"},"rev2":{"wt":"''[[The Penguin Guide to Jazz]]''"},"rev2Score":{"wt":"{{rating|3|4}}"},"rev3":{"wt":"''[[The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide]]''"},"rev3Score":{"wt":"{{rating|3|5}}{{Cite book\n |editor-last=Swenson\n |editor-first=J.\n | author-link = \n | year = 1985\n | title = The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide\n | publisher = Random House/Rolling Stone\n | location = USA\n | isbn = 0-394-72643-X\n | pages = 81\n}}"}},"i":0}}]}" id="mwHA">
Timeless is the debut album by American jazz guitarist John Abercrombie, recorded over two days in June 1974 and released on ECM the following year. The trio features organist Jan Hammer and drummer Jack DeJohnette.
Nude Ants is a live album by American pianist Keith Jarrett recorded at the Village Vanguard in New York City in May 1979 and released on ECM a year later. The quartet—Jarrett's "European Quartet"—features saxophonist Jan Garbarek and rhythm section Palle Danielsson and Jon Christensen. The title of the album is a play on the phrase "New Dance", which is the title of the penultimate song.
Sart is the third album by Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek, recorded over two days in April 1971 and released on ECM later that year—his second release for the label. The quintet features pianist Bobo Stenson, guitarist Terje Rypdal, and Afric Pepperbird rhythm section Arild Andersen and Jon Christensen.
Witchi-Tai-To is an album by the Jan Garbarek–Bobo Stenson Quartet recorded over two days in November 1973 and released on ECM the following year. The quartet features rhythm section Palle Danielsson and Jon Christensen.
Esoteric Circle is the second album by Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek, originally released under the band name "The Esoteric Circle" on Bob Thiele's Flying Dutchman label but re-issued under his name on the Freedom imprint, performed by Garbarek with Terje Rypdal, Arild Andersen and Jon Christensen.
Places is an album by Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek, recorded in December 1977 and released on ECM the following year. The quartet features pianist John Taylor, guitarist Bill Connors, and drummer Jack DeJohnette.
Photo with Blue Sky, White Cloud, Wires, Windows and a Red Roof is an album by the Jan Garbarek Group. It was recorded on December 20, 1978, and released on ECM the following year. The quintet features rhythm section Bill Connors, John Taylor, Eberhard Weber and Jon Christensen.
I Took Up the Runes is an album by Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek recorded August 1990 and released on ECM later that year. The quintet features pianist Rainer Brüninghaus, bassist Eberhard Weber, percussionist Nana Vasconcelos and drummer Manu Katché, with keyboardist Bugge Wesseltoft and singer Ingor Ánte Áilo Gaup.
Solstice is an album by American jazz guitarist Ralph Towner recorded in December 1974 and released on ECM the following year. The Solstice quartet features saxophonist Jan Garbarek and rhythm section Eberhard Weber and Jon Christensen.
Legend of the Seven Dreams is an album by Norwegian jazz saxophonist Jan Garbarek recorded in July 1988 and released on ECM October later that year.
Luminessence: Music for String Orchestra and Saxophone is an album composed by American pianist Keith Jarrett featuring saxophonist Jan Garbarek and the Südfunk-Sinfonieorchester conducted by Mladen Gutesha, recorded in April 1974 and released on ECM the following year—Jarrett does not perform on this album. The title is a portmanteau of "luminescence" and "essence".
Arbour Zena is an orchestral work composed by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett which was recorded in October 1975 and released by ECM the following year. The trio features saxophonist Jan Garbarek and bassist Charlie Haden backed by members of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mladen Gutesha.
Red Lanta is an album by American jazz pianist Art Lande and Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek, recorded over two days in November 1973 and released on ECM the following year. The title is an anagram of "Art Lande".
Pictures is an album by American jazz drummer and composer Jack DeJohnette, recorded in February 1976 and released on ECM the following year, featuring DeJohnette playing drums, piano and organ, with guest appearances by guitarist John Abercrombie on "Pictures 3–5".
Mágico is an album by bassist Charlie Haden, recorded in June 1979 and released on ECM in January the following year. The trio features saxophonist Jan Garbarek and guitarist Egberto Gismonti.
Folk Songs is an album by bassist Charlie Haden, recorded in November 1979 and released on ECM in February 1981—the second album by the trio, featuring saxophonist Jan Garbarek and guitarist Egberto Gismonti, following Mágico (1980).
Aftenland is an album by Norwegian jazz composer and saxophonist Jan Garbarek and organist Kjell Johnsen, recorded at the Engelbrekt Church in Stockholm in December 1979 and released on ECM the following year.
Paths, Prints is an album by Norwegian jazz saxophonist Jan Garbarek, recorded in December 1981 and released on ECM September 6, 1982. The quartet features rhythm section Bill Frisell, Eberhard Weber and Jon Christensen.
Night is an album by guitarist John Abercrombie, recorded in 1984 and released on the ECM November later that year. The quartet features saxophonist Michael Brecker, keyboardist Jan Hammer, and drummer Jack DeJohnette.
The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1981 in Norwegian music.