ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music) is a record label founded by Karl Egger, Manfred Eicher and Manfred Scheffner in Munich, Germany, in 1969. Eicher is considered one of the most influential record producers of all time.
During the 1970s, Eicher produced critically acclaimed jazz albums by American and European artists such as Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, Chick Corea, John Abercrombie, Dave Holland and Terje Rypdal. Producing most of the album sessions on the label to this very day, Visually, ECM is known for its iconic cover photography and minimalist art direction, while musically it was instrumental in establishing influences from non-Western countries in modern jazz. Best known for a distinct European interpretation of jazz music and history, the label has also released milestones of the contemporary classical genre in its “ECM New Series” since 1984, including music by composers such as Arvo Pärt, Steve Reich and Meredith Monk.
