ECM brings us another exquisite offering from a typically (for them) disparate group of players. Whereas some ECM releases can come off as a bit cool (in the "detached" sense), FROM THE GREEN HILL has a sultry warmth offsetting its West Coast-cool-by-way-of-Scandinavia and an amiable crispness with a subtle sense of swing - the subtle, cerebral elegance of early/mid-60s Miles Davis Quintet. Like most post-Miles trumpeters, Stanko is under the sway of the Master, mysterious, lyrical in an unsentimental fashion; unlike many of Miles' acolytes, he has a rippling, crackling tone that draws upon the brassy approach of Louis Armstrong and "free" players like Lester Bowie and Leo Smith. John Surman is superb as usual, forgoing the soprano sax this time 'round for the deep, cool tones of the baritone sax & bass clarinet. (He turns up the heat on the madrigal-like "Stone Ridge.") The bandoneon of Dino Saluzzi and the violin of Michelle Makarski highlight the tango-derived élan of the proceedings. The rhythm section (that's what they called them in the old days) of Anders Jormin & Jon Christensen is sublimely crystalline. FROM THE GREEN HILL is a gem of creative chamber jazz.