It was considered a radical idea to fuse the pure tones of jazz saxophone with the ethereal vocalisations of the classical early music movement. But when the two worlds collided in 1994, courtesy of the collaboration between Jan Garbarek and The Hilliard Ensemble, something new and unexpectedly beautiful emerged.
“When I heard their first album, I felt straight at home in that musical world,” said Jan of the British four-man vocal chamber group. Both acts were signed to international record label ECM and collaboration between acts was encouraged.
“Then it was mentioned we might look at working together. I said: ‘Maybe that might be nice, but I guess it might not be. Maybe we should get together and try.’ And The Hilliards had the same idea.”
After stealing themselves away to an Austrian monastery, Jan quietly listened to the vocal group for a while, then began to improvise along to their music. And, as three top-selling albums and 20 years of sold-out international concerts will attest, it worked.
“I have to say, for myself, I enjoyed our first album very much. But I thought it would maybe be something that interested hundreds of people, not hundreds of thousands as it turned out. So it was quite surprising to me when there was a huge buzz about it.”
As for why the fusion has been so well received, Jan finds it hard to say.
The experience, according to the saxophonist, is dependent on so many factors, not least the individual listener’s perception. And the venue is also crucial.
“Especially in a church because of the acoustics,” he said.
“We are very dependent on the room itself; it becomes a sixth member of the performance. If we get a nice reverberant room, the concerts will always be very easy and pleasant to do. If it’s a hard and dry room, it’s harder work, but we still do it, but it takes more energy.”
Sadly, this year marks the end of Jan and the Hilliard’s work together, as the male ensemble are set to retire.
With this in mind, their appearance together at St Mary’s Cathedral as part of the Aberdeen Jazz Festival is all the more poignant.
While Jan has plenty more irons in the fire, he will be sorry to see the collaboration come to an end. Will the 2014 tour be a bittersweet experience?
“It’s strictly bitter, I would say,” he joked.
“But no, I really hate to see them leave my life, but I understand why, especially with singers. They have been going some time, after all. But of course I would have liked to go on with them.”
By the time Jan performs in Aberdeen, he will have just celebrated his 67th birthday – the official retirement age in Norway. But while the Hilliard’s road is coming to an end, Jan has no intention of retiring any time soon.
“I’m exactly the same 15-year-old sax player as I was,” he said with a laugh.
And so, tour over, he will get back to his solo work and his lifelong quest to constantly evolve his music.
“Every time, I’m trying to reach for that good sound. The sound that conveys the moment and situation I’m in,” he explained.
“It might be a pretty or ugly sound, but it will match my temper and the surroundings, and it blends the whole thing together. That’s what I’m striving for.”
Jan Garbarek will perform alongside The Hilliard Ensemble on Saturday, March 15, at St Mary’s Cathedral, Aberdeen. The performance will be divided into full-view and limited-view options. For tickets and further information, visit www.aberdeen performingarts.com or call 01224 641122.
Jan Garbarek is just one of a host of international jazz stars set to play Aberdeen as of next week in the Aberdeen Jazz Festival.
Running in venues across the city from March 12 to 16, the festival boasts one of its most impressive programmes yet.
Festival organiser Jazz Scotland say this is one of its most impressive programmes yet.
The 2014 lineup includes the festival debut of Joe Louis Walker Band, pictured right; an appearance by rising star of the London jazz scene, and Mobo nominee Zara McFarlane, and the Magnus Ostrom Band. Ostrom is renowned for being one of the most influential jazz drummers of his generation.
Now in its 11th year, the five-day festival will also include a large-scale, one-day outdoor festival, Jazz on the Green, a series of daytime and evening events at the city’s iconic Blue Lamp jazz venue, workshops, masterclasses and a number of free events.
For further information, visit www.aberdeenjazzfestival.com