Jan Garbarek's career takes another turn

[mjzee]

I have,” says Jan Garbarek with affable humility, “been very lucky.” The Norwegian saxophonist releases a live album, the first in his 40-year career, on Monday and starts a lengthy European tour in October. He is now recognised as one of the leading figures in European jazz, helping to forge an identity distinct from the music’s American roots. He has stretched the boundaries of the music, incorporating classical, folk and world elements: his biggest success came from working with a medieval choir.

But it’s a career that has required regular injections of serendipity. Garbarek, now 62, grew up in the suburbs of Oslo with only incidental exposure to music. One day, aged 14, the tune playing on the radio on his return from school stopped him in his tracks. “Hearing John Coltrane, I thought, this is what I want to do with my life.”

Continued here:

Financial Times

[GA Russell]

Jan Garbarek has a new 2 CD album coming out called Dresden. It was recorded live in concert there.

I've listened to the first CD a number of times. It has an early 70s feel.

I've tried to like Garbarek over the years, but generally found what I have heard to be uninteresting. In that light, I find Dresden to be the most interesting thing of his that I've heard yet.

It's not the best album ECM has put out this year, but it's good enough to be in my rotation for a while.

[Larry Kart]

Even by "street team" standards, that last post sounds pretty diffident: "It's not the best album ECM has put out this year, but it's good enough to be in my rotation for a while." Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln...

[GA Russell]

I'm so sorry I don't meet your high standards, Larry.

[GA Russell]

You can now listen to Dresden at lala.com here:

http://www.lala.com/#album/432627041169188196

[clifford_thornton]

I enjoy his late 60s/early 70s output pretty well. Haven't paid any mind to recent recordings though, because what snippets I've heard do nothing for me.

[Chuck Nessa]

I'm so sorry I don't meet your high standards, Larry.

If you don't have high standards, what's the point?

[CJ Shearn]

I bought Dresden as my first taste of Garbarek, I like it. I've heard some Garbarek in the past but not enough, I knew his tone though. I really the energy Manu Katche adds to the band and Rainer Bruninghaus' keyboards. Bruninghaus was Pat Metheny's choice for keyboards if Lyle Mays wasn't in the PMG.