JAN GARBAREK, BOBO STENSON, TERJE RYPDAL, ARILD ANDERSEN & JON CHRISTENSEN: SART

Sart is Jan Garbarek's second release on ECM label and third in line release of his quartet (yes pianist Bobo Stenson collaborates on Sart as fifth member, but his participation is of quite limited character and didn't change quartet's musical direction, so I think it's not a big mistake to count this album as Garbarek's quartet + Bobo Stenson release). After these three Garbarek's solo releases he will change his band's format to trio, and musical direction will start changes dramatically.

Returning back to Sart, this album sounds in a key of previous quartet works, combining electric fusion and acoustic avant-garde jazz elements. Comparing with previous album (I believe "Afric Pepperbird" is absolute Garbarek's peak release) Sart is not so explosive and sharp, but more mature. Garbarek's sax sounds often seriously influenced by electric period Miles Davis (electric Terje Rypdal guitar's sound only support this feeling), but on other compositions he turns more towards screaming European avant-garde jazz.

On all album Terje Rypdals' guitar is very important instrument,seriously influenced all music's sound with jazz fusion flavor. On his next (trio's) album Garbarek will play guitar-less music, and what a huge difference in sound it would be!

I think that three first Garbarek's albums are possibly most adventurous,experimental and interesting series in all his discography.On his later releases he will turn slowly to more accessible sound, melting jazz with folklore and classics and using much more polished sound. There will be some really successful albums still released, but Garbarek's golden legacy is these three very first works.