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Jan Garbarek

The Norwegian saxophon player, Jan Garbarek had an early breakthrough into the elite of modern jazz in the 60's, due to his extensive cooperation with Keith Jarrett. His name is listed next to the big names from the U.S. and is associated with the birth of an original european sound in jazz. His tone is clear, indipendent, ascetic and pure. "The north and nature, song and mystery" are what Garbarek calls his origins and these are his unrefutable heritage. If it wasn't for his strong inner connection with Norwegian folklore, he wouldn't be able to integrate Brasilian and Asiatic influences as convincingly as he does. That the origin of all music lies in song, is to be felt in many of his compositions, and his greatest attention lies on melody and on the clear articulation of melodious-lines, that he plays with unmistakable impressive urgency. "In my best moments I hope to give meaning to every note". Suddenly, out of an oscillating melody, Garbarek's horn emerges, keeping its sovereignty into the highest pitches, and without giving way to uncontrollable recklessness. His unisono playing with Eberhard Weber's singing bass gives his songs a hymnal luster. The breadth of peacefulness and maturity in his music eliminates all question of stylish fashionability. Jan Garbarek's Chambermusic-Jazz might well be the most beautiful sound next to silence, and he, as sculptor of these sounds, is intrinsingly connected with the illustrative and folkloristic qualities and influences. He is an original stylist always searching for new realms for his intense and extremely visual music.

Jan Garbarek, Keith Jarrett and Azimuth light up ECM Luminessence reissues

by Chris May
April 16, 2024

The spring 2024 iteration of ECM's audiophile vinyl reissue series, Luminessence, presents another trio of landmark albums: Jan Garbarek Quartet's Afric Pepperbird, from 1971, Keith Jarrett and Garbarek's Luminessence, from 1975, and Azimuth's Azimuth, from 1977. The combined scope of the music on the three discs (which come with new liner notes) is prairie wide, and chronologically proceeds from howling at the moon to walking in healing moonlight. Jan Garbarek Quartet Afric Pepperbird (1971) ...

Book Review

Jazz Europeo - Non di solo passaporto

by Giuseppe Segala
February 27, 2024

Jazz Europeo--Non di solo passaporto Livio Minafra, Ugo Sbisà 212 Pagine ISBN: # 979-1281664005 I Quaderni di Digressione 2023 D'accordo, il jazz non ha bisogno di passaporti. Il passaporto è la musica stessa. Piuttosto, ha bisogno di passepartout, di una chiave universale che possa aprire le porte massicce dietro alle quali si celano meraviglie spesso ardue da scoprire. Ci vuole pazienza, passione, disponibilità. Diciamo un po' di umiltà. L'ascolto attento, non solo ...

Radio & Podcasts

The Artists Of ECM Records

by Maurice Hogue
January 30, 2023

I've often tried to make the last show of a year a little different. Doing a special on ECM is an idea I've had for a while, and things finally came together to do it for 2022. I've always figured I had a great number of ECM releases in my collection, and when I started culling the herd in preparation for a move to a smaller residence, I realized I had way more than I thought. Then I got the ...

Live Review

Jan Garbarek Group al Pavillon Kulturzentrum, Hannover

by Mario Calvitti
December 4, 2018

Jan Garbarek Group Pavillon Kulturzentrum Hannover, Germania 20.11.2018 Nonostante un silenzio discografico che si prolunga ormai da parecchi anni (il suo ultimo disco in studio risale al 2004), il sassofonista norvegese Jan Garbarek mantiene sempre una intensa attività concertistica, svolta principalmente in Europa. L'essere stato per tanti anni forse il principale alfiere dell'affermazione internazionale del jazz nordico, e uno degli artisti di punta della label tedesca ECM, che ha accompagnato fin dagli inizi nel 1970, ...

In Pictures

Guido Harari: A Primer

by Guido Harari
October 15, 2018

I started out in the early Seventies as a music photographer and journalist, also exploring reportage, fashion, advertising and corporate photography. I have produced record covers for Kate Bush, David Crosby, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Ute Lemper, Paul McCartney, Michael Nyman, Lou Reed, Simple Minds and Frank Zappa. In Italy I have collaborated with all the major stars, including Andrea Bocelli, Paolo Conte, Fabrizio De André, Maestro Riccardo Muti and La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra, Luciano Pavarotti, PFM, Vasco ...

Album Review

Jan Garbarek: Popofoni

Read "Popofoni" reviewed by Duncan Heining

by Duncan Heining
May 3, 2017

Popofoni was originally issued as a double LP in the early seventies. It was both a reaction and a response by a number of Norwegian composers to a spurious debate that had taken place on Norwegian television in 1969. The debate pitted proponents of popular culture against spokespeople for European Art Music. Popofoni was intended an “artpolitical" manifesto that aimed to “show how 'art for the masses' could be created" that both considered “the needs of a growing mass culture ...

Extended Analysis

Eberhard Weber: Hommage à Eberhard Weber

by John Kelman
September 4, 2015

Despite being waylaid from playing the instrument that defined his approach to both performance and composition by a severe 2007 stroke, Eberhard Weber has managed to accomplish the seemingly impossible feat of continuing to make recordings that revolve around his instantly recognizable, custom-made electro-acoustic instrument: 2013's Resumé and 2015's appropriately titled Encore, both on ECM Records, the label that's been home to the bassist, composer and occasional bandleader since Colours of Chloë (1974), his award-winning leader debut. Now, it's true ...

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Recording

Jan Garbarek - In Praise of Dreams (2004)

Source: Something Else!
August 7, 2011

By Mark Saleski Immediately recognizable saxophone voices: Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane. To this list we must add Jan Garbarek. Every musician brings something unique to the aural world. A way of phrasing. Romanticism of melody. Cryptic storytelling with chords. Energy. Shocking bursts of seeming anti-logic. Tone. Tone. In the jazz/instrumental music realm, tone is it. The musician's voice. We as listeners identify with that sound and can use it, even in 'blind' situations, to make an identification. It's always amazed ...
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Recording

Jan Garbarek Group: Photo With... (ECM 1135)

Source: Between Sound and Space - An ECM Records Resource
May 18, 2011

Jan Garbarek Group Photo With... Jan Garbarek tenor and soprano saxophones Bill Connors guitar John Taylor piano Eberhard Weber bass Jon Christensen drums Recorded December 1978 at Talent Studio, Oslo Engineer: Jan Erik Kongshaug Produced by Manfred Eicher Now they are resting in the fleckless light separately in unison like the sacks of sifted stone stacked ...
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Festival

B.B. King, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Cyndi Lauper and Jan Garbarek, stars of the Heineken Jazzaldia (San Sebastian, Spain)

Source: San Sebastian Jazz Festival (Jazzaldia)
April 1, 2011

B.B. King will be opening a massive open-air free-entrance show in the Green Stage at the Zurriola beach on July 21. Heineken Jazzaldia (San Sebastian Jazz Festival) is due July 21-25. The Festival will have a new venue (the San Telmo Museum) along with the Kursaal Auditorium, the Zurriola beach and the Plaza de la Trinidad (Trinity Square). Other confirmed names are: Abdullah Ibrahim, Mavis Staples, Dave Douglas, Medeski Martin and Wood, John Scofield, Hiromi, Charlie Haden, Cassandra Wilson, Toots ...
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Recording

Places (ECM 1118)

Source: Between Sound and Space - An ECM Records Resource
February 12, 2011

Jan Garbarek Places Jan Garbarek saxophones Bill Connors guitar John Taylor organ, piano Jack DeJohnette drums Recorded December 1977 at Talent Studio, Oslo Engineer: Jan Erik Kongshaug Produced by Manfred Eicher Places brings together another congregation of musicians that could only come from ECM. Drummer Jack DeJohnette lassoes his scurrying loops to the acoustic hooks of guitarist Bill Connors, while John Taylor supplements most of the ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jan Garbarek

Source: Michael Ricci
March 4, 2010

All About Jazz is celebrating Jan Garbarek's birthday today!

JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Jan Garbarek

The Norwegian saxophon player, Jan Garbarek had an early breakthrough into the elite of modern jazz in the 60\'s, due to his extensive cooperation with Keith Jarrett. His name is listed next to the big names from the U.S... more

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Birthday