BILLY LARKIN / CHRIS DAHLGREN - ekimi (Krysdahlark, 1986)

Billy Larkin / Chris Dahlgren – ekimi
Krysdahlark Records – LP KDL-1001P
US, 1986
private press

A1 Ekimi
A2 Che Wa Sha Wo
A3 The Ballad Of Dirty Harriet
B1 Family
B2 Trans
B3 First Snow

Billy Larkin – piano
Chris Dahlgren – acoustic and electric basses
special guest: Kathy Wade – vocals (B3)

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sublime ambient jazz from this duo out of cincinnati that seems to be released on vinyl only as promotional copies to radio stations (you could mail order a cassette), marketed as ‘a sophisticated, contemporary blend of jazz and classical music’.  dahlgren’s unique electro-acoustic bowed and percussive use of bass with larkin’s prepared piano create a dreamy minimal world that should have sent ecm directors running to ohio.  the tone of ekimi has hints of neo-classical and new age, but the musicianship here really outpaces these categories. truly elegant music that deserves a wider audience, plus the beautiful cover art by david grojean is worth seeking out on it own

~ j

enjoy