Terje Rypdal, Miroslav Vitous, Jack DeJohnette - To Be Continued (ECM, 1981)

 

This post is by Dan

Terje Rypdal (g, fl); Miroslav Vitous (b, p); Jack 

DeJohnette (d)

Recorded January, 1981

Readers of my prior posts may be tempted to label me as an ECM lover. That would be true for recordings made prior to about 1985. The early 1980s was a peak period for the label, in my opinion. New (to me) artists such as Terje Rypdal were featured along with older favorites like Gary Burton, all presented in pristine sonics. As I got acquainted with the ECM releases from the late 1970s, one album in particular grabbed me like no other. That was Rypdal, Vitous and DeJohnette's eponymous first album recorded in 1978. To Be Continued reunited this group in the studio for more of the same magic three years later. 

Although Rypdal began his career as a progressive rocker, the trio here displays a sweeping aural soundscape shaped by the sustained notes of the guitarist. This approach works to best effect on the beautiful "Maya" and "Topplue, Votter & Skjerf," both penned by the guitarist. Vitous contributes two compositions recorded during his earlier work as a leader ("Mountain in the Clouds") and as a member of Weather Report ("Morning Lake"). The title track is by DeJohnette and finds Vitous on electric bass duetting with the drums. Eventually guitar sounds emerge over the rapidly moving rhythm. "This Morning" is a free-form, improvised affair attributed to the group. The album ends with Vitous playing piano and DeJohnette singing wordless vocals. Overall, this varied program succeeds from beginning to end. 

Prior to the 1980s, you would rarely find a group comprised of a Norwegian, a Czech, and an American playing all their own compositions. Manfred Eicher's ECM productions sought out such combinations and gave multiple recording opportunities to artists like those on To Be Continued, shaping jazz of the decade in new directions rather than reviving the tradition. The world of jazz is better for it.