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Twelve Moons

Jan Garbarek Group
1 disc

1. Twelve Moons: Part One: Winter-Summer / Part Two: Summer-Winter
2. Psalm
3. Brother Wind March
4. There Were Swallows
5. Tall Tear Trees, The
6. Arietta
7. Gautes-Margjit
8. Darvanan
9. Huhai
10. Witchi-Tai-To
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Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 5195002
Credits

Producer Manfred Eicher
Engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug
Personnel: Jan Garbarek (soprano & tenor saxophones, synthesizer); Agnes Buen Garnas, Mari Boine (vocals); Rainer Bruninghaus (piano, synthesizer); Eberhard Weber (bass); Manu Katche (drums); Marilyn Mazur (percussion).
Recorded at Rainbow Studio, Oslo, Norway in September 1992.
TWELVE MOONS was nominated for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance in the 37th Annual Grammy Awards.
Personnel: Jan Garbarek (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Agnes Buen Garnas, Mari Boine (vocals); Rainer Bruninghaus (piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Manu Katch (drums, snare drum); Marilyn Mazur (percussion).
Recording information: Rainbow Studio, Oslo, Norway (09/1992).
Photographer: Jan Jedlicka.
Arranger: Jan Garbarek.
Recorded in 1992, this album emphasizes production value and slick performances. Largely a feature for Jan Garbarek's soprano sax (he only plays tenor on three tracks), each song is dreamy and quite mystical. Compositionally, TWELVE MOONS is a curious blend of light jazz and Norwegian folk melodies. This is especially apparent on "Psalm" and "Darvanan," both of which feature female vocalists, while "Huhai" borrows from a traditional folk tune.
Fans of Garbarek's penetrating, English horn-like soprano sax sound are treated to some inspired playing throughout, and drummer Manu Katche, best known for his work with Peter Gabriel and Sting, shines on every track. Additionally, there is nice interplay between Garbarek and the band on "Witchi-Tai-To," a remake of a tune first recorded by the saxophonist on a '74 album of the same name.
Critic Reviews

Down Beat (2/94, p.46) - 4 1/2 Stars - Very Good Plus - "...TWELVE MOONS... sums up Garbarek's progress towards a multi-cultural music whose ties to `jazz' grow tenuous....Drummer Manu Katche is an important component in the group sound...."