Yelena Eckemoff
Yelena Eckemoff is a Russian-born pianist, composer, poet, and visual artist. Her compositions blend classical music with jazz, and feature exploration and improvisation.
Music career
Eckemoff was born in Moscow, Russia, in the Soviet Union. Her mother was a professional pianist and teacher. When Eckemoff was four, she started to play piano by ear and took lessons from her mother. At seven, she attended Gnessin State Musical College, a school for gifted children. She studied classical piano at Moscow State Conservatory. After graduating, she taught piano in Moscow. She gave solo concerts, took jazz classes, composed music for several instruments, and played in a jazz-rock band.
In her late 20th, she moved to the U.S. She has recorded in several genres: classical, vocal, folk, Christian, and jazz. Although jazz is typically associated with improvisation, Eckemoff often writes elaborate scores for her songs. Her music has been described as classical chamber music in the context of improvisational jazz.
Jazz Discography
Cold Sun with Mads Vinding and Peter ErskineGrass Catching the Wind with Mads Vinding and Morten LundFlying Steps with Darek Oles and Peter ErskineForget-Me-Not with Mats Eilertsen and Marilyn MazurGlass Song with Arild Andersen and Peter ErskineA Touch of Radiance with Mark Turner, Joe Locke, George Mraz and Billy HartLions with Arild Andersen and Billy HartEverblue with Tore Brunborg, Arild Andersen and Jon ChristensenLeaving Everything Behind with Mark Feldman, Ben Street and Billy HartBlooming Tall Phlox with Verneri Pohjola, Panu Savolainen, Antti Lotjonen and Olavi LouhivuoriIn the Shadow of a Cloud with Chris Potter, Adam Rogers, Drew Gress and Gerald CleaverDesert with Paul McCandless, Arils Andersen and Peter ErskineBetter Than Gold and Silver with Ralph Alessi, Ben Monder, Christian Howes, Drew Gress and Joey BaronColors with Manu KatcheNocturnal Animals with Arild Andersen, Jon Christensen and Thomas StronenAdventures of the Wildflower with Jukka Perko, Jarmo Saari, Panu Savolainen, Antti Lotjonen and Olavi LouhivuoriI Am a Stranger in This World with Ralph Alessi, Adam Rogers, Drew Gress and Nasheet Waits Lonely Man and His Fish with Kirk Knuffke, Masaru Koga, Ben Street and Eric HarlandRomance of the Moon with Paolo Fresu, Riccardo Bertuzzi, Luca Bulgarelli and Stefano BagnoliScenes from the Dark Ages with Carlo Nicita, Riccardo Bertuzzi, Eloisa Manera, Riccardo Oliva and Trilok GurtuRosendals Garden with Svante Henryson and Morgan Ågren