A Long Story is Anat Fort's debut release on ECM, and is comprised entirely of her original compositions, with one joint effort between Fort and Perry Robinson. From the very first track, the standard-in-the-making "Just Now Var. I," Fort's attractively melodic and Eastern-flavored jazz writing is apparent and ECM's storied history of piano-led groups (think Keith Jarrett, Bobo Stenson, and Tord Gustavsen) continues with the addition of this fine quartet. The "sidemen" on A Long Story are three well-known jazz veterans, led by the great Paul Motian on drums. Perry Robinson makes his ECM debut here and Ed Schuller rounds out the group on double-bass.