Happy Valley Blog

2011Oct.21 Belfast Festival at Queen's, Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble

Belfast Festival at Queen's Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard EnsembleVenue :St Thomas Church 2 Eglantine AvenueTimes : 21 Oct 2011 8:00PM - 21 Oct 2011 10:30PMBooking information : Tickets available online, or from the main telephone line (available from mid August)ShowsBook now Fri 21 Oct, 2011, 8:00pmNobody plays the saxophone quite like Jan Garbarek. His sound has become an unmistakable trademark and this sound for some time now has acquired another dimension than what is generally understood as jazz.Innumerable record releases, concerts in the most significant concert-halls throughout the world, the many years he collaborated with Keith Jarrett or his unprecedented work with the Hilliard Ensemble have made this unique saxophonist popular across all musical genres and borders. It has never been of any interest to him that critics need to find convenient labels to sort people out into musical categories. Garbarek eludes this attempt.You find his work in jazz, classical and pop charts. Since the early days of the Munich cult label ECM he has been one of its most successful representatives. Have a listen here The Hilliard Ensemble is one of the world's finest vocal chamber groups. Its distinctive style and highly developed musicianship engage the listener as much in medieval and renaissance repertoire as in works specially written by living composers. The group’s standing as an early music ensemble dates from the 1980s with its series of successful recordings for EMI. In addition to many a cappella discs, collaborations include most notably Officium and Mnemosyne with the Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek, a partnership which continues to develop and renew itself.You can find some of his music listed on our Youtube pages (www.youtube.com/belfastfestival)