German-American pianist Benjamin Lackner makes his highly melodious ECM debut with an all-star quartet of trumpeter Mathias Eick, the esteemed Manu Katché on drums and bassist Jérôme Regard. Mathias and Manu share an extensive recording history with ECM and their respectively unique instrumental signatures can be traced across this set of exclusively original material – eight pieces by Benjamin, one by Jérôme. The bassist and the leader’s partnership goes all the way back to 2002, when, in New York, they founded Lackner’s first trio, which remains active until today. Two decades of close collaboration have molded them into intimate colleagues, who complement each other’s lines intuitively and always on the mark. Mathias Eick and Manu Katché’s effortless musicianship enhances the quartet’s fluid interplay, turning each take into a unique experience. Last Decade was recorded in La Buissonne, Provence, and produced by Manfred Eicher.

Given the breadth and depth of ECM’s activities over the years, I’m reluctant to speak of ‘Last Decade’ – German-American pianist Lackner’s debut for the label – as a ‘classic’ ECM issue. Yet this would seem a fair description of this suite of original music from a pianist blessed with both a beautiful touch and a refined awareness of the value of group interplay. Everything here is rendered with exquisite unforced interaction and captured with the sonic clarity or transparency of sound which has long characterised ECM. […] Manu Katché exhibits a shared understanding of time, space and dynamics with Lackner. Bassist Jérôme Regard – the pianist’s longtime associate in a trio which has released several well-received albums – and trumpeter Mathias Eick complete the group. The Norwegian hornman infuses Lackner’s patient, unfolding melodies with the floating and probing quality of his breathy, often poignant tone and lucid line.
Michael Tucker, Jazz Journal