"Songways" is the highly anticipated follow-up to the trio’s acclaimed 2011 release. Esteemed Italian pianist Stefano Battaglia and his renowned trio presents a new selection of chants, hymns and dances, all written by Battaglia and inspired by descriptions of visionary places from art and literature – from Alfred Kubin, Jonathan Swift or Charles Fourier to Italo Calvino. This instant classic finds a new balance between archaic modal pre-tonal chants and dances, pure tonal songs and hymns and abstract textures.

Italian pianist Stefano Battaglia and his trio reflect on the work of American composer Alec Wilder, known for his popular songs recorded by Peggy Lee, the Mills Brothers, Frank Sinatra and others, as well as his chamber music, operas and an influential book on American popular song. On his sixth album for ECM the Italian pianist and his trio demonstrate an almost telepathic rapport on this album, recorded live in April 2014 in Torino. Battaglia says that for him the trio is one of the most rewarding formats in music, whether in classical traditions, jazz or rock.

A sophisticated Italian pianist, Stefano Battaglia is known for his atmospheric, richly textured brand of jazz and classical. Building upon the work of artists like Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, and Cecil Taylor, Battaglia emerged to acclaim in the 1980s and has collaborated with a range of jazz musicians from Kenny Wheeler and Lee Konitz to Barre Phillips and his frequent collaborator, bassist Paolino Dalla Porta…