An Interview with Pianist Yelena Eckemoff

From the ‘Dark Ages’ to ‘The Garden’:
An Interview with Pianist Yelena Eckemoff
By Justin Smulison

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The music of Yelena Eckemoff just hits my ear the right way. I first heard the composer and
instrumentalist, last year upon the release of Scenes from the Dark Ages, a jazz interpretation of
the stories of the namesake’s era. I am admittedly late to the party that is her music, but I’m
glad I arrived all the same.

Rosendals Garden, her 23rd record since 2010 is now available digitally and on digipak CD
through Eckemoff’s own L&H Production, and is the ideal springtime soundtrack. The eleven-
song LP adds to her impressive collection of compositions that integrate sophisticated jazz
improvisation with a deep, personal narrative. Inspired by her travels to Sweden, the album
was recorded with some of the country’s most prominent musicians – Svante Henryson
providing cello and double and electrical basses and Morgan Ågren performing all drums and
percussion – with Eckemoff writing all compositions and arrangements and performing all piano
and keys.

It was a pleasure to hear the voice of such a talented player who only expresses herself
through instrumentation. We had the chance to discuss the composing and recording
process, why touring is off the table for now, and how she has a seemingly bottomless
well of inspiration from which to draw.
And as if that wasn’t impressive enough, she paints her own cover art, as well!

Clips: “ABBA Museum,” “Rosendals Garden.”
Yelena Eckemoff

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