Shankar Lakshminarayana, better known as L. Shankar, is an Indian violinist, singer and composer who also goes by the stage name Shenkar. Known for his innovative contributions to world music, he is often regarded as one of the pioneers of East- West fusion, blending the rich traditions of Indian classical with Western genres such as jazz, rock, and electronic music. His world music albums with the band Shakti during the mid-70s became the ‘standard to gauge the playing and composing abilities of any world musician following in Shakti's expansive wake”. He is credited with inventing the stereophonic double violin (known as the LSD - L.Shankar Double Violin), which covers the orchestral string family's range. In 1990, Shankar's talam-bending Pancha Nadai Pallavi' album was on the Billboard top ten world music chart for three months becoming the first traditional Indian record to reach those heights. His 1995 Raga Abheri album was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the Best World Music Album category. With Peter Gabriel, he worked on the Grammy winning album Passion(1989), the soundtrack album for Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ (1989), and wrote and performed vocals on Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' (2004) which won a Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year at the 36th GMA Dove Awards. He also worked on the soundtrack for the 2002 film Queen of the Damned with Jonathan Davis and Richard Gibbs and recorded eight songs of which five were picked for the movie. Additionally, he collaborated on the original score for NBC's hit TV series Heroes with Wendy & Lisa. As an acclaimed musician, Shankar is ranked as one of the top famous male violinists by Ranker and one amongst the greatest violinists of popular music by Digital Dream Door. His extensive body of work spans a wide spectrum of genres, encompassing vocal and instrumental compositions.
Travels is a live double album by the Pat Metheny Group recorded in July, October, and November 1982 and released on ECM the following year. The quintet features pianist Lyle Mays and rhythm section Steve Rodby and Dan Gottlieb, with guest Nana Vasconcelos.
80/81 is a double album by jazz guitarist Pat Metheny recorded over four days in May 1980 and released on ECM later that year. The trio features rhythm section Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette with guest saxophonists Dewey Redman and Michael Brecker.
Fat Albert Rotunda is the eighth album by jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock, released in 1969. It was Hancock's first release for Warner Bros. Records after his departure from Blue Note Records. The music was originally done for the TV special Hey, Hey, Hey, It's Fat Albert, which later inspired the Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids TV show.
V.S.O.P. is a 1977 double live album by keyboardist Herbie Hancock, featuring acoustic jazz performances by the V.S.O.P. Quintet, jazz fusion/ jazz-funk performances by the ‘Mwandishi’ band and The Headhunters.
Ray Obiedo is an American contemporary jazz guitarist.
Hotel Hello is an album by vibraphonist Gary Burton and bassist Steve Swallow recorded over two days in May 1974 and released on ECM the following year.
Curtis Clark is a jazz pianist from Chicago, United States.
Bye Bye Blackbird is a studio album by the Keith Jarrett Trio recorded on October 12, 1991 in tribute to Miles Davis, who had died two weeks earlier, and released on ECM in April 1993—the first and last studio recording by Jarrett's "Standards Trio", featuring rhythm section Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette since their 1983 debut.
Getting There is a studio album by jazz guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in April 1987 and released on ECM February the following year. The trio features rhythm section Marc Johnson and Peter Erskine, with guest appearances from saxophonist Michael Brecker on three tracks.
Hymns/Spheres is a solo double album by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett recorded on the Karl Joseph Riepp "Trinity" Baroque pipe organ at the Benedictine Abbey in Ottobeuren in September 1976 and released on ECM later that year.
Trio Music is a double album by Chick Corea, recorded in November 1981 and released by ECM Records in October of the following year. The trio features bassist Miroslav Vitous and drummer Roy Haynes.
Afternoon of a Georgia Faun is an album by American jazz saxophonist Marion Brown recorded on August 10, 1970 and released on ECM later that year. The sextet features fellow saxophonists Anthony Braxton and Bennie Maupin, pianist Chick Corea, and vocalists Jeanne Lee and Gayle Palmore, backed by two percussionists on one side and five on the other.
Love, Love is an album by American jazz trombonist and composer Julian Priester Pepo Mtoto recorded in two sessions on June 28 and September 13, 1973 and released on ECM the following year.
Cloud Dance is the debut album by American sitarist and composer Collin Walcott, recorded in March 1976 and released on ECM the following year. The quartet features rhythm section John Abercrombie, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette, the three of whom recorded their self-titled debut, Gateway that same month.
Grazing Dreams is the second album by American sitarist and composer Collin Walcott, recorded in February 1977 and released on ECM later that year. Walcott's quintet features trumpeter Don Cherry and rhythm section John Abercrombie, Palle Danielsson and Dom Um Romão.
Seeds of Time is a studio album by the Dave Holland Quintet recorded in November 1984 and released on ECM the following year on LP and CD. The quintet features brass section Kenny Wheeler, Steve Coleman, and Julian Priester from Holland's previous release, along with new drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith.
Mahal is an album by American jazz trumpeter Eddie Henderson. It was recorded in 1978, his second album released on the Capitol label.
Dawn Dance is an album by South African guitarist Steve Eliovson and American percussionist Collin Walcott, recorded in January 1981 and released on ECM later that year.
Départ is an album by British jazz trio Azimuth with American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner, recorded in December 1979 and released on ECM the following year. The trio features trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, vocalist Norma Winstone and pianist John Taylor, joined by guitarist Ralph Towner.
