Since the late '70s, Jan Garbarek has been carving out a place within jazz for the folk and spiritual traditions of the indigenous peoples of Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and finally of those people all over the world. Rites, a double CD, is his attempt at forging a synthesis that takes improvisation into the heart of ritual music and creates a new form of spiritual from them both.
While the music is indeed intended for ritual, it comes from the celebratory side of the aisle rather than the contemplative one. Here are dances, Garbarek's versions of gospel shouts, processionals, festival waltzes, and all manner of joyful ceremonies completing the circle. On one collection, listeners get music for prayer, contemplation, and grief, as well as a funky European read of indigenous music for moving to and celebrating. Clearly this is what sets Rites above Garbarek's other recordings, him taking that balance he possessed so early in his career back again and putting it to work in a near-sacred setting.
CD 1: Rites
Where the Rivers meet
Vast plain, clouds
So mild the wind, so meek the water
Song, tread lightly
It's OK to listen to the gray voice
Her wild ways
CD 2: Its high time
One ing for every Yang
Pan
We are the stars
The moon over Mtatsminda
Malinye
The White clown
Evenly they danced
Last rite