SunriseECM *****

Drummer Paul Motian's parting gift to the world was surely the succession of albums graced by his subtle, understated playing which have been released since his death last November. The wonderfully wayward Japanese pianist Masabumi Kikuchi was a close friend and collaborator and this recording, made in New York in September 2009, is imbued with the spacious, lyrical, almost romantic atmosphere that the two could conjure together. Their playingis the antithesis of barren technique and they show no interest whatsoever in showing off. Rather, they seem to be getting out of the music's way, waiting in the echoing silences for it to happen around them. Kikuchi is childlike in his inventiveness, and with Motian's genius for giving form to the pianist's ideas, and young bassist Thomas Morgan's impressive understanding of his role in such an open-ended setting, Sunrise stands as one of many testaments to the great drummer's influence and to his ability to elicit something special from piano players. ecmrecords.com