Michael Asgaard Andersen

Bassist Arild Andersen shines as the principal soloist in a celebration of music from ECM with specially-commissioned new big-band arrangements of well-known pieces by Dave Holland, Chick Corea, Trygve Seim, Jan Garbarek, and Keith Jarrett. The resourceful Tommy Smith adds powerful tenor solos, arranges Garbarek's "Molde Canticle", and directs the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.

Bassist Arild Andersen shines as the principal soloist in a celebration of music from ECM with specially-commissioned new big-band arrangements of well-known pieces by Dave Holland, Chick Corea, Trygve Seim, Jan Garbarek, and Keith Jarrett. The resourceful Tommy Smith adds powerful tenor solos, arranges Garbarek's "Molde Canticle", and directs the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.

The Triangle, the second ECM release from this world-class post-Bill Evans trio, is both a consolidation of and an advance on their fine 1999 debut Achirana.

A successful and welcome version of Andersen's well-loved tale of the nightingale who charmed the Emperor of China, escaped to the forest when replaced by a mechanical bird, but returned to save the Emperor from Death with the gift of a song freely given.

Gabriel Pierné was a very important musical figure by the turn of the 20th-century, as winner of the Prix de Rome, celebrated conductor particularly involved in modern music, and composer of famous ballets such as Cydalise et le chèvre-pied. On the other hand, his piano music remains largely unknown.