Saturday, February 21, 2004
It all started for me while visiting my family in upstate New York
in the summertime...
Being in Tokyo 11 months of the year,
when I go home, I shop.
This particular year,
I was elbow deep in what has to be
a staple of American life:
the discount music bin.
I can't figure this out,
as a jazz artist myself,
why such great material is placed in bargain bins,
while the trash that passes for popular music is sold at high prices.
Who knows.
Who cares.
It cooks for me, Jim...
I found a tape of Carmen McRae sings Monk,
which blew me away!
( I saw this concert at Carnegie Hall
before Carmen recorded this work!)
I kept searching...
I came across a tape with minimalist artwork-
Titled "Works" by Jan Garbarek.
With no knowledge of this artist at all,
I had a psychic feeling about this tape.
I bought it.
Upon listening to it,
I became an instant fan.
WORKS (ECM)
This album is a collection of tracks put together to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the ECM label.
Artists playing include: Charlie Haden, Egberto Gismonti, Palle Danielsson, Bill Connors, John Taylor, Jack DeJohnette, Arild Adnersen,
Edward Vesala, Ralph Towner, Nana Vasconcelos, Terje Rypdal,
Jon Christensen, and Babo Stenson.
Jan Garbarek is a woodwind player
from Oslo, Norway.
His technique is ethereal:
His soprano sax sounds like birds flying, or a sirens wail...
His tenor sax sounds as if he were singing from a mountain top...
I have bought a few other works of Garbarek's since:
"All Those Born With Wings"
"Visible World"
Last year, Garbarek appeared at Tokyo's Opera City
with The Hilliard Ensemble.
The performance was absolutely mesmerizing.
I added the 2 CD work to my collection.
It is entitled MNEMOSYNE.
On Wednesday, Feb 25th, The Jan Garbarek Group
will appear at Sumida Triphony Hall, Tokyo.
I will be there...
Till next time... 'Mela
8:27 PM
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Photo: Michio Yves Ueda
