Location: Manhattan, New York
Country: USA
Genre: Progressive jazz fusion
Full length: Scenes from the Dark Ages
Format: Digital, double digipak CD
Label: L&H Production
Release date: March 28, 2025
As I listen to this double album I find it hard to believe it was recorded in only three days. It sounds more like something that took a few months to complete in the studio, with its quantity of instruments and the subtlety in its arrangements.
Yelena Eckemoff, a well-known and prolific musician who has been playing piano since she was four and recording since 2009, once stated she dreamed of being born in medieval times; her romantic vision of living in that era is evident in every hue of her latest work. I've been reading about where her devotion to music has led her and what I've discovered is inspiring to say the least. She studied music theory and music literature, trained with notable classical musicians, gained versatility in her profession, and launched a career from scratch, leading one to wonder why she hasn't received wider mainstream recognition.
"Scenes from the Dark Ages" is a surrealistic blend of prog, jazz fusion, world music and classical with something to offer fans of Led Zeppelin, Yes, Jethro Tull and prog rock/metal/jazz bands like Gordian Knot and Sons of Ra. It’s important to emphasize that Eckemoff did not produce a standard reconstituted jazz fusion album; rather, she created something unique and trailblazing by fusing the structure of jazz fusion with the rhythm of world, classical, and songwriting brought into being from her own mind. Her albums are characterized on her official website as being focused and compelling, and her profile states that each has its own unique concept to expand on.
One theme that appears to remain consistent is the humanity she sees in nature, as evidenced by her romantic depiction of medieval life. Granted, this is based on modern-day reflections, but she and the band she assembled compose music to make this vision compelling to contemporary ears. Eckemoff based "Scenes from the Dark Ages" on a concept album she prepared independently called "Medieval Symphony" that she shelved because she felt it needed more than just midi and synth.
While I'm no expert when it comes to modern jazz fusion, the addition of a full band and Eckemoff's use of synths and sequencers give "Scenes from the Dark Ages" an affectivity that's spontaneous and transcendent. A vibrant, omnifarious record that musically conveys a tale, or a sequence of stories, as powerfully as a poem or a novel, it is intended to enthrall the listener, relying as much on context as melody, with each instrument playing a part in putting the songs across. Accessibility for prog rock fans and a flair for conveying complex arrangements makes this a special recording. -Dave Wolff
Lineup:
Yelena Eckemoff: Piano, organ, clavichord, celesta, synths
Riccardo Bertuzzi: Electric guitar
Carlo Nicita: Soprano, alto, and bass flutes
Eloisa Manera: Acoustic and electric violin
Riccardo Oliva: Electric bass
Trilok Gurtu: Drums, percussion
Track listing:
Disc 1:
1. Pilgrims
2. Village Tavern
3. From Peasants Life
4. Spell-Bound Fortress
5. Monks In Scriptorium
6. Cathedral
7. Legends Of The Castle
Disc 2:
1. Adventures Of A Knight
2. Battle
3. Chivalry
4. Tournament
5. Masquerade
6. Alchemist
7. Quest
8. From The Life Of The Lords
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