Ethics is an international folk-jazz ensemble founded by Algerian bassist/composer/arranger Michel Benita. Its membership includes Matthieu Michel on flügelhorn, guitarist Eivind Aarset, Mieko Miyazaki on koto, and drummer Philippe Garcia. Benita formed the group as an experiment, to see if he could successfully bring the koto into a traditional jazz setting. Ethics made its self-titled debut recording for Zig Zag Territoires in 2010. Benita's relationship to ECM was established when he played with saxophonist Andy Sheppard and drummer Sebastian Rochford on Trio Libero in 2012. The bassist was also a member of Sheppard's recording quartet for 2015's Surrounded by the Sea. Ethics signed to ECM and released River Silver in 2016. ~ Thom Jurek