JAN GARBAREK — George Russell Presents Esoteric Circle (review)

JAN GARBAREK — George Russell Presents Esoteric Circle album cover Album · 1970 · Avant-Garde Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
snobb
Jan Garbarek's solo debut, released on US-label Flying Dutchman under "Esoteric Circle" project's name (and later re-released as his solo album), is really interesting release for every Garbarek fan.

First of all,music presented there is a bit raw but innovative mix of post-bop, fusion and avant-garde jazz. Musicians line up is the same as on Garbarek second, much better known album (and his debut on ECM), but the music sounds different. Rhythm section is more conservative here and rarely leaves post-bop tradition, but Garbarek's tenor sax and partially Rypdal's electric guitar make some trips to fusion and avant-garde zones. As a result, album in whole sounds slightly unfocused, but raw,dirty and even explosive in moments (what is impossible for any Garbarek's music, recorded on ECM).

Some compositions have strong emotional vibes, nice tunes, and Coltrane's influences are obvious here.At the same time, Jon Christensen and Terje Rypdal bring some heavier and rockier elements, from jazz-rock to rock jamming. Eclectic and quite unusual musical mix for Garbarek's album, isn't it?

Rare and interesting release illustrating Garbarek's (and Rypdal's) early musical influences,inspired and innovative as few first Garbarek's ECM albums are.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Scavenger Eclectic Fusion
RICHARD X BENNETT
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Places We're Taken 21st Century Modern
COLIN TRUSEDELL
Buy this album from MMA partners
Vienna Solo Jazz Related Improv/Composition
SIMON ROSE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Fumio Itabashi / Henrik Schwarz / Kuniyuki : Watarase Jazz Related Electronica/Hip-Hop
FUMIO ITABASHI 板橋文夫
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Doomscrolling
KERI JOHNSRUD
js· 2 hours ago
DRUG
EMMA WILSON
js· 2 days ago
No More X
SIMÓN WILLSON
js· 2 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us