After hearing John Coltrane’s “Countdown” on the radio, Jan Garbarek began playing the saxophone as a self-taught musician at the age of fourteen. In 1962, he won an amateur competition and formed his first band. In 1965, he met the American pianist and avant-garde musician George Russell, who recognized Garbarek’s talent and taught him. Russel took Garbarek on tour with him and let the young musician play solos alongside jazz greats.

Garbarek recorded his first album “Til Vigdis” live in 1967 with drummer Jon Christensen, double bassist Arild Andersen and Californian trombonist Frank Phipps. Garbarek’s collaboration with the vocal group “The Hilliard Ensemble”, whose medieval and early modern pieces were congenially accompanied by the saxophonist, was groundbreaking. The Jan Garbarek Group, with whom Garbarek has released numerous albums since the 1980s, is also legendary. The band will be accompanied by the Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu, who combines Indian and Western musical traditions in his music.

Garbarek’s ethereal sound is defined by American jazz greats, whose music he enriches with elements of Norwegian folklore and sounds from other cultures. The result is an unmistakable sound with penetrating intensity, reminiscent of the atmosphere and tranquillity of the Scandinavian landscape.

Website: http://www.garbarek.com