JAN GARBAREK, KEITH JARRETT, PALLE DANIELSSON & JON CHRISTENSEN: BELONGING

First Keith Jarrett recordings on ECM with Jan Garbarek and his rhythm section (often known as Jarrett's European quartet).Comparing with Garrett American quartet, music there is less experimental and adventurous, and whole sound is influenced by Garbarek's Nordic folk.

Obvious project's leader is Jarrtett for sure. His playful piano improvs are central sound of album's music and most attractive its element. Garbarek's sax sounds far from his experimental works of early 70s and shows his growing trend to melodic simplified tunes, influenced by folklore, and with only occasional interesting improvs.He has enough space on this album, but comparing with Jarrett piano, sounding if not risky,but very jazzy on American manner, Garbarek's musicianship adds more simplified feeling to all sound.

Rhythm section is competent, but as in cases with previous Garbarek's releases with them are great supporting team and hardly more.Musically album varies from post-bop with serious Jarrett's classical influences to more polished mix of third stream and Nordic folk, but in all cases sound is well rounded, emotionally cool and only Jarrett great piano playing makes it alive.

Borderline album in many senses: after its release Jarrett will continue working for ECM recording few more albums with European quartet, Garbarek will develop similar musical direction on his later albums, but without Jarrett's jazz roots Garbarek's music very soon will be transformed to cold background world fusion,close to new age. The sound, presented on this album (as well as many similar releases of mid-late 70s) will evolute to post-bop rooted, but comfortably-polished melodic contemporary jazz of 90s.