Search - Jan Garbarek :: Witchi-Tai-To

One of Garbarek's Best Albums

J. Rich | 04/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Witchi-Tai-To" released in 1974 on ECM stands as a great introduction to jazz music and also to the saxophone style of Jan Garbarek. First of all, Jan's one of the great saxophone players of our time. He's very melodic and he doesn't rely on nasty squawks and noises to make his saxophone playing interesting (not that making noise is interesting).



Jan is joined by Bobo Stenson on piano, Palle Danielsson on bass, and Jon Christensen on drums, which also make up Keith Jarrett's European quartet (check out the albums "Belonging" and "My Song"). I was really impressed with the piano work of Bobo Stenson, but all the musicians that contributed are incredible. Jon Christensen's drumming is very fluid and he's been one of my favorite drummers for many years now. Palle Danielsson does a great job at the deep end, guiding the melodies along in a very relaxed manner.



"Witchi-Tai-To" remains one of the greatest jazz recordings in the 70s in my opinion. I listen to this album alot.



If you like Jan Garbarek's playing I also recommend Ralph Towner's "Solstice," his own "Twelve Moons," and any album he played with Keith Jarrett on."

One of 10 CDs I would want if trapped on a desert island

the way I see it | Midwest | 04/29/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is flat out gorgeous. It is substantive enough for seasoned jazz listeners to listen to time and again yet melodic enough for neophytes. It is truly one of the most beautiful CDs I have heard from beginning to end. All the songs are lovely, but "Desireless" is my personal favorite. What a gorgeous, gorgeous tune! It is hauntingly beautiful and almost compels me to use a descriptor I don't like to use: spiritual. I will conclude by saying that if I were trapped on a desert island (with a good sound system, of course) and could only have ten CDs with me, this is one I would defintely include. It is also among the top ten CDs I would recommend to someone who has not heard much, if any, jazz. Of course, like many jazz listening veterans, I would start this person off with Miles Davis' Kind of Blue, but Witchi-Tai-To wouldn't be too far behind."