16 August 2012

Jan Garbarek - Til Vigdis




Jan Garbarek trio & quartet - Til Vigdis
Norsk Jazzforbund NJFLP-1 1967

This is a key record in what were the formative years of Norwegian free jazz. We have documented in the past similar key records and events in German, Dutch and French jazz and in British jazz as well, in particular the innovations of Joe Harriott and the scene around the Spontaneous Music Ensemble and the South African expats in London centred on the Blue Notes. And a bit of Scandinavian jazz, too, both in Denmark and Sweden. Not so much in Norway, though, so about time, then.

Garbarek was twenty when he made this and at the time very much inspired by the new thing over in the US; Coltrane, Shepp, Ayler and Sanders are all strong sources of inspiration, even naming the opening track after Mr. J.C. himself, an adaptation of Coltrane's "Mr. P.C" for Paul Chambers. This piece exists in several versions, usually from recorded live dates in Europe or at Birdland in NYC. "Freedom jazz dance" also exists in many versions, one of which can be found on the "Miles Smiles" album with the classic quartet and of course on Eddie Harris' "The In Sound" from 1965. It shows that Garbarek was quite au courant with what was going on the wider jazz world at the time. This album is quite different from what Garbarek does these days; here he is much more intense, less preoccupied with silence and space in the music (what was to be known as the Nordic Sound on ECM releases), instead cramming in as much as can be played within the time given. Not so all the way through, the title track is a more languid piece, possibly inspired by jazz excursions into eastern sounds and vibes. Jon Christensen is on fire, particularly on the swinging "Freedom Jazz Dance".

I don't know anything about Frank Phipps, briefly described as a Californian, who is on the second side and in the picture below. Personal and kind liner notes by Karin Krog, the grand lady of Norwegian jazz, not averse to experimenting and innovating herself, as we have documented in the past (and will do in the future).

I realise that this is a record that many have heard of, but few  have actually seen or heard, including myself until very recently. So what else to say but dig in and enjoy!

The quartet in full flight at Sogn Jazz Club in 1967
Note the original Edvard Munch painting on the wall!

Side 1

Mr. J.C. (J. Coltrane)

Jan Garbarek - tenor sax
Per Løberg - bass
Jon Christensen - drums

Recorded live at "Abeidsbrakka" Asker, 1. April 1967

Side 2

Freedom Jazz Dance (Eddie Harris)
Til Vigdis (Jan Garbarek)

Jan Garbarek - tenor sax
Frank Phipps _ valve trombone
Arild Andersen - bass
Jon Christensen - drums

Recorded live at Studentbyens Jazz Klubb, Oslo, 24. September 1967
Pic courtesy of Arthur Sand/Norwegian Jazz Archive.

39 comments:

  1. Coming back from a meeting with dear friends some minutes ago...I've asked them about "Til Vigdis"!!!
    Hey Kinabalu - how did you know ;-)

    Thank you - Merci - Hvala ljepo - Danke - Gracias - Terima kasih - Dōmo arigatō...calmness!

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  2. Thanks. Just curious - who's the girl on the cover?

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  3. Kinda obvious, innit? Vigdis Garbarek, that's who.

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  4. That's great, Kinabalu - please continue.

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  5. Obvious only if one speaks Norwegian, which most of the world does not. So what relationship does Mme. Vigdis have to the music or Jan G?

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  6. Same to you, onx. Let's keep on keeping on!

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  7. Jan Garbarek was born in Mysen, Norway [March 4, 1947], the only child of a former Polish prisoner of war Czesław Garbarek and a Norwegian farmer's daughter. Effectively stateless until the age of seven (there was no automatic grant of citizenship in Norway at that time) Garbarek grew up in Oslo. At 21, he married Vigdis [in 1968]. His daughter Anja Garbarek is also a musician. (from Wiki except [...])

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  8. What's obvious to some may not be obvious to others, I suppose. Vigdis is his significant other or wife or spouse. They were married in 1968, after that picture was taken, though they had got to know each other years earlier. That small piece of info can also be found on English Wikipedia.

    What's more interesting is that Jan Garbarek was in fact stateless for the first seven years of his life. Being the son of a Polish prisoner of war, who was sent to Norway to work on the railways during the German occupation, and a Norwegian woman, he did not acquire automatic citizenship as eligibility for citizenship depended on the nationality of the father. He spent his earliest years in a camp for displaced persons and the government was reportedly planning to deport the camp inhabitants to France. Eventually they were allowed to remain and Jan acquired full citizenship. So Jan could have become French. Funny world, innit?

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  9. Onx, man, you're way ahead of me! But I did have a little more detail from the man himself, c/o a local newspaper.

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  10. Thanks a lot. I'd never heard of this one. I really like early Garbarek. Surely 'Mr J.C.' was a typo on the original album ?

    Here's some 1969 footage

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoXgul5HxkQ

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  11. Wow, this has been on my want list of LPs for years, never had a chance to hear it. Thanks.

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  12. Kinabalu,I am one of the 'know of the album, but have never heard it'.
    Thanks for giving me the opportunity to do so.

    Now if anyone has Carsten Meinert's 'to you' that would make an ideal skandanavian bookend!

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  13. Thank you gentlemen for the background info. Regardless of Mme. Til’s charms, to my ears the real joy of this record is hearing (on “FJD” especially) the coolly youthful buzz of Jon Christensen, unsanitized by ECM. He was born swinging in his cradle.

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  14. @ glmr. Agreed. Christensen is magnificent. And yes, boo to ECM.

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  15. Finally listened to the enire LP - and just spinning it for the second time.
    And yes Jon Christensen is great as is the LP as a whole :-)

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  16. @Andy: I think the title of the opening tune was intentional and not a typo, meant as a homage to Mr. JC just as the original was a homage to Mr. PC.

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  17. many many thanks

    giovanni zanoni

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  18. @ kinabalu. But it is 'Mr. P.C.' and Coltrane never wrote a tune called 'Mr J.C'. Do I get my jazz nerd/bore medal now?

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  19. @Andy: You're quite right. The story I've heard, which is as plausible as any other, was that it was renamed due to the fact that Coltrane died in the summer of 1967 after "Mr. P.C." was recorded and hence a decision was made to call it "Mr. J.C." in honour of him. You can collect your medal at the door.

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  20. now if someone can post this :
    m.urnaniak orchestra on atlas - norway lp 1968

    thanks again for the wonderful "til vigdis" post

    giovanni

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  21. Completely unknown to me. Looking forward to hearing the earliest Garbarek and Christensen I have ever come across. Many thanks!

    -Brian

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  22. Pre-ECM Garbarek. How exciting! Many thanks!

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  23. I don't like ECM Garbarek, but I might have a listen to this!

    So thx again ...

    btw: Frank Phipps is not a pseudonym, he still exists it seems!

    http://www.tonycorman.com/trio.html

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  24. Thanks for this rarity!

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  25. Unbelievable!!!
    Thanks so much for this! Been looking for it for over 10 years. It came up on ebay last year but went for something like £750.

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  26. Looks like you saved yourself a bundle of money there. Ain't life wonderful? I got it for "free" myself, borrowed it from a friend of mine who bought it when it became out.

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  27. Is it possible a repost of this rarity? Old links don't work :(

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  28. Actually, I've upgraded the files to full lossless - wav. Only the best for this item!

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  29. Wow, this is BRAND new to me. Areal treat. Don't think I've hear pre George Russell Garbarek. thx!

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  30. Thanks a LOT, kinabalu. I asked for repost few days ago, VERY VERY KIND (and fast) from you
    ... and also in lossless format :-)

    FF

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  31. many thnaks for this great post!! :D

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  32. Thank you for uploading again this rare gem!
    Greetings from Greece.

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