ECM Launches Luminessence Vinyl Series with High-Quality Jazz Reissues

Since April 2023, ECM Records has been releasing a series of high-quality vinyl reissues under the Luminessence – ECM – Vinyl line, featuring historically significant jazz albums. The series includes Naná Vasconcelos's 'Saudades' (1979) with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mladen Gutesha, and Kenny Wheeler's 'Gnu High' (1975), his ECM debut with Keith Jarrett, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette. These albums were chosen for their originality and impact, with some long out of print or never before pressed on vinyl. New liner notes contextualize the original releases. The vinyl editions maintain ECM's iconic atmospheric cover photography, offering a tactile, large-format experience. The series is curated by ECM founder Manfred Eicher, with more releases planned. The trend reflects a broader resurgence of vinyl among younger listeners, who appreciate the analog ritual of handling records, cleaning dust, and listening attentively. The Luminessence line aims to recapture the magic of analog-era craftsmanship.