел в интернете и был просто очарован звучанием вашего инструмента, глубиной дарования. Возможно, так же как и у Билла Эванса, славянские корни, наложили свой отпечаток на ваше творчество. С удовольствием послушаю все Ваше что смогу найти. Успехов! Геннадий Чистяков. г. Москва
Date: 1/25/2013, 2:11 pm, EDT
Name: Micha Sakharov
Location: Frederiksborg, Denmark
Looking forward to Glass Song cd Yelena! Hugs from a Big fan of your artful approach misha
Date: 12/28/2012, 1:42 pm, EDT
Name: Jim Speranza
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Yelena, your music is new to me. Delicious! i just checked out your work that’s on Amazon, Yelena, and i will most certainly be acquiring some soon! Thanks for sharing your art!
Date: 12/28/2012, 1:40 pm, EDT
Name: James F. Tremblay
Location: Wilmington, NC
“Glass Song” is a sumptuous piece. It has every element that I love and look for. This album will be my collection’s major addition this coming year, and will stand proudly among all the rest of Yelena’s.
hola! i’ve been listening to “grass catching the wind” a lot these days. beautiful music that speaks to the soul. i wanted to share my new album with you too. you can listen to samples here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/brendahopkins very best wishes always!
nice to meet you, Yelena. I’m listening now your music (after blizzard just now). Great!! keep in touch in facebook and the best wishes for your music.
Date: 1/24/2012, 11:14 am, EDT
Name: Fernando Pamemes
Location: Utah, US
I have 3 of your CD’s: Cold Sun; Flying Steps and Grass Catching the Wind. And honestly I’m not so sure which one is my favorite one. Yet, maybe, I had listened more times to the Flying…. That opening of yours, those first chords are….just fantastic!!!! And the rest of the song runs like a river. Good Morning it’s so beautiful too.. Yelena, please, your music it’s just so beautiful!!!! There are many good piano players, from Corea and Hancock, from James to Rubalcaba; but your music is very, very unique. The visions and emotions this music gives you will carry you away. But the “journey” will be soft, like the meditations one can have seating by a river, or watching the clouds flying over your head. If you like music, really good music, you can’t live without listening at your work. Your piano style and compositions are totally unique. I had spend some weekends just listening at your music, because it can take you to different levels of your inside. This music is good jazz music and beyond…. I still I haven’t found yet words good enough to describe your person and your music. Thanks for being here on this Earth to transmit so much beauty!!! Your new friend: F
I listened to your music on your site. my compliments you are a wonderful piano player ( I love jazz and… Chopin)
Date: 8/4/2011, 4:17 pm, EDT
Name: Ian Slater
Location: Cologne, Germany
Yelena! It is wonderful that you record with the estimable Mr. Erskine, one of my absolute favorite drummers. I’m listening to your music now…beautiful sensitivity. You must love Shostakovich, as I do…your tonality reminds me of him, somehow, but obviously in a very different context. Wow…how exciting…mm…it is amazing! At first I thought you were improvising, but it was so well thought-out. Just been listening to Promise…stunning really! It is always tempting to invoke comparisons, but I find your style unique (in a very good way!) The artwork reminds me of ECM a bit, which is good. ECM would work very well with you, but probably even better to have your own label, even though it is much more demanding. I do love your composition and touch and when I discover new music, I proselytize like crazy! Ian Slater
Hello Flying steps is really awsome! First I like the sound of the whole work, then the player are all phantastic, the mix between classic and jazz is really something special, the whole Trio is really something very speciall, hope you pla…y one day live in Europe … Peter´s drum-playing…no words! And his drumsound…wow! Yelena, let me say, Cold Sun is a very good CD, but I prefer flying steps…may I say that? I copied the CD on my cell-phone…really enjoying it! Greetings! Ah, my favourite tunes are nr. 2 and nr. 4 and “steps”…hahaha…
I am a French composer, mainly working in the soundtrack music area, for short movies, animation and at the moment theatre music. I have listen to your music and I find it very poetic and soulful.
blessings, Philippe .
Date: 12/8/2010, 12:20 pm, EDT
Name: Cecile Stringfield
Greetings! I have gotten into the holiday spirit earlier than usual this year. I think it was the cold and snow… How about you? Busy with your music, I am sure. That is what makes you joyful. Being creative and producing music. We will be listening to your CDs again this Christmas. Thank you! Happy Holidays to you.
Hello Yelena, Thank you for your answer. I received the works. I like the music and I will make a radio program with your music. Thanks again. Best, ivo.
I truly enjoyed the recording with you … you got a beautiful sound from the piano and the “live” playing aspect makes this a much more dimensional album! Thanks for the nice note on facebook. Glad you and your audio files arrived home OK! Busy time, I’ll have more time to write and to facebook later in the week. All best! Peter
Date: 6/12/2010, 11:15 pm, EDT
Name: Cecile Stringfield
Recieved your new CD, ordered it months ago, took a while for it to be sent out. Brad and I have both listened to it. We liked it. It was amazing how with the piano, you could make us feel, see and sense the ice and snow.
Date: 5/10/2010, 2:51 pm, EDT
Name: Jason Robson
Location: Blanch NC
Oh my gosh! i love your music, I really do!
Date: 5/21/2009, 6:57 am, EDT
Name: Betsy Watlington
Advocate of Love is a lovely album and I enjoy listening to it. The music is absolutely beautiful. I look for more releases of this type of music from your ensemble.
I looked at a few of your websites and listened to your music. They were wonderfully done and I bookmarked a couple of them. I found that your group is mostly into jazz and I was wondering if you could let me know when and where your next shows will be. My wife and I would like to see you play some night.
i have been playing the black and white keys for about 5 weeks (honest and true) but i am hoping that it sounds like i’ve been playing longer. as pete erskine says… time keeping is everything.
i’ll never be in your league tho…. you are superb and unique and you deserve all the luck in the world.
Thanks very much for the CD. The new music is beautiful. I love the direction that you have gone in. I have very much enjoyed your previous work but I think this new direction will be more musically accessible to many people.
-Peter.
Date: 11/20/2008, 11:47 am, EDT
Name: Jerry Williams
Hi, great seeing you two the other day. I watched the DVD last night and it was excellent. Well recorded and wonderful music. Am listening to the CD at this moment- starting off well- the first tune is fantastic!
It was a pleasure hearing you yesterday. You’ve got a LOT of talent! Your playing sounds like abstract/atonal jazz, but very lyrical and very compositionally ordered. Reminds me a bit of Marilyn Crispell and Lynne Arriale. Hope to hear you again someday…and find out more about who you are. Keep making this great music!!
John Salmon Professor of Music The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Telephone (336) 334-5431 (office)
Date: 10/1/2008, 12:12 pm, EDT
Name: Pat
Hi Yelena,
Just wanted to say I had a wonderful time at the show, it was great to perform with you, both you and Mike sounded great, very heartfelt!
I thought the spirit and energy was very dynamic and engaging and the audience seemed to be moved. That seems important to me performing your music, that playing it live it should not be stuffy chamber music, but take all the positives of that and make it timely, energetic, engaging, touching, vibrant. Wonderful to be a part and let’s get some more concerts!
Martie and I really enjoyed your concert, and continue to thoroughly enjoy your CDs. Tomorrow, we have a HUGE shopping day, but we’ll bring you along and hopefully stay serene! Thank you so much for your warm heart and lovely music.
On behalf of the Concert-Lecture Series at Averett University, let me say THANKS again for a most enjoyable evening of music. The concert was a hit with both the students and locals.
Best wishes on your future adventures! Ann Lewis, NCTM Assoc. Professor, Music.
Date: 4/8/2008, 10:08 pm, EDT
Name: Rip Nolan
Location: Winston-Salem
Hello Yelena, It has been a long time since we last talked! I recently visited your website and was impressed with what I viewed and heard. I thank you have a unique individual style that is both interesting and fun to listen to. I wish you the best of luck with your music and maybe someday are paths will cross again. Thanks Rip Nolan
You all were really, really great the other night. All four of you are excellent musicians, and I love your compositions. I’m sorry there weren’t more folks here, but the students who did come said they really enjoyed it.
Hi Yelena, Here is my summarized thoughts about the concert on Feb. 24.
The Yelena Eckemoff Ensemble presents a spell-binding blend of Classical, Improv, and Jazz, and sets a new standard for creative excellence in a musical performance. Ms. Eckemoff’s compositions capture the ear and stir us to wonder at the imaginative brilliance of each piece.
