| Jazz, Prog' Rock |
Ever as productive and captivating, Yelena Eckemoff confides: “I dreamed of being born in the medieval era.”
What matters most is that 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.
It is evident that Yelena possesses an unwavering passion for both composition and history—History with a capital “H”—and this passion permeates every instant of this double album. All that is missing is a voice, and we might have before us a jazz opera of the most musically luxuriant kind. For this project, Yelena traveled to Mantua, Italy, assembling an ensemble meticulously crafted to bring her vision to life: electric guitarist Riccardo Bertuzzi, flutist Carlo Nicita, violinist Eloisa Manera, electric bassist Riccardo Oliva, and the legendary percussionist and drummer Trilok Gurtu. Of course, such profound musical culture is not acquired overnight, and I found it amusing to discover just how much Yelena and I share similar cultural influences. As she puts it:
“I have always been surrounded by books and grew up in an imaginary world filled with tales and legends,” Yelena recalls. “As a child, I would spend hours on a vast sofa, surrounded by towering piles of books, poring over their magnificent illustrations. At school, I invented games in which I lived on another planet, in a medieval world of castles, carriages, kings, and princes. In fourth grade, I even wrote a story about the Middle Ages, with music. It’s funny because some of the melodic ideas from that text found their way into this album.”
The second disc, in many ways, reminds me of the band Yes, particularly in the energy and ambition to engage European musical traditions in dialogue with other cultures—whether rock, jazz, or a fusion of multiple styles. But the similarities between Yelena and me are not merely historical or European. She, too, took her first musical steps in progressive rock during her adolescence. While my path inclined toward jazz in the spirit of Zappa, Yelena’s journey followed a different course:
“As a teenager, I played in a progressive rock band, which influenced my approach to composition,” she explains. “Later, after immigrating to the United States, I worked in my MIDI studio and explored the possibilities of the Kurzweil K-2000 sequencer. That’s when I created a project called Medieval Symphony, blending medieval influences, progressive rock, and fusion. It was the reincarnation of my childhood dream of the Middle Ages, nourished by those beautifully illustrated tales I adored.”
Creativity never emerges from nothing; it takes years of wandering, searching, and reflection. Only under such conditions can one craft a work as powerful and structured as what Yelena Eckemoff presents to us here. And for those who might doubt the sincerity of this project, the composer herself affirms:
“This project has been with me for a very long time, rooted in my childhood love for the Middle Ages. Like an endless tale, the images of that era continue to inspire me.”
Indeed, Yelena Eckemoff is one of those artists whose CDs I play without hesitation, knowing that I am about to experience something truly significant. Some might say my superlatives overflow whenever I write about a new album of hers—and perhaps they do. But no more than when speaking of artists like Bob James, Lakecia Benjamin, and a select few others for whom creation is as vital as breath itself. Surely, such artistry earns its place in our now-renowned collection of Indispensable Albums…
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, March 13th 2025
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