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Comparing notes

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Having come up through the Duke Ellington Orchestra, gigs with Miles Davis and the music of John Coltrane, you could say Kenny Garrett's musical lineage is pure American 20th century jazz. But in December 2005, the saxophone player spent three weeks in Beijing that would culminate two years later in the album Beyond the Wall - the 'wall' being the Great Wall of China.

The 73 minutes of recordings were largely inspired by Garrett's meanderings through Beijing's hutongs. The music includes samples of Tibetan chants, collaboration with an erhu player and many more general influences from that first trip.

Garrett didn't speak any Putonghua and says: 'I didn't want to stay in a western-style hotel, so I ended up staying in an apartment complex.' He was dropped off by 'a friend of a friend, whom I never saw again. And from there, I was pretty much trying to survive.'

On Saturday night, Garrett will bring some of his China-inspired compositions - as well as a new band - to Taipei's National Concert Hall, where he will kick off a four-concert series called Summer Jazz 2008. Taipei has invited major names in jazz to the annual event since its was founded in 2003. Other musicians performing include Japanese pianist Hiromi Uehara next Thursday, piano great McCoy Tyner on September 5 and one of the most sought-after jazz singers around, Diane Reeves, on September 15.

Garrett, 48, was born into jazz, learning the saxophone from his father while growing up in Detroit. At 18, he joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra, which was then under Ellington's son, Mercer. Then, beginning in 1986, he played with Davis for five years and four albums. Although he never played with Coltrane, he recorded a highly praised tribute album to him.

Beyond the Wall is Garrett's 15th solo album. He has played as a session musician on more than 100 albums with most of the top names in jazz today and with popular musicians such as Sting, Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen and the rapper Guru.

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