Jan Garbarek

Since the release of Afric Pepperbird in 1970, no other musician save for pianist Keith Jarrett has been as closely associated with ECM Records as Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek. His playing style on both tenor and soprano horns is identified by a sharp-edged tone and long, sustained notes that often sound like cries; he prioritizes the use of space and silence. Garbarek fits his playing into a diverse array of forms, including Norwegian and South American folk songs, improvisations based on medieval polyphony, and music from the Indian subcontinent and Middle East. Beginning in the '90s, his collaborations outnumbered his solo releases, including the best-selling Officium with the Hilliard Ensemble, the first of four albums with the group and a cornerstone in classical crossover.