Pianist and composer Yelena Eckemoff has built up a catalogue of impressively themed albums. This recent one is a two-disc affair with bassist Arild Andersen and drummers Jon Christensen and Thomas Stronen. The songs are dedicated to and reflective of various animals in their habitat, ranging from Bats, to owls to even the firefly getting some publicity.
The sounds include an swinging bass and drums for the hip line of “Lynx” with some abstract floating on “Firefly.” “Wolf” is a crystalline delight with piano and bass sparkling and pianistic reflections glisten on “Walkingstick.” There is a floating feel to “Sea” turtle and you can feel the hooting on “Owl” and rich harmonies on “Hedgehog.” A Saint Francis of sounds.