Garbarek gained wider recognition through his work with pianist Keith Jarrett's European Quartet which released the albums Belonging (1974), My Song (1977), and the live recordings Personal Mountains (1979), and Nude Ants (1979).

He is also a pioneer of ambient jazz composition, most notably on his 1976 album Dis a collaboration with guitarist Ralph Towner,[3] that featured the distinctive sound of a wind harp on several tracks.

Other experiments have included setting a collection of poems of Olav H. Hauge to music, with a single saxophone complementing a full mixed choir; this has led to notable performances with Grex Vocalis.

He has collaborated with Indian and Pakistani musicians such as Trilok Gurtu, Zakir Hussain, Hariprasad Chaurasia, and Bade Fateh Ali Khan.

[6] With Egberto Gismonti With Charlie Haden and Egberto Gismonti With Keith Jarrett With Eleni Karaindrou With Karin Krog With Gary Peacock With Terje Rypdal With George Russell With L. Shankar With Ralph Towner With Jan Erik Vold With Miroslav Vitouš With Eberhard Weber With others