Conversation Jan Harbeck Quartet

• 1 Passing Clouds 05:32
• 2 Out of the Blue 04:22
• 3 Odd One Out 06:06
• 4 Sparkle Sight 04:29
• 5 Airwaves 06:58
• 6 Interaction 06:40
• 7 Arena 07:22
• Total Runtime 41:29

Info for Conversation

Conversation is a new album from Danish saxophonist Jan Harbeck and his long-standing quartet. Known for his lyrical tone and calm intensity, Harbeck leads the ensemble through a set of soulful, meditative pieces. Recorded without cuts or overdubs, the music unfolds like an intimate dialogue. A warm, expressive release for fans of modern Scandinavian jazz.

Jan Harbeck Quartet

Jan Harbeck
lives and breathes for his music and to tell a story with his saxophone. Jan was born in Aarhus, Denmark in 1975 and has been playing music most of his life. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in Aalborg as well as New School in New York. Besides his two orchestras Jan Harbeck Quartet and Live Jive Jungle, Jan plays with numerous other orchestras (see the list here).

Jan Harbeck has received the Ben Webster Prize 2018.

In 2011, Jan was presented with the prestigious Danish award Bent Jædig Prize as well as Walter Klæbel Prize in 2006. Not least, Jan won a Grammy in 2009 for the best album of the year.

In 2014, Jan Harbeck Quartet released the album ‘Variations in Blue’ with Walter Smith III and the world’s leading jazz magazine DownBeat wrote the following:

‘Danish saxist Jan Harbeck has put together a gorgeous set of bluesy standards, tangos and originals. Since the tracks are all unhurried – recorded live with no cuts or overdubs – the whole program slips down like a vintage port. Despite the familiarity of “Don’t Let the Sun…” and “Blues In the Night”, Harbeck’s originals fit the rundown like silk stockings, slowly unfurling.’ – 4 of 5 stars — Michael Jackson, DownBeat Magazine, March 2015.

Danish newspaper ‘Politiken’ furthermore described Jan Harbeck Quartet’s show at Copenhagen Jazz Festival, in a review by music editor Thomas Michelsen: “Harbeck demonstrated, that nobody can put their soul into a jazz ballad like he can”, and previously in the same newspaper, he also wrote: “the tenor saxophone is the essential sound of jazz. The soul of the genre. Once upon a time we had Ben Webster in Copenhagen to put the soul to life again. Today we have Jan Harbeck.”

The Jan Harbeck Quartet
play modern acoustic jazz with a warm, accessible and expressive delivery. In 2008, the quartet received a Danish Grammy for their release ‘In the Still of the Night’ and they have since become one of the best selling Danish instrumental jazz groups. The quartet play a mix of Harbeck’s compositions and selected lesser-known jazz standards with a focus on strong melody and irresistible swing alongside heart-wrenching melancholic blues.

“The tenor saxophone is the sound of jazz. The soul of the music. Once Copenhagen had Ben Webster to blow that soul to life. Now we have Jan Harbeck.” – Politiken 10/7 2010

The band’s latest release,‘Variations in Blue’, features American sax star Walter Smith III. The album was highly acclaimed by the press and the world’s leading jazz magazine DownBeat wrote the following:

The music is indebted to the jazz tradition, but each of the four musicians contribute their own personal modern-day take on the compositions. Henrik Gunde is one of the most in-demand Danish jazz musicians with his eloquent virtuoso piano playing, bassist Eske Nørrelykke is the backbone of the quartet with his unique minimalistic style, whilst Anders Holm unites swing and groove with charisma and understated finesse at the drums. The quartet are able to create an intimate world with a perfect acoustically balanced sound, where nothing comes between the audience and the musicians.

Danish newspaper ‘Politiken’ describes Jan Harbeck Quartet’s show at Copenhagen Jazz Festival, in a review by music editor Thomas Michelsen: “Harbeck demonstrated, that nobody can put their soul into a jazz ballad like he can”, and previously in the same newspaper, he also wrote: “the tenor saxophone is the essential sound of jazz. The soul of the genre. Once upon a time we had Ben Webster in Copenhagen to put the soul to life again. Today we have Jan Harbeck.”

This album contains no booklet.