CD of the Day - "Marilyn Mazur: Elixir"

CD of the Day
Marilyn Mazur & Jan Garbarek: "Elixir" (ECM) 2008

Recorded in Copenhagen, Denmark, in June 2005, but only released in April 2008, "Elixir" (produced by ECM founder Manfred Eicher) is a thought-provoking, compelling, and rewarding listen for adventurous audiences.
Dannish percussionist and composer Marilyn Mazur is a fascinating musician whose skill and flair has adorned jazz projects led by such masters as Miles Davis (check her astonishing performances on the "Aura" CD and on the "Live in Munich" DVD) and Gil Evans, as well as with cult pop star Joe Jackson. Jan Garbarek, the Norwegian reedman, plays mostly tenor sax on this date, sometimes also using soprano sax and flute. He's regarded as one of the most distinctive jazz musicians Europe has produced, known for many recordings under his own name and with Keith Jarrett and Naná Vasconcellos for ECM.
"Elixir" is just these two, a series of concise duet performances where the lines between jazz, folk, and world music blur. Garbarek's chilly but soulful tone soars and sears over, under, and with Mazur's crackling, pulsing, rumbling, dancing range of sounds. Throughout the 21 tracks, Mazur is heard on such instruments as marimba, Indian cowbells, udu drum, bowed vibraphone & waterphone, bells & sheep bells, gongs, cymbals, various kinds of drums and "metal-utensils". Pure magic!