A remarkable piece of jazz history has resurfaced in the Jazz Middelheim archives—a stunning video of Jan Garbarek’s 1972 performance, originally broadcast on Tienerklanken, a program on the former BRT. The footage captures a young Garbarek in his early years, already showcasing the introspective and otherworldly saxophone style that would define his career. Interwoven with striking visuals of sculptures from the Openluchtmuseum Middelheim, where the festival was then held, the recording is a time capsule of artistic expression, merging sound and image in a way that feels as fresh today as it did over 50 years ago.

Now, in 2025, Garbarek returns to Jazz Middelheim - not as the young prodigy of the past, but as a globally revered artist leading the Jan Garbarek Group featuring Trilok Gurtu. With long-time pianist Rainer Brüninghaus, Brazilian bassist Yuri Daniel, and the masterful Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu, Garbarek continues to transcend musical boundaries. His sound - once described by ECM producer Manfred Eicher as “ascetic” - remains as evocative and pure as ever, blending the stark beauty of Scandinavian folklore with the fluid improvisation of jazz.

From the archives to the present, Garbarek’s journey at Jazz Middelheim is a testament to the festival’s legacy and its ever-evolving relationship with the artists who shape its sound. Whether in 1972 or 2025, his music remains timeless—intimate, expansive, and deeply moving.