Jazz Archives

Jan Garbarek had studied with the great American composer George Russell, and had previously appeared on Russell's venture into jazz-rock, Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved By Nature. Whereas his teacher's usage of rock rhythms in an avant jazz context often came off as rather clunky, for Garbarek and his guitarist, Terje Rypdal, formerly a member of the popular Norwegian band the Vanguards, such a melding was more second nature. The Esoteric Circle, the first album by their band of the same name (hey, this was still the '60s after all), is a highly successful and enjoyable effort, one that can stand comfortably with work being done at that time by Tony Williams or John McLaughlin. Garbarek's compositions range from deeply felt homages to Coltrane ("Traneflight" and "Nefertite") to rocking jams like "Rabalder," where Rypdal gets to showcase his considerable chops. In fact, some of these themes were used by Russell in his aforementioned work. Garbarek's own playing, here entirely on tenor, come largely out of Albert Ayler as well as Coltrane, and his general attack is much more raw and aggressive than the style for which he would eventually become more widely known through his recordings for ECM. Listeners who enjoy his first several albums for that label (from Afric Pepperbird to Witchi-Tai-To) will find much to savor here.

:::Review by Brian Olewnick:::

Jan Garbarek - Esoteric Circle (1969)

1. Traneflight (2:59)
2. Rabalder (8:22)
3. Esoteric Circle (5:29)
4. Vips (5:49)
5. SAS 644 (7:55)
6. Nefertite (2:10)
7. Gee (1:16)
8. Karin's Mode (7:38)
9. Breeze Ending (3:44)

Credits
Jan Garbarek - tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Terje Rypdal - guitar
Arild Andersen - bass
Jon Christensen - percussion

Produced by George Russell

This is a true classic. Composer/pianist George Russell gathered together a very versatile group of talents (trumpeter Don Ellis, trombonist Dave Baker, Eric Dolphy on alto and bass clarinet, bassist Steve Swallow, and drummer Joe Hunt) to explore three of his originals, "'Round Midnight" (which is given an extraordinary treatment by Dolphy), Miles Davis' "Nardis," and David Baker's "Honesty." The music is post-bop and although using ideas from avant-garde jazz, it does not fall into any simple category. The improvising is at a very high level and the frameworks (which include free and stop-time sections) really inspire the players. Highly recommended.

:::Review by Scott Yanow:::

George Russell Sextet - Ezz-thetics (1961)

1. Ezz-Thetic 8:57
2. Nardis 4:34
3. Lydiot 8:06
4. Thoughts 5:32
5. Honesty 9:00
6. 'Round Midnight 6:33

Credits
Arranged By - George Russell
Bass - Stephen Swallow
Clarinet [Bass] - Eric Dolphy (tracks: 2, 5)
Drums - Joe Hunt
Piano - George Russell
Saxophone [Alto] - Eric Dolphy
Trombone - Dave Baker
Trumpet - Don Ellis