Jan Garbarek

Places

Norwegian saxophonist’s 1977 album revived.

Jan Garbarek’s name is synonymous with ECM, the influential Munichbased label which has played a leading role in the evolution of European post-bop jazz since the 1970s. He made his debut for the label 47 years ago and today, aged 70, continues to record for the company. Places takes us back to a key time in the Oslo-born reed man’s career when he was gaining worldwide exposure as a member of Keith Jarrett’s celebrated European Quartet. Here, he’s accompanied by original Return To Forever guitarist Bill Connors, a British keyboardist, the late John Taylor, and ex-Miles Davis drummer Jack DeJohnette, on four lengthy but absorbing tracks that highlight Garbarek’s lyricism as well as his predilection for using space and creating atmosphere. The reflective ballad, Entering, captures the saxophonist at his passionate, melodic best while Going Places is more exploratory in character. Charles Waring