Is it due to the addition of Charlie Haden's bass and the musical participation of the master himself on piano that "Arbour Zena", which according to "Luminessence" second project of cooperation of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra with Jan Garbarek on saxophone based on compositions of Keith Jarrett, so much better advised than the previous album? Probably yes. While often not quite see "Luminessence" still the classic sound of the strings and the free, jazzy improvisations Garbarek on tenor and soprano saxophone with each other, form the "Arbour Zena" the piano and the bass often bridges between the spheres and there are sometimes fantastically beautiful harmonies or interesting jazzy passages. Especially in the first two titles, "Runes" and "Solara March", so, while, to often be heard with some acting aimlessly string lines in the last and longest track of the album "Mirrors" rather concern looser passages. Nevertheless, this does not detract from the very good overall impression "Arbour Zena" leaves. Noteworthy in "Runes" is the powerful bass of Haden, whose run is reminiscent of his own composition, "Ellen David" from the album "closeness" (a duet with Jarrett), Charlie Haden, a few months after the recording of "Arbour Zena" in March 1976 grossed. In "Solara March" to a lyrical start approximately from the half uses a groovy passage during which Garbarek a wonderful solo blows on the basis of a piano / strings soil. Only the final issue, which is designed peculiar and catchy pop-like, something falls out of the frame. Also "Mirrors" has within its almost 28 minutes often wonderful stretches successful interaction between strings, saxophone, piano and bass with beautiful themes. Nevertheless, the piece falls from time to time into randomness, the musical idea gets into nebulous. Then individual passages recall again, as well as subsequent Jarrett compositions "The Celestial Hawk" and "Bridge Of Light" partly on purely untermalende film music. Nevertheless, because of the many great stages on "Arbour Zena" a fifth star to be awarded.
