"The Sirens" is acclaimed saxophonist Chris Potter’s ECM debut as a leader. It is an album of mood and melody, inspired by Homer’s The Odyssey, both with its epic atmosphere and timeless humanity. Potter has previously contributed on several ECM albums with Dave Holland, Paul Motian and Jason Moran. Joining Potter are virtuosic musicians Craig Taborn, David Virelles, Larry Grenadier and Eric Harland. Potter declaims lyrical lines over the dynamically inventive rhythm section, as coloristic keyboards shimmer like stars in the night sky.

Acclaimed vocalist José James' "Yesterday I Had The Blues: The Music of Billie Holiday" is a tribute to the legendary singer in honor of Holiday’s 100th birthday. The stunning set of 9 songs written or popularized by Holiday was produced by Blue Note president Don Was and features a stellar band including pianist Jason Moran, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Eric Harland.

Though the Charles Lloyd New Quartet has been together for a decade, they haven't recorded as a group since 2011's "Athens Concert", when the saxophonist was still signed to ECM. Bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland were part of the Marvels' quintet for "I Long to See You" in 2016, and Lloyd most recently recorded with pianist Jason Moran on the duet offering "Hagar's Song" in 2013. But not recording together doesn't mean the same thing as not playing, as amply evidenced here.

Lionel Loueke, one of the jazz world’s most searingly original and sought-after guitarists, has devoted the bulk of his output to original music. But Close Your Eyes, originally released on vinyl by Newvelle in 2018, found the Benin-born Loueke focusing entirely on standards and canonical jazz classics.