James Tremblay

James Tremblay for Amazon

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5.0 out of 5 stars 
Title: A New and Different Treat from Yelena Eckemoff
Yelena Eckemoff has, yet again, presented us with a new style of musical composition, and, as always has bettered herself once again. “Lonely Man and His Fish” is, very simply, a musical journey that you’ll want to take over and over again. As always, she is joined by “A-List” sidemen who augment her piano playing. I’ve long been a fan of both Ben Street and Eric Harland, and the introduction to me of Kirk Knuffke and Masaru Koga has proven to be not only a brilliant addition to this recording, but they have also proven to be two musicians that I will be seeking more of. The recording tells its own story the more you listen to it, and every song is written with tremendous depth and imagination. While it’s always hard for me to choose a “favorite” song on records that are this consistently wonderful, I was especially stricken by the first track on Disc Two, “Into The Wild.” I will occasionally set my CD player to just repeat that one track and let the music just drift me away. In short, this “Lonely Man and His Fish” is truly a must-have for any jazz fan’s collection. Thanks, Yelena, for yet another musical treat to help calm my often-distressed self.

James Tremblay for Facebook

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I just played the entire “Colors Live at Kito Bremen” on Amazon Music – twice. I looked up KITO and saw the venue, and knew right away why the recording sounded so “real”. It’s a wonderful record, and on my system, with the lights off I really could picture Yelena playing the full show as if she and her piano were right in front of me, about 15′ away. I wanted to review it on Amazon, but see that it’s a streaming-only record. In any event, I’m about to douse the lights and play it again. I think I’ll just put it on replay. I love it!!!
The trio of Green, Violet and Indigo are the finest 14+ minutes of music I can recall ever hearing 🙂 Thank you so much for this record!

James Tremblay for Amazon

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5.0 out of 5 stars 
Title: I’m Always Careful to say “The Best …. “

Especially with Yelena, because every time I listen to her latest release I say to myself “My God, this one’s her best one yet!” And then normally I’ll then play the one just before, and then I’ll go back and play a few more. I consider myself very lucky to have them all, and I pop them into the drawer of the CD player probably more often than any other single artist. Following the journey from her first piano trio recordings and on through the continuing changes as each new release comes out has been a journey I truly hope to never end. With “I Am A Stranger In This World” Yelena has once again chosen an ideal selection of sidemen to support the thoughts that she had as she wrote each Psalm. The manner in which she changes the mood, alters the tempo and weaves through the very mysteries of her melodies always holds my attention in a tight grip. On this album I especially enjoyed the playing of Ralph Alessi. His playing is always right on the mark, and his ease at dipping into the Avant Garde is just fun, and I enjoy that each player has his own signature sound, but in whichever combination Yelena has them set up throughout the recording is their interplay feels completely natural. Once again I can very simply sum up “I’m A Stranger In This World” by saying, “Yelena, thank you so much and I can hardly wait for the next!”

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James Tremblay for Amazon.com

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5.0 out of 5 stars 

Title: A Beautiful, Inspirational Bloom
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2021 

Here again, we have the compositional creativity and melodic mastery as always given to us by Yelena Eckemoff, and presented to us by Yelena and her always excellent selection of sidemen. This collection blooms for the listener from Ethereal to Avant Garde and even a touch of Fusion, all swirling around a core of pure, unfettered jazz.

The musical story presented here by Yelena is peaceful and fun, but it’s the music that just grabs you. The interplay between Yelena and her band is, as always, just top-notch. Her ability to connect with players of like minds and styles is uncanny. While one or two are at the fore, someone is always busy in the background with all sorts of intricacies. The vibraphonist (Panu Savolainen) puts forth his expertise steadily throughout the record, as does the reeds player (Jukka Perko). The often background, but steady and fascinating playing by guitarist (Jarmo Saari) keeps your ears glued to music. And as always the rhythmic core of bassist (Antili Lotjonen) and brilliant drummer (Olavi Louhivuori) keep things pushing forward with panache, elan and with perfect cohesion and force.

At least for this listener, the added bonus is how the story so matches my own here in Vermont. With the change of seasons, our having pollinator gardens that draw hummingbirds and butterflies, it really touches the hearts of my wife and me. As I play it I can see my dog out in the yard, indeed chasing a mouse (or chipmunk, squirrel, etc.), the constant activity of weeding and tending the garden, and just generally being one with nature. Just as when I play this album I feel as one with the music.

Another brilliant showing by Yelena and Co., destined to be one of the most significant albums of 2021.

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James Tremblay

Once again, jazz pianist and virtuoso Yelena Eckemoff has created a feast for our ears, with this feast taking place at night and in the wild. Yelena chooses animals that typically thrive in the dark hours and crafts musical impressions of them. Her innate depth and understanding of music allows her to represent each critter so that we can actually picture it creeping about in the night, be they hunting, foraging or just gently resting. From the gentle Walkingstick, softly landing near us with grace and delicacy to the ferocity of the mighty Grizzly Bear roaring toward us. Yelena’s brilliance along with the strong, tight bass lines from the legendary veteran Arild Andersen and with the intricate juxtaposition of master drummers Thomas Stronen and Jon Christensen allow us to see and sense the sly Fox in the night, but also the aggressive nature of the mighty Wolf. The sneaky rattlesnake is almost feared behind closed eyes, as well as the sting of the Scorpion. From start to finish, this 2-CD set grabs onto the listener and just refuses to let go, and the anticipation of which of God’s creations will be in the room with us next credits Yelena’s mastery of the piano. Her ability to set a musical stage that brings the listener into the lair, den, hole or tree of each animal is rewarding beyond words. Don’t be surprised, when you get it, to find yourself in Yelena’s forest for many an escape. A higher recommendation I could not make, and Nocturnal Animals leaves me breathless to hear what realm she conquers next.

James Tremblay for Amazon.com

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5.0 out of 5 stars

Title: Another Must-Have by Yelena Eckemoff

Once again, with her album ‘Desert’, Yelena Eckemoff strikes a chord, or a number of them in fact. As her artistry typically mandates she has a through line here, which in this case is nicely apparent from the very title. Along with steady sidemen Peter Erskine on drums and percussion and Arild Andersen thrumming the double bass, Yelena engages the exotic euphony of Oregon co-founder Paul McCandless on oboe, English horn, soprano sax and bass clarinet.

My first and immediate reaction when I started the disc with the first track, “Bedouins” was to both see and feel myself in the open market of the agora as the snake charmer performs his magic, the awe of which envelops us as McCandless’ soprano sax wraps around us in flowing waves. The record continues on with the mystery of “Condor”, the sonic flight weaving in, out, upward and across. One can almost see the blanche of the white sand in “Colors of Nothingness”, though the musical palette is anything but stark. The magic of discovery is ever present as Arild Andersen walks us through the “Garden of Eden” on his double bass, nudging us toward the final walk through “Sands” as the album closes on a contemplative note.

As a fan dating back to Ms. Eckemoff’s early trio dates I have enjoyed listening to her steady progression as an artist, with each recording showcasing not just another facet of her diversity, but another layer of her incredible depth. Yelena is a seriously talented artist conceptually, compositionally and mechanically. As with each release before this one, I can only anxiously wonder what’s next? A must have.
 

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James Tremblay for Amazon.com

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Title: Yelena’s “Everblue” is Pure Gold

Once again Yelena has given us a refuge – an interlude to our often hectic and tedious days. Just taking some time to sit back and soak in “Everblue”, whether you’re just resting in the park or you are jamming toward a deadline. It will at once raise your spirits and relax you through the rest of the day, as you’ll need only to remember the melody of even one song to bring back the entire experience.

With “Everblue” we find Yelena taking yet another turn in the road, a change from her trio works and also from the more densely populated “Lions”, a work of musical pleasure in its own right. Adding Tore Brunborg on sax brings a nice flavor, a very good melding with the cohesion of Yelena, Arild and Jon.

Some special moments for me include the lively interplay between Yelena and Tore in the fun “Waves and Shells”, giving a wonderful call and answer effect. This segues into the more romantic flow of “Skyline”, a seductive number showcasing the entire quartet. Skipping down to “Abyss”, you instantly feel the reason for the title. With Andersen’s bass at the forefront, and as Tore edges in on sax, and Yelena comes full on with her piano you are visualizing the emergence from an abyss, a rising from the very deep to a bright, sunlit place. On “Everblue’, Yelena and Tore float along like the ocean depicted on the cover of the record. Arild comes in and grabs you at 3:49 and solidly holds sway for a gripping pull as you melt into the rest of the song. In “All That Is, Seen and Unseen” one cannot help but marvel at what I can only call the decorative cymbal work behind the rhythm of Yelena’s piano and Arild’s double bass.

While what I’ve said, every feeling that I’ve listed, it is all the result of the sidemen having the pleasure of reading Yelena’s compositions. They also have their well deserved times where they come forth and shine, but the strength and lineage of each number comes from Yelena’s pen and piano. Her playing on this album in exemplary, showing intricacy and detail. Her melodies are spot on, as we have come to look forward to from her. In short, this is a top-notch effort by one of the very best in the biz. And to experience in it’s full glory, don’t just stream and listen to it – buy the hi-rez downloads or the hard media and live it.

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James Tremblay for Amazon.com

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Title: Another Priceless Release by Yelena Eckemoff

As I sit and listen to LIONS for the first time I cannot help but think to myself, “How does an artist continually sound fresh, continually add new flavors to the music and continue to create a completely ethereal and all-enveloping soundstage?” Yelena is one such artist. With every release, and this one is an oft wished for two-disc set, she paints a number of smaller pictures that come together as a priceless larger one. LIONS, and even though it almost seems impossible, finds me certain that Yelena has topped herself yet again.

As with her other releases her choices for sidemen have been unquestionably of the highest caliber in their own artistic realm, in this case Arild Andersen on double bass and Billy Hart on drums.

As always, listening to this recording of Yelena’s leaves me at once relaxed and blissful, along with tense with excitement knowing that there will be another ….. and another. Thank you, Yelena and continued great success!

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James Tremblay for Amazon.com

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Title: Trio Art at Its Finest

I have been buying the (actual CD’s) of Yelena’s for quite a while – I have them all – and she continues to get better with each outing. That’s a tall statement, considering her first CD was one of the best I’d ever heard. Her song writing is beautiful, with a great sense of melodic flow, yet with some spectacular flourishes. She continually surrounds herself with top sidemen and producers, so the end product is art in its truest form.

As a fan of the piano trio format you absolutely will not want to go without this CD, nor any of Yelena’s previous CD’s either.

In Yelena Eckemoff, Keith Jarrett has some serious competition.

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