Jan Garbarek Group: Wayfarer

ECM 1259 Date: 83-03-??

Tracks:

  1. Gesture (8:41)
  2. Wayfarer (9:27)
  3. Gentle (5:22)
  4. Pendulum (10:17)
  5. Spor (7:46)
  6. Singsong (4:17)
To me, Wayfarer always sounds a little colder than Paths, Prints, though this has nothing to do with DiPasqua replacing Christensen. The music is still mournful, there's still that use of space, and the sax themes still sound folk-inspired. In fact, I often confuse the beginning of the first track, Gesture, with the start of Paths, Prints. However, now there's a harder edge in places, particularly in the mid-section of the title track, in parts of Pendulum and particularly in the closer, SingSong, which (perhaps because of the cover photo) always makes me think of a beserk circus act. Garbarek and Frisell really let rip on this album, in a way that never really happened on Paths, Prints, though of course there are quiet moments too. The central section of Gentle has a beautifully-toned andante bass solo by Weber (though it might be too pedantic for some).

Over the years of listening to this album, Pendulum has gradually become my favourite track. Yet another quiet beginning, this time introducing a melody that manages to sound like a pendulum without being corny. Almost as soon as the heat picks up, everything stops dead for an oddball and largely unaccompanied Frisell solo (he has a wonderful habit of doing what sounds like taking his fingers for a random walk across the frets, yet still being perfectly appropriate). History repeats itself, to the point where we get a Garbarek solo over drums, which is one of my all-time favourites. The interplay between the drums and the sax towards the end is just lovely. Then the initial theme returns, and the clock winds down again.

Highly recommended.

(Go to Jan Garbarek album list)