Officium Novum: Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble

In 1994, ECM's first collaboration between Norwegian jazz saxophonist Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble ( Officium ) took audiences by storm. Garbarek's free improvisation around four voices singing early polyphony caught the market for chanting monks and high-class musak. Then came Mnemosyne (1999), mixing ancient and modern. Now a third, Officium Novum , unites east and west with Byzantine chant, Pérotin and the rich colours of the Armenian priest-composer Komitas Vardapet (1869-1935). It's the successful recipe with spicier flavourings. If you liked it before, you will again. If not, ditto.