Jan Garbarek

Just before leaving the Ghent record fair without purchase, I discovered a crate with mint ECM records from a German vendor. All were reasonably priced at € 10. My budget was limited so I decided to go for 2 releases with Egberto Gismonti on, given the fact that I collect ECM records with the graphic design in mind they caught my eye.

First one is Gismonti's 1976 release 'Dança das Cabeças' teaming up with the late Nana Vasconcelos. The two wanted to create an atmosphere as walking through the rainforest keeping a distance between them, all the time communicating with their instruments and voices.

Second is 'Magico'. I think actually a recording filed under Garbarek's name. The trio with Charlie Haden stands for another ECM catalogue highlight. I must confess I always faverod Gismonti's piano playing over his guitar style. Both are of extreme beauty and personality but I never really got into his expression on guitar, until now. Time to study in more detail I guess.

The Jan Garbarek Group's 1993 album "Twelve Moons" marked the 500th release on Manfred Eicher's ECM record label. The title track, as noted on the CD inner sleeve, contains themes originally composed for the film "Around the year in Børfjord". These kind of references always make me curious but I never catched a glimpse until the internet days and found out that this was not your ordinary movie.

It turns out that the actual English title is "A Year along the Abandoned Road". Director Morten Skallerud moved a camera around the fjord for a long period capturing each day in a few seconds resulting in a year passing before the camera. There's an Wikipedia entrance here. Video can also be found on YouTube.