Matane Malit (Beyond the Mountain), Elina Duni's ECM debut, is a homage to Albania. A singer looking at her roots from a present-day vantage point as a musician engaged in improvisational processes. Jazz experience informs her exploration of Balkan folk songs - with attention to atmosphere, the shape of the sound, the tactility of the structures, the implications of the words, "It's about serving the song", she explains, "and about reclaiming and reinventing it."

Duni found her route to Albanian songs after forays into classical music, blues and jazz standards. Digging deeper into the Balkan region's troubled history, she has uncovered many songs of real beauty and power, older songs from her homeland and from its vast diaspora. Matane Malit includes songs of lovers, heroes, workers, shepherds, exiles, songs of resistance. Traditional songs arranged by Elina Duni, and new music expressively moulded in the tradition.

Over several years her quartet has bloomed into a subtle unit of broad artistic reach. Colin Vallon, who has long counted singers amongst his most profound influences, often seems like an answering voice at the piano. Bassist Patrice Moret brings his keen choice of notes to both the Elina Duni Quartet and the Colin Vallon Trio, and interacts persuasively with drummer Norbert Pfammatter.

Leader Duni recognizes that it is what they create together that is important. "I never wanted to be a singer with backing trio. From the beginning I gave a lot of space to the musicians for improvising, and experimented also with my voice. It's another instrument. Over time, we have built up an understanding that allows us to go anywhere..."