Jon Christensen - Selected Recordings :rarum XX (2004)

ECM :rarum MONTH* (MARCH 2017)

Christensen has no ECM recordings as a leader, but instead supported many other artists, appearing on over 50 ECM albums. As a result, this is one of the most diverse compilations in the box. But regardless of style or track, I'm trying to focus my listening on Christensen's drumming and his interactions with the musicians, particularly with the soloists. Remarkable work. A little too busy for my tastes sometimes, while in other spots Christensen knows exactly when to get out of the way; the interplay is remarkable.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: 9 tracks, 71 minutes.

Title	Album	Year
Personal Mountains	Personal Mountains (K. Jarrett)	1979
Piscean Dance	Solstice (R. Towner)	1975	✔
Per Ulv	Waves (T. Rypdal)	1997
Tutte	Bande à Part (Masqualero)	1986
Oceanus	Solstice	1975
War Orphans	War Orphans (B. Stenson)	1998
My Song	My Song (K. Jarrett)	1978	✔
Glacial Reconstruction	Water Stories (K. Bjørnstad)	1993
The Windup	Belonging (K. Jarrett)	1974	✔

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

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*Back in June 2015, this beautiful thing showed up at my doorstep:

It's a 12 CD box set (2008) of compilation discs from ECM's :rarum series, a birthday gift from a good friend.  In this series, the artists were given the freedom to pick their personal favorite recordings from any ECM release they've made as a leader or sideman. In other words, the label got outta the way and good for them.  I'll be making my way through the set this month.

ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music), originally a German label, was founded in 1969. "Rarum" comes from the Latin root "rarus" meaning "rare" (perhaps foreshadowing that these CDs wouldn't be in print for very long).