photo by Edoardo Cantini
Scenes From The Dark Ages, the epic and enchanting double-album from prolific Russian/American pianist and composer YELENA ECKEMOFF, is out today on her own label, L&H Production.
Composer YELENA ECKEMOFF’s newest album Scenes From The Dark Ages is not a rendering of early-music tropes in modern jazz feels. Rather, in her writing on this album she synthesizes classical music constructs and her original melodies with the varied rhythmic and stylistic innovations of jazz, fusion, and world music from the 21st Century. Beyond this, she invests each moment of the album with her own sense of delight in leading and performing this unique material.
With elements of progressive rock, jazz, and new age with a Medieval concept delivered by a top-tier ensemble, Scenes From The Dark Ages immerses the listener in a nearly-two-hour surrealistic and absorbing experience. The accomplished self-produced musician, who, with this latest title, has now released more than twenty critically acclaimed albums via her own label, L&H Production, recorded this album in Mantua, Italy, bringing together an ensemble perfectly suited to execute her ideas: esteemed Italian musicians Riccardo Bertuzzi on electric guitar, Carlo Nicita on flute, Eloisa Manera on violin, Riccardo Oliva on electric bass, and legendary percussionist/drummer Trilok Gurtu.
Scenes From The Dark Ages was written and produced by YELENA ECKEMOFF who performs piano, organ, clavichord, celesta, synths, and also hand painted the album’s cover herself, as she has with every one of her albums since 2013. The album was recorded over three days in August 2023 at Digitube Studio in Mantua, Italy, with the recording, mixing, and mastering handled by Carlo Cantini.
YELENA ECKEMOFF’s Scenes From The Dark Ages is out now on digipak 2xCD at Bandcamp HERE and is streaming everywhere HERE. Several video clips from the album are playing at YouTube HERE.
“This is clearly an ensemble effort. Yes, all the music comes from ECKEMOFF’s pen, but the narrative qualities seem to have required an expanded sonic palette to be realized. Like Chick Corea’s forays into storytelling (think Romantic Warrior), this isn’t just an album consisting of songs but one made up of melodic threads that connect the roles and varied movements.” – Downbeat
“The album has a strong folky feel from the outset with nice flute work reminiscent of early Jethro Tull, a sound that permeates much of the album. The other sound that is dominant, not surprisingly, is fusion, which can be somewhat laid-back at times but aggressive at others. And there is also an eclecticism reminiscent of the David Cross-era of King Crimson thanks to Manera’s great violin contributions. Finally, I hear some ‘world music’ of the type Peter Gabriel championed in the early 80s.” – Sea Of Tranquility
“While ECKEMOFF and company never go that far outside, Scenes From The Dark Ages has a lot to offer those who appreciate fairy tales, stories of kings and castles, and their fusion with a dose of prog. Very nicely done.” – Avant Music News
“…this extraordinary composer continues to surprise us with utterly unexpected projects. Here, of course, medieval influences abound, interwoven with jazz fusion, inviting us to immerse ourselves fully in compositions that are a treasure trove of culture and intelligence—best savored among friends. She masterfully fuses classical structures and her own original melodies with the rhythmic and stylistic innovations of jazz, progressive rock, and the global sounds of the 21st century. More than that, she infuses each moment with a palpable joy in directing and interpreting this singular work.” – Paris Move
“…not a rendering of early-music tropes in modern jazz feels. Rather, in her writing on this album she synthesizes classical music constructs and her original melodies with the varied rhythmic and stylistic innovations of jazz, fusion and world music from the 21st century.” – Times-Standard
photo by Harry Eckemoff
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