Over the years, ECM have released some outstanding, freshly conceived solo bass projects, and Xieyi--a Chinese title meaning "to write life's sense"--extends the tradition signalled by such names as Dave Holland, Gary Peacock and Eberhard Weber. It features Swedish bassist Anders Jormin, a superb instrumentalist and a composer of steadily growing distinction who has previously worked with Charles Lloyd, Don Cherry, Tomasz Stanko, Bobo Stenson and others. The 17 tracks feature plenty of Jormin's big, resonant sound and spaciously conceived lines, but also include six brief, intensely reflective pieces for brass quartet that offer textural and dynamic contrast. Besides originals by Jormin, the music embraces two Nordic hymns (one by Sibelius), lovely songs by that master bassist Georg Riedel and Sweden's famous 20th-century troubadour, Evert Taube, two characterful pieces by Stefan Forsell, the Cuban Violeta Parra's "Gracias a la Vida" and Ornette Coleman's "War Orphans". The last two pieces are given stunning arco readings: elsewhere, Jormin's carefully weighted improvisations are exclusively pizzicato in approach, with the exception of "Tenk (Think)", parts of which find the bass treated as a percussion instrument. Overall, this is a deeply lyrical album, with Jormin's formidable technique set firmly in the service of a convincingly measured poetic vision. --Michael Tucker
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