2019 06 Keith Jarrett Discography Maurizio
2019 06 Keith Jarrett Discography Maurizio
3
1953
19530412 Keith Jarrett solo + others
4
1962
5
1965
19650300 Keith Jarrett trio (PA)
Kent Carter (Bass) Danny Fullerton (Drums)
Winchester , Massachussets, USA
. Home recording by Ted Knowlton. Keith was 19. [Link]
Background:
Back in 1965 I was a full-time engineer doing piano gigs whenever. Each year my wife and I threw a jazz party and invited
friends and musicians that I had worked with. That year I invited a drummer with whom I had worked, Dannee Fullerton, to
be the drummer at out party. Dannee asked if he could bring a friend, a piano player. (Dannee said he didn't want the guest
piano player to crowd my act!) I said "fine," no problem. So Dannee showed up with a kid (see picture) and a bass player,
Kent Carter.
After I played for awhile, I asked the kid if he'd like to play. He sat down and started playing the standard tune, 'Tangerine.' I said
"WOW!" and dragged out an old Bell 2-track tape recorder (mono). I had an old condenser mic which I plopped down in the middle of
the drum, bass, and piano. The piano was a "no-name" baby grand (Bradbury).
I was so excited that I wound the take-up end of the tape (a 95-cent Radio Shack bargain) around the hub of the tape recorder - rather
than the take-up reel itself. (When I went to remove it later, you can imagine the pile of spaghetti tape I had on my hands.) The resulting
misalignment of the tape accounts for some gaps in the recording.
The recording of 'Tangerine' is a tour-de-force of the young Keith. After a few choruses of "regular" playing (right-hand solo lines, left-
hand chords), he gets into some two-handed octave lines that are pretty incredible. During the bass solo, he silently sets up chords using
the selective sustain pedal - the middle pedal, then strums the strings to get the harp-like effect - which is immediately answered with
some regular piano chords.
After the Kent Carter bass solo comes an awesome solo right-hand exercise. This leads into Danny's drum solo. Keith's left hand
emerges from the drum solo with yet another prodigious display of technique.
Then the crowd-pleaser final chorus.
This mp3 file may take awhile to download, but it's worth it!
6
19650000 Keith Jarrett trio
Keith Jarrett Trio - Keith Jarrett's Private Recording in The Berklee Years.
Keith Jarrett - Piano
Bud Mardin - Bass
Dannee Fullerton - Drums
7
1966
19660000 Charles Lloyd Quartet
Charles Lloyd, Keith Jarrett,Cecil McBee, and Jack DeJohnette
8
19660329 Charles Lloyd Quartet
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Cecil McBee (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
March 29th 1966, New York, NY
1 10075 Untitled, No. 1
2 10076 Love Ship (Lloyd) 5.53
3 10077 Sombrero Sam (Lloyd) 5.13
4 10078 Dream Weaver: Meditation /
Dervish Dance (Lloyd) 11.33
5 10079 Island Blues (Lloyd)
6 10080 Autumn Sequence: Autumn Prelude / Autumn
Leaves / Autumn Echo (Kosma, Lloyd, Mercer, Prevert) 11.59
7 10081 Bird Flight (Lloyd) 9.08
8 10082 Forest Flower Vamp
1,5,8: lost
2-4,6,7: Charles Lloyd - Dream Weaver (Atlantic LP 1459, SD 1459)
Review by Thom Jurek [-]The first studio date of the Charles Lloyd Quartet, with Keith Jarrett, Cecil McBee, and Jack
DeJohnette, was recorded and released just a few days before the band took both the European and American festival cir-
cuits by storm. First came Europe, which was just getting the disc as the band was tearing up its stages. While the live dates
are now the stuff of legend, it's easy to overlook the recordings, but to do so would be a mistake. Dream Weaver is a fully
realized project by a band -- a real band -- in which each member has a unique part of the whole to contribute. Jarrett's
unusual piano style fits musically with Lloyd's lyricism in a way that it shouldn't. Jarrett was even then an iconoclast, play-
ing harmonic figures from the inside out and relying on counterpoint to create new spaces, not fill them in. (Just listen to
"Autumn Sequence," where his solos and his backing harmonics are equally strident and inventive as Lloyd's Eastern ex-
plorations of mood and mode.) And then there's the rhythm section of McBee and DeJohnette, whose modal inventions on
the intervals make the "Dream Weaver" suite an exercise in open time, allowing all players to wander around inside it and
take what they want out. The set closes with a group party jam on "Sombrero Sam," with Lloyd and Jarrett trading eights
on a Cuban variation on a fantasia. There were no records like this one by new groups in 1966.
9
19660330 Charles Lloyd Quartet
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Cecil McBee (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
March 30th 1966, New York, NY
1 10083 Untitled, No. 1
2 10084 Blues For Tommy Bee
3 10085 Little Anahid's Day (Lloyd)
4 10086 Sombrero Sam (Lloyd)
5 10087 Island Blues (Lloyd)
6 10088 Long Time Baby
1-6: Atlantic lost
TT 45’
TT 60
10
6. Piano solo (3:17)
11
1966072324 Charles Lloyd Quartet
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Cecil McBee (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 23 & 24, 1966, Juan-les-Pins Jazz Festival, Antibes, France
1 11181 Sweet Georgia Bright(Lloyd)
2 11182 Voice In The Night (Lloyd)
3 11183 East of The Sun (Brooks Bowman)
4 11184 Dream Weaver (Lloyd)
5 11185 Love Song To A Baby(Lloyd)
6 11186 Joan(Lloyd)
7 11187 Lady Gabor (Szabo)
8 17854 Lady Gabor (Szabo)
9 17855 East of The Sun (Brooks Bowman)
10 17856 Medley: Goin' To Memphis / Island Blues (Lloyd) 6.46
11 17857 Dervish Dance (Lloyd), II
12 ??? 8.41
13 ??? 18.23
14 ??? 5.46
15 ??? 5.28
10: Charles Lloyd Quartet Recorded In Concert - Flowering Of The Original (Atlantic SD 1586)
12-15: [CD] Charles Lloyd Quartet – Festival Juan-les-Pins 1966
1-9,11: lost
(DI)
intro 00:47
Autumn Sequence 09:46
Prelude (Lloyd)
Leaves ([Link] – J. Cosma – J. Mercer)
Echo(Lloyd)
Forest Flower(Lloyd) 18:40
Love Ship (Lloyd) 05:49
Manhattan Tripper (Lloyd) 07:58
Island Blues (Lloyd) 05:19
12
19660908 Charles Lloyd Quartet
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Cecil McBee (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
September 8th 1966, New York, NY
1 10776 Untitled, No. 1
2 10777 Keith's Piece
3 10778 Manhattan Tripper (Lloyd)
4 10779 Cecil's Tune
5 10780 Song Of Her (Cecil McBee) 5.25
6 10781 Sorcery (Keith Jarrett) 5.18
7 10782 Seance(Lloyd)
8 10783 East of The Sun (Brooks Bowman)
5,6: Charles Lloyd - Forest Flower (Atlantic LP 1473, SD 1473)
1-4,7-8: lost
Review by Thom Jurek [-]When Charles Lloyd brought his new band to Monterey in 1966, a band that included Keith Jarrett on piano,
Jack DeJohnette on drums, and the inimitable -- though young -- Cecil McBee on bass, no one knew what to expect. But they all left
floored and this LP is the document of that set. It is difficult to believe that, with players so young (and having been together under a
year), Lloyd was able to muster a progressive jazz that was so far-reaching and so undeniably sophisticated, yet so rich and accessible.
For starters, the opening two title tracks, which form a kind of suite (one is "Forest Flower-Sunrise," the other "Sunset"), showcased the
already fully developed imagination of Jarrett as a pianist. His interplay with DeJohnette -- which has continued into the 21st century in a
trio with Gary Peacock -- is remarkable: whispering arpeggios surrounded by large chords that plank up the drumming as DeJohnette
crosses hands and cuts the time in order to fluctuate the time. Lloyd's own solos are demonstrative of his massive melodic gift: his im-
provisation skirted the edges of what was happening with Coltrane (as everyone's did), but his own sense of the deep wellspring of song
and the cross-pollination of various world musics that were happening at the time kept him busy and lyrical. Elsewhere, on Jarrett's own
"Sorcery," his linking front-line harmonics with Lloyd is stellar -- this isn't communication, it's telepathy! Jarrett's angular solo is buoyed
up by Lloyd's gorgeous ostinato phrasing. By the time the band reaches its final number, a sky-scorching version of Brooks Bowman's
"East of the Sun," they have touched upon virtually the entire history of jazz and still pushed it forward with seamless aplomb. Forest
Flower is a great live record.
4,5: Charles Lloyd - Forest Flower: Sunrise c/w Sunset (Atlantic 5078)
13
19661007-08-09 Charles Lloyd Quartet
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Cecil McBee (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Review by Thom Jurek [-]Before his great quartet split at the end of 1968, Charles Lloyd took this band literally to the ends of the earth.
As a quartet, they had grown immensely from that first astonishing spark when they toured the summer festivals in 1966. Here they
are a seasoned unit, full of nuance, elegance, and many surprises, while having moved their entire musical center over to the pursuit
of Lloyd's obsession -- incorporating the music of the East into Western jazz. This show in Norway, which featured the original
band of Lloyd on flute and saxes, Keith Jarrett on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums and percussion, took
the idiom begun by John Coltrane and Yusef Lateef and moved it into places even they hadn't imagined. The set starts with "Ta-
14
gore," a gorgeous flute piece for Lloyd with stunningly ornate percussion from DeJohnette. There is plenty of mystery but there are
no edges in this tune, as the two men move from point to counterpoint to mode without seams. Just as quickly, Keith Jarrett enters
the picture playing the inside of the piano and a few chords just to lend texture as Lloyd takes it out as softly as he whispered it in.
"Karma" is a more conventional piece in that Jarrett creates a gently spiraling harmonic tower for Lloyd to float down from after he
climbs it with gorgeous swells and a mournfully beautiful legato. The set ends with "European Fantasy" and "Hej Daj." The first is a
slow modal blues, carried out by exquisitely complex harmonics created by Jarrett for both McBee and Lloyd to find their way into.
Jarrett gives up nothing in his mystery. Lloyd floats along, touching points here and there before winding it out with the little flute
piece at the end, which leaves the audience -- and listeners alike – stunned
21-24: Charles Lloyd Quartet Recorded In Concert - Flowering Of The Original (Atlantic SD 1586)
Review by Scott Yanow Released by Atlantic in 1971 when the Charles Lloyd Quartet was already history, these performances (from the
same concert that resulted in Charles Lloyd in Europe) contain some excellent remakes ("Love In/Island Blues" and "Goin' to Mem-
phis"), Gabor Szabo's "Gypsy '66," Cecil McBee's "Wilpan's," and a fine rendition of "Speak Low." Lloyd (whether on tenor or flute), the
already impressive pianist Keith Jarrett, bassist McBee, and drummer Jack DeJohnette are heard in enthusiastic form. This set is even a
bit better than the In Europe album due to the stronger (if more familiar) material.
Sound A
Radio broadcast mono
15
1967
1966 - 670000 Charles Lloyd Quartet (BR)
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Cecil McBee(b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Greek Theater, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA Spring
The other group appearing was the Grateful Dead. The year might be 1966 or 1967 .
16
19670127 Charles Lloyd Quartet
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl #1-8,10-16) Keith Jarrett (p #1-9,11-16, p, ss #10)
Ron McClure (b #1-8,10-16) Jack DeJohnette (dr #1-8,10-16)
January 27th 1967, Fillmore West Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
1 11603 Medley: Memphis Blues Again / Island Blues (Lloyd)
2 11604 Forest Flower (Journey Within)(Lloyd)
3 11605 Twin Pearls
4 11606 San Francisco
5 11607 Tagore (Lloyd)
6 11608 New Piece
7 11609 Is it really the same (Keith Jarrett)
8 11610 Here, There And Everywhere (Lennon-McCartney)
9 11611 Encore Of The Night (Love, No. 3)
10 11612 Lonesome Child: Song / Dance
11 11613 Lady Gabor (Szabo) (Memphis Green)
12 11614 Love-in (Lloyd)
13 12374 Tribal dance (Lloyd)
14 12375 Temple bells (Lloyd)
15 12376 Sunday Morning (Jarrett)
16 12378 Now Voyager (Lloyd)
1,7,8,12-15: Charles Lloyd - Love-In (Atlantic LP 1481, SD 1481)
A1 Tribal dance (Lloyd) 10:03
A2 Temple bells (Lloyd) 2:44
A3 Is it really the same (Keith Jarrett) 5:45
A4 Here There And Everywhere (Lennon –McCartney) 3:40
B1 Love-in (Lloyd) 4:44
B2 Sunday Morning (Jarrett) 7:55
B3 Memphis Dues Again / Island Blues (Lloyd) 8:57
Review by Thom Jurek [-]Issued in 1966, Love-In was the follow-up to the amazing Dream Weaver, the debut of the Charles Lloyd
Quartet. Love-In was recorded after the 1966 summer blowout and showed a temporary personnel change: Cecil McBee had left the
group and was replaced by Ron McClure. McClure didn't possess the aggressiveness of McBee, but he more than compensated with his
knowledge of the modal techniques used by Coltrane and Coleman in their bands, and possessed an even more intricate lyricism to make
up for his more demure physicality. Of the seven selections here, four are by Lloyd, two by pianist Keith Jarrett, and one by Len-
non/McCartney ("Here, There and Everywhere"). Certainly the '60s youth movement was making its mark on Lloyd, but he was making
his mark on them, too. With young Jarrett in the mix, turning the piano over in search of new harmonic languages with which to engage
not only Lloyd as a soloist but the rhythm section as well, things were certainly moving across vast terrains of musical influence and
knowledge. Drummer Jack DeJohnette took it all in stride and tried to introduce as many new time signatures into the breaks as he could
get away with, allowing the ever-shifting chromatics in Jarrett's playing to be his cue from 7/8 to 9/8 to 12/16 and back to equal fours
("Sunday Morning," "Temple Bells," "Memphis Dues Again"), no matter what the musical style was. And there were plenty, as Lloyd
led the excursion from post-bop to modal to blues to Eastern raga to cool and back. On Love-In, everything was jazz for the Charles
Lloyd Quartet, and what they made jazz from opened the music up to everybody who heard it. The album is a lasting testament to that
cultural ecumenism
3-6,16: lost
Review by Jim Todd [-]This 1999 reissue lets Charles Lloyd's music of the late '60s transcend its erstwhile, hippie era, Coltrane-lite
cachet and come into its own as the expression of an expansive musical vision by a quartet of formidable players. Straddling the thresh-
old to the avant-garde, the music doesn't so much defy categorization as dispense with the need for it. Folk themes, Eastern influences,
blues, modal hard bop, and impressionistic passages meld seamlessly into a unique, cohesive musical conception. The sprawling 75-
minute CD compiles two concert releases: a 1967 date at New York's Fillmore East and a 1968 concert in Oslo, Norway. Soundwise, the
recording is average. It captures Lloyd, on flute and tenor sax, and pianist Keith Jarrett reasonably well and just slightly less so the bass-
ists: Ron McClure in New York, Cecil McBee in Oslo. Drummer Jack DeJohnette, however, gets spotty treatment. At times his subtle
hybrid of jazz-rock and free, pulsing styles registers well, at others it becomes a muddy clatter. Still, the CD succeeds in immersing the
listener in the concerts. While the members of Lloyd's quartet are and remain enormous individual talents, this is an important but sec-
ondary consideration for Lloyd. Both concerts are pure collective efforts. The players solo, but the spotlight stays on the complete group.
That said, Jarrett's fans will appreciate the selections that feature the pianist working with just bassist and drummer, performing in-
side/outside music in the spirit of his early trio with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian.
17
19670316 Charles Lloyd Quartet
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl 6) Keith Jarrett (p, ss) Ron McClure (b ) Jack DeJohnette (dr )
Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley, CA, USA
18
19670421-22 Charles Lloyd Quartet
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl 6) Keith Jarrett (p, ss) Ron McClure (b ) Jack DeJohnette (dr )
Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco, CA, USA
The tracks on the album are heavily influenced by Ornette Coleman and Bill Evans, Jarrett having long been an
admirer of both, Haden having played with Coleman and Motian having played with Evans.
I have been asked to say something about the music in this album.
I would like very much to do so; however, if there were words to express it, there would be no need for the music.
I can speak for Paul, Charlie and myself on an extra-musical level (or a human one).
The music is, after all, sincere, so do not question its meaning. What you feel or experience from it is
what it is. It is no more and no less than that.
The exits involved are those which everyone is capable of utilizing. I hope they can be glimpsed through our music.
I must add a word about the recording session. It was done without any restrictions whatsoever on the music.
Mr. Avakian (man of many worlds) supervised the recording but not one alteration in the music was made. I am extremely
grateful for this.
About the beautiful beings named Charlie Haden and Paul Motian, so much is said in the music they play that I will refrain
from giving you mere externals.
Finally, I would like to dedicate this album to my wife, Margot, without whom (and she may not know it) this album could not
have manifested itself.
One could fill this back cover with extraordinary press comments about Keith Jarrett,
culled from 18 countries within an 18-month time span (he has made six European tours in 1966-67 as a member of the
Charles Lloyd Quartet).
But you will learn more about Keith Jarrett in just a few minutes' listening.
Listen longer, and you'll keep discovering new things all the time in every aspect of his playing – not just the externals of a
prodigious imagination and technique which includes plucking, strumming and using every sound resource of the piano
in a manner that would have brought joy to the late Henry Cowell, the man who first explored the possibilities of the in-
strument beyond its keyboard, some sixty years ago.
A student of classical piano since he was big enough to sit on a piano stool, Keith Jarrett became a composition student at
15 and gave a full-scale recital of his own works at 16. After
graduating from the Berklee School of Music, he formed his own trio in Boston, played briefly with Roland Kirk and Art
Blakey's Jazz Messengers, and joined the Charles Lloyd Quartet at the age of twenty in February, 1966. The story of the
19
Quartet's successes from San Francisco to Moscow and back again is also, of course, part of Keith Jarrett's story as
well.
Charlie Haden, the bassist in this recording, is a musician who accomplished the startling switch from country music, which
he played in his native Ozarks, to prominence as a member of the original Ornette Coleman Trio which exploded on the
jazz scene in the middle fifties. After a long sojourn on the West Coast, he has returned to the Coleman group, which
has now been expanded into a quartet.
Paul Motian, best known for his long association with the Bill Evans Trio, is one of the most sensitive drummers in jazz.
Virtually his entire career has been spent with small groups, where the delicate nuances of sound which he draws from his
instruments have won him a unique position of respect.
20
19670514 Charles Lloyd Quartet
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Ron McClure (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
May 14th 1967, International Jazz Festival Tallin 1967, Kalevi Sport Hall, Tallinn, Estonia
1 19578 Days And Nights Waiting (Jarrett) 6.55
2 19579 Sweet Georgia Bright(Lloyd) 18.05
3 19580 Love Song To A Baby (Lloyd) 12.22
4 19581 Tribal Dance (Lloyd) 10.05
1-4: Charles Lloyd In The Soviet Union (Atlantic SD 1571)
Charles Lloyd, Ron McClure, and Jack DeJohnette More information about
this concert in "Charles Lloyd in Russia: Ovations and Frustrations"
<[Link]
("After a day of relaxation and museum-going, they were to play the
following day at the Trade Union Theater of Film but were locked out.
Through the auspices of the Leningrad Jazz Club they finally did play at
a cafe, and caught a train to Moscow with only five minutes to spare.")
("During their three days in Moscow, they dined with the U.S. Ambassador
and his wife, played for the U.S. Embassy staff, and sessioned at the
Youth Club, where the K. M. Quartet, a local jazz group, plays seven
nights a week. Appearing exclusively for members of the Moscow Jazz
Club, the Lloyd quartet jammed with Russian musicians, as the
multi-talented Jarrett, McClure, and DeJohnette took turns playing each
other's instruments.")
May 1967 New York, NY, USA (United Nation's Jazz Society Concert)
Review by Scott Yanow The Charles Lloyd Quartet was (along with Cannonball Adderley's band) the most popular group in jazz during
the latter half of the 1960s. Lloyd somehow managed this feat without watering down his music or adopting a pop repertoire. A measure
of the band's popularity is that Lloyd and his sidemen (pianist Keith Jarrett, bassist Ron McClure and drummer Jack DeJohnette) were
able to have a very successful tour of the Soviet Union during a period when jazz was still being discouraged by the communists. This
well-received festival appearance has four lengthy performances including an 18-minute version of "Sweet Georgia Bright" and Lloyd
(who has always had a soft-toned Coltrane influenced tenor style and a more distinctive voice on flute) is in top form.
21
19670600 Charles Lloyd Quartet
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Ron McClure (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
early June, 1967, Stockholm, Sweden
17865 A Different Journey (Lloyd)
17866 Tenor Sax Blues (Lloyd)
1,2: Atlantic lost
2 Concerts
One at Salle Pleyel
One At the ORTF studios
Source A recorded for sure at the ORTF Studios
TT 179:04
The following 2 tracks - coming from source A are the same version of Bi2 and C7 .
22
19670616-18 Charles Lloyd Quartet (BR) (pa)
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Ron McClure (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
June 16th or 17th or 18th 1967, Montreux, Switzerland
1 17867 Montreux Bright
2 17868 Interlude
3 17869 Love Song
1-3: Atlantic lost
1. Days And Nights Waiting(Jarrett) (6:34) [a few seconds missing at the beginning]
2. Lady Gabor (Szabo) (11:35)
3. Love Ship (Lloyd) (9:31)
4. Forest Flower (Lloyd) (13:20) [end missing]
-
19670623 Charles Lloyd Quartet (BR)
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Ron McClure (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Central Park, New York, NY, USA (Rheingold MusicFestival)
23
19670718 Charles Lloyd Quartet (PA)
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Ron McClure (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr
June 16th or 17th or 18th 1967, Montreux, Switzerland
Source a
Source B
Kenneth K.: "'Tribute to John Coltrane' jam session - Jarrett played with Joe Halpin/bass and Oliver Johnson/drums,
backing a variety of horn players".
24
19671022 Charles Lloyd Quartet (PA) (+++)
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Ron McClure (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr
October 22nd 1967, International Jazz Festival, Praha, Czech
1 Island Blues (Lloyd) 8:51
1: Various Artists - 1967 4th International Jazz Festival (Supraphon (Cz) SUA 15987)
Bootleg J-Bop 050 (Jazz Birdie’s of Paradise 050)
Pre FM Reel
1. Introduction (2:15)
2. Tuning (2:40)
3. TBD (10:07)
4. Bird Flight (Lloyd) (15:44)
5. Days and Nights Waiting(Jarrett) (8:46)
6. Tagore (Lloyd) (23:18)
25
1968
1967 19680000 Bob Moses Group
Note
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Ron McClure (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr), Denmark
26
19680312 Keith Jarrett With String Quartet
Keith Jarrett (voc, g, hca, ss, recorder, p, org, el b, dr, tamb, sistra, etc.) unidentified string quartet (#3, 7-9)
March 12th 1968, New York, NY
1 14025 Now He Knows Better 4.02
2 14026 You're Fortunate 2.25
3 14027 Wonders 4.05
4 14028 Have A Real Time 2.56
5 14029 Where Are You Going? 3.53
6 14030 All Right 2.49
7 14031 Restoration Ruin 2.24
8 14032 For You And Me 2.44
9 14033 Sioux City Sue New (Jarrett) 2.54
10 14034 Fire And Rain 2.55
11 14035 There Is So Much
1-10: Keith Jarrett - Restoration Ruin (Vortex LP 2008)
11: Atlantic lost
The Allmusic review by Richie Unterberger awarded the album 2½ stars and states "Restoration Ruin is a real
oddity in the Jarrett catalog: a vocal album on which he plays all the instruments. And not a jazz vocal al-
bum, either, but a folk-rock one in which he alternates -- quite literally, track to track -- between sub-
Dylan outings and more folk-Baroque ones that echo the late-'60s work of artists like Love and Tim Buckley
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Ron McClure (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
March 23, 1968 Town Hall, Philadelphia, PA, USA
27
19680000 Charles Lloyd Quartet (br)
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Ron McClure (b) Paul Motian ? (dr)
May 1968 Wilson Auditorium, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati,OH, USA -
May 7, 1968 Hunter's Playhouse, Hunter College, New York, NY, USA -
Kenneth K.: "First gig withPaul Motian on drums. (...) Because they were never documented on
record, many people don't realize that Motian was in the band for over a
year. All the dates I list following this probably feature Paul (I say
probably because the 'Soundtrack' LP from Nov. '68 features DeJohnette).
Things get very murky during this time. Jack left to play with Miles but apparently filled in for this date."
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19680830 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p, ss, recorder) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr)
August 30th 1968, Shelly's Manne-Hole, Hollywood, CA
1 15090 A Moment For Tears (Keith Jarrett) 2.50
2 15091 Soprano Piece
3 15092 Pout's Over (And The Day’s Not Through) (Jarrett)
4 15093 Dedicated To You (Cahn, Chaplin & Zare)
5 15094 Moving Soon (Keith Jarrett)
6 15095 You'll Never Know
7 15096 New Rag (Keith Jarrett) 4.34
8 15097 Somewhere Before (Keith Jarrett) 6.39
9 15098 No Siesta Today
10 15099 Recorder Piece
11 15100 Pretty Ballad(Keith Jarrett)
12 15101 I'm Younger Than That Now
1,5, 8: Keith Jarrett - Somewhere Before (Vortex LP 2012; Atlantic SD 8808)
2-4,6,9-12: Atlantic lost
he Allmusic review by Richard S. Ginell awarded the album 4 stars stating "As an example of early, unfocused
Jarrett, this is fascinating material
While still a member of the Charles Lloyd Quartet, Keith Jarrett did some occasional moonlighting with a trio, anchored by two future
members of Jarrett's classic quartet, Charlie Haden (bass) and Paul Motian (drums). On this CD, Jarrett turns in a very eclectic set at
Shelly's Manne-Hole in Hollywood, careening through a variety of idioms where his emerging individuality comes through in flashes. He
covers Bob Dylan's "My Back Pages" -- which actually came out as a single on the Vortex label -- in an attractive, semi-funky style
reminiscent of Vince Guaraldi. "Pretty Ballad" delivers a strong reflective dose of Bill Evans, while "Moving Soon" is chaotic free jazz.
By the time we reach "New Rag," we begin to hear the distinctive Jarrett idiom of the later trios, but then, "Old Rag" is knockabout stride
without the stride. As an example of early, unfocused Jarrett, this is fascinating material. ~ AllMusic
29
19680900 Charles Lloyd Quartet (br)
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Ron McClure (b) Paul Motian ? (dr)
September 1968 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA, USA
30
19681115 Charles Lloyd Quartet
Charles Lloyd (ts, fl) Keith Jarrett (p) Ron McClure (b) Jack DeJohnette (d)
November 15th 1968, Town Hall, New York, NY
1 15662 Sombrero Sam (Lloyd)
2 15663 Voice In The Night (Lloyd)
3 15664 Pre-Dawn(Lloyd)
4 15665 Forest Flower’69 (Lloyd)
1-4: Charles Lloyd - Soundtrack (Atlantic SD 1519)
Review by Thom Jurek [-]Late in 1967, bassist Cecil McBee left Charles Lloyd's band and was replaced by Ron McClure. The jazz
critics and public alike all held their breaths, since Lloyd's band had taken the entire world by storm on the festival circuit; playing Town
Hall would surely be an acid test not only of McClure's ability to fill such a big space, but the band's as well -- to see if the fire would
continue to burn as it had previously. They needn't have worried. The gig, which is presented here as Soundtrack, stomps with all the
fury of a live gospel choir trying to claim Saturday night for God instead of the other guy. McClure's particular strength is in his hard-
driving blues style that adds a deep groove to any time signature or dynamic. And, judging by how deep Lloyd, Jarrett, and DeJohnette
took their playbook, he was just what the doctor ordered. The band is in a heavy Latin mood, where the blues, samba, bossa, hard bop,
modal, and even soul are drenched in the blues. With only four tunes presented, the Charles Lloyd Quartet, while a tad more dissonant
than it had been in 1966 and 1967, swings much harder, rougher, and get-to-the-groove quicker than any band Lloyd had previously led.
Most notable here are "Sombrero Sam" for its eerie yet funky flute solo (Hubert Laws stole more from this solo than he did from his flute
teachers) and the revisited "Forest Flower," now entitled "Forest Flower '69." On the latter, the lovely swinging progressive jazz of the
former is replaced with a poignant, torchy, bullish blues groove provided by Jarrett and DeJohnette, who trade time signatures all over
the place as Lloyd tries to shove the mode along through no less than five key changes looking for the "right" harmony (they're all right).
This band would split soon after, when Jarrett left to play with Miles Davis, but if this was a live swansong, they couldn't have picked a
better gig to issue.
31
1968122627 Keith Jarrett Duo
Keith Jarrett (p, cl, hpsc, b, dr) Scott Jarrett (g, voc)
December 26th & 27th 1968, New York, NY
1 16019 Hang On
2 16020 Sail, Fly And Love
3 16021 I Love You More
4 16022 Lately
5 16023 In A Land Not Far Away
6 16024 Every Rain
1-6: Atlantic lost
32
1969
19690109 Keith Jarrett and others
Keith Jarrett (p, etc.) and others
January 9th 1969, New York, NY
1 16143 There Is So Much
2 16144 All The Frowning People
3 16145 A Love Like You
1-3: Atlantic lost
Kenneth K.:"Possibly Jarrett's last show with Lloyd; maybe a few others but
certainly gone by July"
33
19690600 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Charlie Haden and Paul Motian
June 1969 The Scene, New York, NY, USA
.
19690824 Keith Jarrett Trio (DI) (fl+++) (PA) (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gus Nemeth b, Bob Ventrello (dr)
August 1969, Bilzen Belgium
.
A Kiss To Build A Dream On (Kalmar - Ruby - Hammerstein)/ Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds(inc) 17:21
New Rag (Keith Jarrett)! 05:20
1. Track I (11:19)
this track is the beginning of 'A Kiss to build a dream on '
1 So Tender (Love Should Be) (Keith jarrett)/ Song for Che (16:41)
this track usually considered coming from Bilzen
comes from another concert :
34
19690915 Keith Jarrett Trio (FL +++)
Keith Jarrett (p, ss) Gus Nemeth (b) Bob Ventrello (dr)
September 15th 1969, Tagskaegget, Aarhus, Denmark
1 Pretty Ballad (Keith Jarrett) 05:54
2 Lady Lady Lay (Bob Dylan) 04:42
3 A Kiss To Build A Dream On (Kalmar - Ruby - Hammerstein)(Soprano Piece) 12:05
4 My Back Pages (Bob Dylan) 07:24
[Link]
Keith Jarrett (p) August “Gus” Nemeth (b) Bob ventrello (dr)
October 1969 Student City Jazz Club, Sogn, Norway
Keith Jarrett played for about two weeks, although not every night. What's certain is that he played on
November 12 and November 13. He probably played two 50-minutes pernight.
One night, Aldo Romano couldn't make it. Charles Bellonzi, a French drummer, wanted to play with Keith Jarrett, but he refused.
Keith Jarrett played with his regular American trio only on the last day of his 2-week engagement at Le Cameleon.
Jacques L.: Le soir du 3 novembre 1969, Keith Jarrett a joue’2 sets au Cameleon et il etait
seul en tout cas au deuxieme set, câ est certain. Et c†est entre les deux
sets qu†il a parle’ avec Miles Davis dans le couloir pre’ du vestiaire.
Il Etait adosse’ au mur et Miles lui parlait la main droite appuye’ au
mur au-dessus de son Epaule. C†Etait sur un piano droit pas trop neuf et
jâai tenu cette poignee Ce pendant tout le concert Je crois que je la tiens encore !†•
35
19691112-13-14 Keith Jarrett Trio (di) (fl+++)
Paris, Le Cameleon, KJ plays with A. Romano and J.F. Clarke
and with Gus Nemeth and Paul Motian the last evening (from Part 2 Track 7 on)
Part 1
01 Life Between The Exit Signs (Jarrett) (9:45)
02 Love No.1(Jarrett) (9:46)
03 UT (9:27)
04 Expectations (Keith Jarrett) (5:03)
05 UT (6:23)
06 Pouts’ Over (and the day’s not through) (Jarrett) (6:05)
07 Pretty Ballad(Keith Jarrett) (7:47)
08 Starbright (Keith Jarrett) (5:48)
09 Somewhere before(Jarrett) (8:50)
10 A Moment for tears (Keith Jarrett) (6:55)
11 UT (7:23)
TT 83:19
Part 2
TT 83:27
01 Pouts’ Over (and the day’s not through) (Jarrett) (6:00) = 06 Part 1
02 Pretty Ballad(Keith Jarrett) (7:58) = 07 Part 1
03 Starbright (Keith jarrett) (5:38) = 08 Part 1
04 Somewhere before(Jarrett) (8:31) = 09 Part 1
05 A moment for tears(Jarrett) (6:58) = 10 Part 1
06 UT (7:23) The only original one
07 Rainbow (Margot Jarrett) (4:54)
- ( put together from 2 versions The firts part cut at 1:23 comes from gothenburg 19611929- the second is the same as Track 12 Part 2)
08 Dedicated To You (Cahn, Chaplin & Zare) (1:57) = 13 Part 2 incomplete
09 Life Between The Exit Signs(Jarrett) (4:34) - incomplete (same as 13)
10 UT (9:27) = 14 Part 2
11 Pouts’ Over(Jarrett) - fragment (same as 01) (1:08)
12 Pretty Ballad(Keith Jarrett)- fragment (same as 02 ?) (3:07)
13 Life Between The Exit Signs (9:26) = 01 Part 1
14 Love No.1 (Keith Jarrett) (false start) (0:05) = end of 02 Part 1
15 Love No.1 (Keith Jarrett) (take 1) (1:23) = 02 Part 1
16 Love No.1(Keith Jarrett) (take 2) (8:42) = 02 Part 1 (continued)
17 Ut (5:41) - incomplete, = 03 Part 1
36
19691118 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) +++
Keith Jarrett (p) August “Gus” Nemeth (b) Paul Motian (dr)
Noveradio broadcast November 18, 1969, Radiohuset, Stockholm, Sweden
Spoken introduction (1:14)
Track 2 (5:41)
Track 3 (4:52)
Track 4 (5:10)
Track 5 (6:59)
Track 6 (4:05)
Track 7 (7:25)
Recorded for the “Tous en scène” TV show in Paris and broadcast on November 23, 1969 by La Deuxième Chaîne de l’ORTF.
At least one tune was played (“Expectations”). A video is available from [Link].
[Link]
Keith Jarrett (p) August “Gus” Nemeth (b) Paul Motian (dr)
November from 24th to 29th 1969, jazz club 'artdur' Goeteborg, Sweden
tt 88:30
37
19691209 Keith Jarrett Trio (sp)
Keith Jarrett (p) August “Gus” Nemeth (b) Paul Motian (dr)
December 9th 1969, Stockholm Sweden
Jarrett K. Trio (American)
Media: CD-R (2)
Duration:
Sound quality: VG
Source : Audience recording
Notes: August “Gus” Nemeth instead of C. Haden, KJ on sax on track I
1. UT in F > (5:51) [beginning missing] this track 1 is probably the same as 2-07 from Cameleon 1969-11-12 (UT in F
track 2-07),the ending appears to be the same.
2. Love n. 1> (6:45)
3. Soprano Piece > (10:05) (kj on sax)
4. Church Dreams + Drum Solo > (6:59)
5. Ut (intro - Margot at around 5'00) (11:15)
38
1970
19700200 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) (DI) (fl+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) August “Gus” Nemeth (b) Aldo Romano (dr)
February 1970, Chat Qui Pêche, Paris, France
Keith Jarrett (p) August “Gus” Nemeth (b) Aldo Romano (dr)
February 28th 1970, Cat 4 , Metz, France
1. Rainbow (Margot Jarrett) (9:10) >[a few seconds missing at the beginning]
2. Moonchild (Keith Jarrett) (10:10) >
3. The Raven Speaks (Keith Jarrett) (12:18) end missing]
4. Memories Of Tomorrow (Keith Jarrett) (14:15) [a few seconds missing at the the beginning]
5. So Tender (Love Should Be) (Keith jarrett)> (9:51)
6. Love No. 1 (Keith Jarrett) (6:50) [end missing]
tt 62:40
TT 71:38
39
19700519 Miles Davis Studio Group
Miles Davis (tp) Steve Grossman (ss) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Herbie Hancock (clavinet) John McLaughlin (el g) Michael
Henderson (el b) Gene Perla (el b) Billy Cobham (dr) Airto Moreira (perc)
May 19, 1970, Columbia Studios, New York, NY
1 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) (take 2) 10.06
Edited (5.53) on KG 33236 and equivalents; excerpt (0.49) on Columbia G 30954 and equivalents
as part of "Sivad."
2 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) (take 5) 11.29
As the tune winds down, Davis says "Teo! Play... some... of... that... one."
3 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) 5.47
Faded in at beginning and out at end.
4 Studio chatter 0.05
"Three..."
5 Ali (M. Davis) (take 3) 6.50
"Four..."
7 Ali (M. Davis) (take 4) 10.16
Short exchange between Davis and Macero as the tune winds down.
1,2,5,7: Miles Davis - The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions (Columbia Legacy C5K 86359)
40
19700524 Keith Jarrett Solo (DI) (fl+++)
Keith Jarrett (p - el piano hohner - organ -guitar - fl- Steel drum - percussion)
May 24th 1970, Apollo, Paris, France
Keith Jarrett first set
01 apollo solo Suite (21:04)
------------ 0:00 piano then Very free piano
------------ 6:01 Piano used as percussion
------------ 8:45 flute
------------ 12:01 "romantic" piano
------------ From 19:40 Lucy in The Sky With Diamonds (not the refrain)
02 Steel Drums (07:32)
03 Lucky Southern - Electric Piano (08:43)
Second Set
06 Organ (INC.) (18:17) ( it sounds like a Guitar duet - see notes below )-
07 Piano (20:58) : “Rainbow (Margot Jarrett)”, “Coral (Keith Jarrett)”
------------ 16:40 Theme
------------ 19:30 Memories of Tomorrow (AKA Koln 2c)
08 Folk Singer guitar (03:26)
Third set
11> piano stride boogie free (15:03)
12 Percussions (11:16) TT 21:19
41
19700527 Miles Davis Studio Group
Miles Davis (tp) Keith Jarrett (el p) Herbie Hancock (org) John McLaughlin (el g) Michael Henderson (el b) Hermeto
Pascoal (voc) Airto Moreira (perc)
Columbia Studios, NYC, May 27, 1970
1 Nem Um Talvez (H. Pascoal) (Take 17) 2.51
2 Studio chatter 0.10
After the take Pascoal says "Bueno..."
3 Nem Um Talvez (H. Pascoal) (take 18) 2.48
4 Nem Um Talvez (H. Pascoal) (Take 19) 2.49
5 Studio chatter 0.08
"Okay, we'll play that one back..."
6 Nem Um Talvez (H. Pascoal) (take ?) 8.30
1,4: Miles Davis - The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions (Columbia Legacy C5K 86359)
43
19700620 Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tp) Steve Grossman (ss, ts) Keith Jarrett (org) Chick Corea (el p) Dave Holland (el b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Airto Moreira (perc)
June 20, 1970, Fillmore East, New York, NY, Saturday Miles
1 Introduction 0.08
2 Directions (J. Zawinul) 10.52
Theme stated at 2:40, 3:54, 5:59, 10:28.
3 The Mask (M. Davis) 11.11
Fragment (0:20) on all Columbia and CBS issues.
4 It's About That Time (M. Davis) 11.18
Fragment (3:23) on all Columbia and CBS issues.
5 I Fall in Love Too Easily (S. Cahn-J. Styne) 1.04
Incomplete (0:53) on all Columbia and CBS issues.
6 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 3.17
Incomplete (2:48) on all Columbia and CBS issues.
7 Bitches Brew (M. Davis) 9.43
Fragments (3:00 + 3:56) on all Columbia and CBS issues.
8 Willie Nelson (M. Davis) 9.43
Fragments (0:08 + 7:04) on all Columbia and CBS issues.
9 The Theme (M. Davis) (with applause) 0.57
Incomplete (0:43) on all Columbia and CBS issues.
2-5: Miles Davis at Fillmore (Columbia G 30038)
Miles Davis Group played two concerts: at 7.00 pm ant 9.30 pm.
44
19700706 Miles Davis Septet (DI)
Miles Davis Septet
Wollman Rink, Central Park, New York NY
July 6, 1970
TT 40:37
45
19700700 Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tp) Steve Grossman (ss, ts) Keith Jarrett (org) Chick Corea (el p) Dave Holland (el b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Airto Moreira (perc) Dick Cavett (ann)
July 1970, ABC-TV Studios, New York, NY, ABC-TV broadcast
1 Introduction (Dick Cavett) 0.56
"I would like to, ah... It's my imitation of Miles Davis warming up. Thank you, Grosvenors, for
being here, it was really a pleasure, and you certainly have both hands full, and it's a pleasure
meeting you. Bye... I ah, would like to introduce my next guest, and it's a pleasure to see, to wel-
come him here. He is an outstanding musician, he has an album now that has been called sort of
surrealist and strange, and when you hear this, you will feel something... I sup-pose THE name in,
ah, progressive music, Miles Davis, right here..."
2 Directions (J. Zawinul) 6.30
Theme stated at 1.55, 2.49, 4.30.
3 The Theme (M. Davis) (with applause) 0.25
4 Announcement (Dick Cavett) 0.10
"I forgot to mention when I was introducing Miles Davis that he'll be at Madison Square Garden
this Saturday, July 25th, and probably playing that number, which as you all recognized was
'Moon River'..."
Recorded (probably between July 19 and 22) for The Dick Cavett Show. Broadcast on July 22, 1970.
46
19700723 Gary Burton - Keith Jarrett Quintet
Gary Burton (vib) Keith Jarrett (p, el p, ss) Sam Brown (g) Steve Swallow (b) Bill Goodwin (dr)
July 23rd 1970, A&R Studios, New York, NY
1 19719 Grow Your Own (Keith Jarrett) 4.15
2 19720 Fortune Smiles (Keith Jarrett) 8.28
3 19721 Moonchild / In Your Quiet Place (Keith Jarrett) 7.19
4 19722 Como En Vietnam (Steve Swallow) 7.02
5 19723 The Raven Speaks (Keith Jarrett) 7,15
1-5: Gary Burton And Keith Jarrett (Atlantic SD 1577)
The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4½ stars and states "Elements of pop music, rock,
country and the jazz avant-garde are used in the mixture of styles and the results are quite logical"
47
19700725 Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tp) Steve Grossman (ss, ts) Keith Jarrett (org) Chick Corea (el p) Dave Holland (el b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Airto Moreira (perc)
July 25, 1970, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, audience recording
1 Introduction 0.17
2 Directions (J. Zawinul) 7.40
Theme stated at 2.00, 3.06, 5.20.
3 Bitches Brew (M. Davis) 8.15
4 Paraphernalia (W. Shorter) 9.05
5 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 0.28
6 It's About That Time (M. Davis) 2.19
7 Miles Runs the Voodoo Down (M. Davis) 6.52
8 Spanish Key (M. Davis) (incomplete) 8.08
48
19700816 Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tp) Steve Grossman (ss, ts) Keith Jarrett (org) Chick Corea (el p) Dave Holland (el b) Jack DeJohnette (dr) Airto Moreira
(perc)
August 16, 1970 Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
49
19700829 Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (org) Chick Corea (el-p) Dave Holland (el-b) Jack DeJohnette (dr) Airto
Moreira (perc)
August 29, 1970, Isle of Wight Rock Festival, Isle of Wight, UK
1 Directions (J. Zawinul) 7.12
Introduction (0.02-0.11): "Please welcome the undisputed... finest trumpet in the world, Miles
Davis..." Theme stated at 2.30.
2 Bitches Brew (M. Davis) 10.05
3 It's About That Time (M. Davis) 6.29
4 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 1.01
5 Spanish Key (M. Davis) 8.15
6 The Theme (M. Davis) (with applause) 1.55
1-6: [CD] Miles Davis – Live Isle of Wight Festival 1970 (1 track – Call It Anything)
Recorded for The Tonight Show. Broadcast October 30, 1970, with Bill Cosby hosting.
50
19701002-3 Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el-p, org) Michael Henderson (el-b) Jack DeJohnette (dr) Airto Moreira,
(perc) and Jim Riley (perc)
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Michael Henderson (el b) Jack DeJohnette (dr) Airto Moreira,
Jumma Santos [Jim Riley] (perc)
October 15, 1970, Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, KPFA-FM radio broadcast
1 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) 13.05
2 What I Say (M. Davis) 10.55
Voiceover announcement 2.39-4.15 on broadcast version.
3 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 3.35
4 Yesternow (M. Davis) 12.42
5 Bitches Brew (M. Davis) 9.19
6 Funky Tonk (M. Davis) 13.46
7 The Theme (M. Davis) (applause, announcement) 1.37
51
19701016 Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Michael Henderson (el b) Jack DeJohnette (dr) Airto Moreira,
Jumma Santos [Jim Riley] (perc)
October 16, 1970, Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA,
52
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Michael Henderson (el b) Jack DeJohnette (dr) Airto Moreira
(perc)
Late 1970, unknown venue, unknown city, NJ, audience recording
1 Directions (J. Zawinul) 12.44
Theme stated at 3.00, 4.40.
2 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) 19.47
3 What I Say (Davis) 11.01
4 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 2.31
5 It's About That Time (M. Davis) 15.44
6 Funky Tonk (M. Davis) 20.41
7 Bitches Brew (M. Davis) 11.25
8 What I Say (M. Davis) 14.41
9 The Theme (M. Davis) (with applause) 1.02
I'm unsure of the location and date of this music. It circulates as from "New Jersey" but without a more specific date, venue, or city.
53
19701200 Miles Davis Sextet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Michael Henderson (el b)Jack DeJohnette (dr) Airto Moreira
(perc, voc)
December, 1970, Cellar Door Club, Washington, DC
1 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) (inc.) 0.06
2 What I Say (M. Davis) 13.58
3 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 2.10
4 It's About That Time (M. Davis) (inc.) 13.30
John McLaughlin is audible throughout this fragment. In his discography, Jan Lohmann lists the date as December 23 and the probable
location as the Cellar Door Club. From what I can tell, the Davis Sextet was booked at the Cellar Door for only one week, December 14-
19; and for the 20th they were booked at the Loyola Fieldhouse, New Orleans. It may be that the Sextet was held over at the Cellar Door,
and that they did not perform in New Orleans, and that the correct date is December 23 (I haven't seen any reviews of the New Orleans
show to con-firm that it actually took place). On the other hand, it seems unlikely that McLaughlin would sit in for more than one night,
so perhaps this is part of a first set on December 19 (only the second and third sets are included in the still-unreleased Columbia Legacy
Cellar Door set). Against this we have only Mort Goode's claim (The Inner Sleeve, vol. 72, p. A4) that McLaughlin did not play in the
first set, only the second and third, and this may be wrong. Absent anything more substantial than these speculations, I've listed the date
as "December 1970," but my guess is that this is from a first set on December 19.
54
19701218 Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (Fender Rhodes p, el org) Michael Henderson (el b)Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Airto Moreira (perc)
December 18, 1970, Cellar Door Club, Washington, DC, Second Set
1 Directions (J. Zawinul) 13.11
2 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) 18.31
3 What I Say (M. Davis) 15.09
1-3: Miles Davis - The Cellar Door Sessions (Columbia Legacy C6K 93614)
55
1971
19710225 Marion Williams With John Murtaugh's Orchestra
Keith Jarrett (p) Paul Griffin (org) Jerry Jemmott (el b) Bernard Purdie (dr) Marion Williams (voc) The Dixie Humming-
birds: Ira Tucker, Willie Bobo, Beachey Thompson, James Davis, James Walker, Howard Carroll (back vocal group) John
Murtaugh (dir)
February 25th 1971, Atlantic Studios, New York, NY
1 21338 Heaven Help Us All
2 21339 Turn! Turn! Turn! To Everything There Is A Season
3 21340 Make Peace With Yourself
4 21341 My Sweet Lord
5 21342 This Generation Shall Not Pass
1-5: Marion Williams - Standing Here Wondering Which Way To Go (Atlantic SD 8289)
56
19710311-14 Miles Davis Sextet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Michael Henderson (el b) Jack DeJohnette (dr) Airto Moreira
(perc)
March 11-14, 1971"Lennie's on the Turnpike", West Peabody, MA
First fragment
1 Directions (J. Zawinul) 12.38
Theme stated at 2.32.
2 What I Say (M. Davis) 16.28
3 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) (inc.) 4.42
Second fragment
4 What I Say (M. Davis) (inc.) 12.20
5 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis)
(closing theme, applause) 0.26
Third fragment
6 Funky Tonk (M. Davis) (incomplete) 11.17
This fragment begins with Davis stating the theme for "Funky Tonk," then Jarrett's solo; as the
group is building towards the rest of "Funky Tonk" someone announces "Does anybody in this
audience own a trumpet, and do they have one with them?"
7 Announcement 0.28
From the stage: "Does anybody in this audience own a trumpet, and do they have one with them?"
Members of the audience: "I decided to bring mine" -- "I left mine at home" -- "Is it in tune?"
Fourth fragment
8 Funky Tonk (M. Davis) (inc.) 12.22
Begins in the middle of Bartz solo.
9 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 3.01
10 It's About That Time (M. Davis) (incomplete) 3.46
Fifth fragment
11 It's About That Time (M. Davis) (inc.) 7.04
12 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis)
(closing theme, applause) 0.32
1-12: Miles Davis - Lennies on the Turnpike '71 (Jazz Masters (G) JM 001/02)
57
19710319 Miles Davis Sextet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Michael Henderson (el b) Jack DeJohnette (dr) Airto Moreira (perc)
58
19710413 Donal Leace
Keith Jarrett (p) Richie Resnicoff (g #1-6) David Spiza (g #7-8) Bill Salter (b) Grady Tate (dr #1-6) Ray Lucas (dr #7,8)
Donal Leace (voc, g) Eumir Deodato (arr) overdubs: unidentified horns and strings
April 13th 1971, New York, NY
1 21911 Words lost
2 21912 Midnight Cowboy Atlantic SD 7221
3 21913 Words Atlantic 2944, SD 7221
4 21914 What's Wrong With My Brother lost
5 21915 Bridge -
6 21916 Since I Met You Baby -
7 21917 Oh, Alabama Atlantic SD 7221
8 21918 Sad Lisa -
1,4-6: lost
2,3,7,8: Donal Leace (Atlantic SD 7221)
Five nights. The Gaslight Club was formerly the Cafe Au Go Go.
59
19710507 Miles Davis Sextet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Michael Henderson (el b) Jack DeJohnette (dr) Airto Moreira
(perc)
May 7, 1971, Fillmore West, San Francisco CA, Soundboard recording
1 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) (inc.) 7.57
Begins near the end of Davis solo.
2 What I Say (M. Davis) 14.38
3 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 3.34
4 It's About That Time (M. Davis) 19.34
5 Funky Tonk (M. Davis) 20.21
6 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis)
(closing theme, applause) 0.43
The Allmusic review by Richard S. Ginell awarded the album 3 stars stating "As such, this is a valuable, under-
rated transition album that provides perhaps the last glimpse of the electric Keith Jarrett as he embarked on
his notorious (and ultimately triumphant) anti-electric crusade."
60
19710705 Miles Davis Sextet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Michael Henderson (el b) Jack DeJohnette (dr) Airto Moreira (perc)
July 5, 1971 Newport, RI, USA (Newport Jazz Festival)
This album gives one an interesting look at the early Keith Jarrett, who was already performing on an album of the Charles Lloyd Quartet and Miles Davis' early
fusion band. He had not yet fully developed his style, but he was clearly on his way. These trio performances (with bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Paul Motian)
are impressive for the period, but the best was yet to come.
61
19710715 American Quartet
Dewey Redman (ts, cl) Keith Jarrett (p, ss, steel dr, conga) Charlie Haden (b, steel dr) Paul Motian (dr, steel dr, conga)
July 15th 1971; New York, NY
1 22447 (Wa-Wah) Mortgage On My Soul 5.35
2 22448 Birth 6.10
3 22449 Forget Your Memories (And They'll Remember You)
4 22450 Remorse (Keith Jarrett) 11.22
5 22451 Piece For Ornette (long version) 9.16
6 22452 Gypsy Moth 8.20
2,4 Keith Jarrett - Birth (Atlantic SD 1612)
5,6: Keith Jarrett - El Juicio (The Judgement) (Atlantic SD 1673)
1,2: Keith Jarrett - The Mourning Of A Star (Atlantic SD 1596)
62
19710720-21 Miles Davis Sextet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Michael Henderson (el b) Jack DeJohnette (dr) Airto Moreira
(perc)
Beacon Theater, New York, NY, USA
63
19711022 Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Michael Henderson (el b) Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (dr) Charles
Don Alias, James Mtume Forman (conga, perc)
October 22, 1971, Neue Stadthalle, Dietikon, Switzerland, radio broadcast
First concert
1 Directions (J. Zawinul) 13.04
Theme stated at 3.12, 4.45.
2 What I Say (M. Davis) 10.43
3 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 3.43
4 It's About That Time (M. Davis) 13.22
5 Bitches Brew (M. Davis) 11.55
6 Funky Tonk (M. Davis) 25.45
7 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis)
(closing theme, applause) 1.13
Second concert
8 Introduction 1.18
9 Directions (J. Zawinul) 12.45
Theme stated at 2.39, 4.00. Incomplete (12.12) on Jazz Masters.
10 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) 11.18
11 What I Say (M. Davis) 13.52
12 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 3.09
13 It's About That Time (M. Davis) 14.03
14 Yesternow (M. Davis) 19.31
15 Funky Tonk (M. Davis) 20.12
16 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis)
(closing theme, applause) 0.43
8-16: Miles Davis - Neue Stadthalle, Switzerland, 10/22/'71 (Jazz Masters (G) JM 008/09)
According to Jan Lohmann, the first concert should be 108 minutes long, but there are no obvious cuts in the 80 minutes listed above.
The version listed here was re-broadcast by DRS3 in 2004, and most of the second concert was re-broadcast by DRS3 in November 2001
("Funky Tonk" is faded out at 18:28.)
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19711023 Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Michael Henderson (el b) Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (dr) Charles
Don Alias, James Mtume Forman (conga, perc)
October 23, 1971, Théâtre Nationale Populaire, Paris, France, ORTF radio broadcast
1 Directions (J. Zawinul) 14.36
Theme stated at 3:37, 4:51.
2 What I Say (M. Davis) 17.07
3 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 3.38
4 It's About That Time (M. Davis) 13.20
5 Yesternow (M. Davis) 15.27
6 Bitches Brew (M. Davis) 12.27
7 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) 15.49
8 Funky Tonk (M. Davis) 22.45
Incomplete (16.07) on Jazz Masters.
9 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis)
(closing theme, applause) 1.10
1-7: Video: ORTF-TV
Excerpts of this concert are included in a 30 minute TV broadcast from O.R.T.F., Jazz Session: Newport à Paris: producteurs délégués
André Francis, Henri Renaud, et Bernard Lion; réalization Bernard Lion. The music is titled "Jack Johnson (suite)" and includes the
following: "What I Say" (0:49) [voiceover introduction]; "Sanctuary" (3:47); "It's About That Time" (incomplete, 12:01) (splice); "Yes-
ternow" (incomplete, 1:02); "Bitches Brew" (11:50); "Honky Tonk" (incomplete, 0:24) [credits].
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9 Directions (J. Zawinul) 11.27
Theme stated at 2.27, 3.47.
10 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) 9.48
11 What I Say (M. Davis) 12.43
Wood fl (Jarrett?) over conga (11.32-12.40).
12 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 3.41
13 It's About That Time (M. Davis) 11.26
14 Yesternow (M. Davis) 13.54
15 Funky Tonk (M. Davis) 19.33
16 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis)
(closing theme, applause, announcement) 1.26
1-16: [4CD] Complete Paris x 2 1971 (Mega Disc Premier (J) no number)
The music I have listed as the second concert has circulated widely as "Unknown November 1971," but I'm convinced that it is the sec-
ond concert on this date. Most of the tapes purporting to contain the second Paris concert are spliced and include the first three tunes
listed here plus the last 53 minutes from the first concert (from "Sanctuary" until the end).
Mega Disc includes the second concert only and lists the venue and date as Bologna, November 15, but I think this is wrong. (If it were
from mid-November, the tunes would be in a different order: compare Venice, November 14 and Turin, November 16.) In any case, the
music is the same as what has circulated as "Unknown November 1971."
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19711103 Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Michael Henderson (el b) Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (dr) Don Alias,
James Mtume Forman (conga, perc)
November 3, 1971, Dom Sindikata, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, radio broadcast
1 Band warming up 0.13
2 Directions (J. Zawinul) 10.08
Theme stated at 2.06, 3.08.
3 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) 13.20
4 What I Say? (M. Davis) 14.19
5 Sanctuary (W. Shorter – M. Davis) 2.35
6 It's About That Time (M. Davis) 14.35
7 Yesternow (M. Davis) (inc.) 12.09
Fade out at 12.09.
8 Funky Tonk (M. Davis) (inc.) 10.33
2-7: Miles Davis - Another Bitches Brew (Jazz Door (It) JD 1284/85)
2-8: [CD] Miles Davis – Belgrade 1971
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19711106 Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Michael Henderson (el b) Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (dr) Don Alias,
James Mtume Forman (conga, perc)
November 6, 1971, Philharmonie, Berlin, Germany, NDR radio broadcast
1 Introduction (from stage) 0.09
2 Directions (J. Zawinul) 15.01
Intro continues until 0.44. Theme stated at 4.37, 5.44.
3 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) 11.44
4 What I Say? (M. Davis) 14.48
5 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 3.24
6 It's About That Time (M. Davis) 18.06
7 Funky Tonk (M. Davis) 21.04
8 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis)
(closing theme, applause) 1.33
1-7: Miles Davis - Berlin and Beyond (Lunch for Your Ears (E) LFYE 006/07)
The NDR recorded this for TV broadcast from the Berliner Jazztage 1971.
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November 9, 1971, Chateau Neuf, Oslo, Norway, radio broadcast
1 Directions (J. Zawinul) 11.16
Theme stated at 2.53, 3.44.
2 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) 11.15
3 What I Say (M. Davis) 13.28
4 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 3.05
5 It's About That Time (M. Davis) 13.00
6 Yesternow (M. Davis) 11.16
7 Funky Tonk (M. Davis) 15.29
8 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis)
(closing theme, applause) 10.35
1-8: [CD] Miles Davis – Live at Chateau Neuf, Oslo, 1971
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19711110 Keith Jarrett Solo
Oslo, Arne Bendiksen Studio, Norway, 10.11.1971
Sound quality: A+
Note: Recorded during the “Facing You” album session
1. Counterphonymic (2:50)
Facing You is one of the most important recordings in contemporary jazz for several reasons, aside from being beautifully conceived and executed by pianist Keith
Jarrett. It is a hallmark recording of solo piano in any discipline, a signature piece in the early ECM label discography, a distinct departure from mainstream jazz, a
breakthrough for Jarrett, and a studio prelude for his most famous solo project to follow, The Köln Concert. Often meditative, richly melodic, inventive, and intro-
spective beyond compare, Jarrett expresses his soul in tailored tones that set standards for not only this kind of jazz, but music that would serve him and his fans in
good stead onward. In this program of all originals, which sound spontaneously improvised with certain pretexts and motifs as springboards, the rhapsodic "Ritoo-
ria," 4/4 love/spirit song "Lalene," and song for family and life "My Lady; My Child" firmly establish Jarrett's heartfelt and thoughtful approach. "Vapallia" cements
the thematic, seemingly effortless, lighter -- but never tame -- aesthetic. "Starbright" is an easy-paced two-step tune signifying fully Jarrett's personalized stance.
Straddling a more jagged, angular, and free edge, the pianist evokes the influence of Paul Bley during "Semblence" (sic). But it is the opening selection, an extended
ten-minute opus titled "In Front," that truly showcases Jarrett at his playful best -- a timeless, modal, direct, and bright delight. A remarkable effort that reveals more
and more with each listen, this recording has stood the test of time, and is unquestionably a Top Three recording in Keith Jarrett's long and storied career.
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19711116 Miles Davis Septet
Miles Davis (tp) Gary Bartz (ss, as) Keith Jarrett (el p, org) Michael Henderson (el b) Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (dr) Don Alias,
James Mtume Forman (conga, perc)
November 16, 1971, Palazzo dello Sport, Turin, Italy, RAI TV broadcast
1 Directions (J. Zawinul) 13.18
Theme stated at 3.22, 5.17.
2 What I Say (M. Davis) 14.10
3 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis) 3.52
4 It's About That Time (M. Davis) 13.33
5 Honky Tonk (M. Davis) 17.58
6 Funky Tonk (M. Davis) 15.11
Incomplete (8.06) and issued as "Hush" on Moon and video.
7 Sanctuary (W. Shorter-M. Davis)
(closing theme, applause) 0.50
There are some incomplete broadcasts of this show from RAI. One of them contains the following
Honky Tonk (inc, 5.57) (voiceover announcement 5.23-end)
What I Say (inc, 8.36) (previous voiceover continues until 0.06)
Sanctuary (4.14)
It's About That Time (inc, 3.42)
Another includes an incomplete Funky Tonk (8.42), issued as "Hush" on Moon MCD 063. Still another includes an incomplete Honky
Tonk (9.57) with a brief voiceover introduction.
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1972
1 Introduction 0:38
2 Stockholm, March 10, 1972 (K. Jarrett) 44:06
3 Introduction 0:38
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19720406 Keith Jarrett Quintet And Brass
Keith Jarrett (p, tamb, ss) Dewey Redman (ts) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr) Airto Moreira (perc) brass section
April 6th 1972, Columbia Studio E, New York, NY
1 Common Mama (Keith Jarrett) 8.11
Keith Jarrett - Expectations (Columbia C2K 65900)
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19720427 Keith Jarrett Quintet
Keith Jarrett (p, ss) Sam Brown (g) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr) Airto Moreira (perc)
April 27th 1972, Columbia Studio E, New York, NY
1 The Circular Letter (For J.K) (Keith Jarrett) 5.04
Keith Jarrett - Expectations (Columbia C2K 65900)
1. Track 1 (22.00)
2. Track 2 (Margot (Keith Jarrett) ?) (8.00)
3. Track 3 (5.00)
4. Track 4 (9.00)
1. Unknown / Bring Back The Time When (If) (21:59) [end Missing]
2. Standing Outside (Keith Jarrett) / Everything That Lives Lament / Lisbon Stomp (Jarrett)/ Unknown (25:10) ) [Cut at
24:59 - end Missing]
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19720603 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) +++
Keith Jarrett (p, ss, fl) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr)
Székesfehérvár, Hungary (Alba Regia Jazz Festival)
01a (start ->) Bring Back The Time When (If) ['official version' on Expectations]
01b (7:00 -->) Lisbon Stomp (Jarrett)['official version' on Life Between The Exit Signs]
01c (16:00 –>) Moonchild (Keith Jarrett)
01d (22:30 –>)-02 Song For Che
03 The Magician In You (Keith Jarrett)['official version' on Expectations]
04 Piece For Ornette ['official version' on El Juicio]
05 Expectations (Keith Jarrett)
06 UT (also in 1969 Cameleon Pt.1)
[Suite 2]
07 - Common Mama (Jarrett) (13:07)
08 – Moonchild (Jarrett) (7:33)
09 - The Magician In You (Keith Jarrett)(9:12)
10 - Follow The Crooked Path (12:36)
11 - Expectations (Keith Jarrett) (10:02)
Encore
12 - Applause (1:49)
13 - The Circular Letter (for JK) (Jarrett) (6:56)
Time = 114:02
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19720612 Keith Jarrett Trio (PA) (FL+++)
Set 1
0 DJ intro (00:47)
1 Church Dreams (Keith Jarrett) (7:01)
2 The Mourning Of A Star (Keith Jarrett) (14:12)
3 Follow The Crooked Path (Piano solo) (3:21)
4 Coral (Keith Jarrett) (7:37)
5 Piece For Ornette (Keith Jarrett) (5:01)
6 Remorse (Keith Jarrett) (7:45)
7 Rainbow (Margot Jarrett) (4:46)
50:34
set 2
49:53
100:25
Forthcoming
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Jarrett/Haden/Motian: Hamburg ’72 review – a trio at their most uninhibited
John Fordham
Free and easy … Keith Jarrett, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian in Hamburg in 1972
This album captures Keith Jarrett on German radio in 1972, shortly before his landmark solo gig in Cologne. It’s an unbri-
dled excursion for the mindblowingly intuitive trio of Jarrett, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Paul Motian. Jarrett plays
flute and wild soprano saxophone at times, and there’s plenty of piano virtuosity, full of typically slashing long lines and
methodical buildups, some gospel-like Jarrett funk (Take Me Back), and slowly massaged ballads. Haden and Motian con-
stantly anticipate him. The tonal freedom and uninhibitedness give this set a different kind of power – audible in Jarrett’s
Coleman-phrased soprano-sax solo over Haden’s hurtling bass-walk on Piece for Ornette, and the long multiphonic howls
against dissonant bowed-bass chords and Motian’s slams and rattles on the intense Song for Che. It’s the remarkable work
of a trio in tune with each other – and with the spirit of their time.
They are both marvellous records. Obviously, they complement each other in documenting and contrasting where Jarrett
and Haden, two musical giants, were at these two poles of their collaborations.
Hamburg ’72 is a vibrant, florid reminder of how good Jarrett, Haden, who died in mid-July this year, and Motian, who
died in November 2011, sounded together — not just as the core of Jarrett’s American Quartet in the mid-1970s, but also as
a self-contained trio. (Previously, this first Jarrett trio had released Life Between The Exit Signs, recorded in 1967, when
Jarrett was barely 22, followed by Somewhere Before and The Mourning of a Star.)
And it goes without saying that if you only know Jarrett as a superlative interpreter of standards with bassist Gary Peacock
and drummer Jack DeJohnette, this album of original compositions and outward-bound playing will be revelatory.
This new album consists of six pieces played at a ECM-organized radio concert staged a few months after Jarrett’s debut on
the label with his paradigm-shifting solo album Facing You. However, the tracks cast forward to the enthralling music that
Jarrett would record on Impulse! with Haden, Motian and reedman Dewey Redman.
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Hamburg ’72 covers a huge amount of musical and emotional ground. Its waltzing opener, Rainbow, which Jarrett recorded
on the 1976 album Byablue, features the pianist at his most lyrical and accessible. At the same time, the trio sounds abso-
lutely ecstatic and highly energized, and that holds true for the entirety of the disc.
Next comes the more sombre Everything That Lives Laments Haden is in top form, playing as his life depends on it, ac-
companied by Motian’s jangling bells, before Jarrett, tapping into a primal muse, joins in on wood flute. The trio expands
heroically on the brief version of this piece that it recorded on The Mourning of a Star, and there’s even a smatter of ap-
plause from the Hamburg audience as the trio brings in the sorrowful tune.
Still, while the Hamburg version has its own rugged charm, it lacks the lilting release of the grooving piano solo — and
that’s not to mention Redman’s coursing turn — heard when the American Quartet epically recorded Everything That Lives
Laments on the 1976 album Mysteries.
Jarrett switches to soprano saxophone for Piece for Ornette, which also appears on the American Quartet album El Juicio.
Brash, exultant free-bopping ensues. Haden propels in his singular way, Motian’s clatter is divine, and Jarrett’s horn pro-
gresses from swirling to deeply gruff and guttural, as much concerned with sound as notes.
Take Me Back, which is also on the 1972 Jarrett album Expectations, is a groovy, vampy and gospel-saturated romp. The
trio finds another way to be earthy, switching from raw swinging to bluesy testifying.
The disc’s final two tracks practically belong to Haden, not that was coasting until then. Life, Dance’s short, uplifting
theme gives way to gutsy bass heroics. But that’s simply a prelude for Haden at his finest, as the trio segues into a grand,
15-minute foray through Haden’s own Song For Che, coloured by much percussion and the return of Jarrett’s raspy and
even shrieking soprano saxophone.
For an recording that sat in the vaults for more than four decades, the album sounds lucid and highly charged, following the
remix in July by ECM producer Manfred Eicher and Jan Erik Kongshaug. Only on the opening track, Rainbow, is Haden’s
sound a little muffled and vague in the ensemble.
On one hand, Hamburg ’72 is like a long-missing piece of a larger ravishing puzzle, connected to recognized masterpiec-
es, both contemporaneous and subsequent, from Jarrett, Haden and Motian.
But of course, it also stands up entirety in its own right, visceral, brilliant, unfettered and joyous, even if you don’t know its
place in jazz history.
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By
JOHN KELMAN,
Published: November 26, 2014 | 809 views
View related photos
With Sleeper: Tokyo, April 16, 1979 (2012) and Magico: Carta de Amor (2012), ECM Records began digging into its ar-
chives, unearthing two live recordings that revealed even more about a collection of artists whose reputations were already
plenty secure as some of the label's most important from its early years—in the first case, pianist Keith Jarrett's Scandinavi-
an-centric "Belonging Quartet," with saxophonist Jan Garbarek
, bassist Palle Danielsson
and drummer Jon Christensen
; in the second, the Transatlantic trio of Norway's Garbarek, Brazilian pianist/guitarist Egberto Gismonti
and American bassist Charlie Haden
. Hamburg '72 is another significant find: a live recording that, unlike Sleeper and Carta de Amor, comes from a group that
until now has never been documented on ECM but, like those 2012 sets, is another major winner that adds substantially to
both the label's discography and the history of its participants.
Keith Jarrett's group with Charlie Haden and drummer Paul Motian
—musicians who, with Ornette Coleman
and Bill Evans
in their respective pedigrees, provided the pianist with as much freedom to explore as he could handle—had already begun
its move from the trio first heard on Life Between the Exit Signs (Vortex, 1968) into the quartet with saxophonist Dewey
Redman
that, ultimately known as his "American Quartet," debuted on two Atlantic albums released the previous year: El Juicio
(The Judgement) and Birth. But when Manfred Eicher
organized a 1972 European tour for Jarrett—who had already begun what would ultimately become an exclusive tenure on
the producer's relatively nascent ECM Records label the year prior, with an instant classic, Facing You, along with a more
curious duo date with drummer Jack DeJohnette
, Ruta and Daitya—it was a trio tour that may well have been its last in that format, as Jarrett had already begun touring the
US with Redman in tow.
Culled from an NDR Jazz Workshop radio recording from June 14, 1972, Hamburg '72 is as important for Eicher and Nor-
wegian engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug's superb remix from the original multitracks as it is for the exceptional music itself.
Motian's dark ride cymbal positively sizzles on the opening "Rainbow"—appearing here a full four years before showing
up on the quartet's Byablue (Impulse!, 1976)—which gradually evolves from Jarrett's spare and lyrical a cappella introduc-
tion into a more powerful improvisational vehicle for the entire trio, demonstrating both a chemistry built over the course of
five years as well as the unassailable magic of this particular evening.
"Everything That Lives Laments"—first heard on the trio's The Mourning of a Star (Atlantic) the previous year and later
revisited on the quartet's Mysteries (Impulse!, 1975)—also shape-shifts, but this time from a brief balladic opening into a
bass solo that, supported by Motian's chimes and bells, ultimately explores more folkloric territory when Jarrett rejoins, this
time on wooden flute. The clarity and transparency of every instrument—including Jarrett's voice when he briefly sings
along with his flute—is made all the more vivid by the trio's unfettered approach to taking what was originally a two-
minute piece and turning it into a ten- minute epic journey that, when Jarrett returns to his piano and Motian his drums,
traverses a broad dynamic expanse, with the pianist's firm touch something that is felt as much as it is heard.
While he's rarely given much credit for it, the nine-minute "Piece for Ornette"—this time featuring Jarrett alone, as opposed
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to the version on El Juicio that also includes Redman on tenor—suggests that Jarrett's relatively infrequent soprano saxo-
phone work ought to be revisited. Here, bolstered by a "time, no changes" rhythm section where Haden anchors with near-
running bass lines and Motian swings with a fire and intensity rarely heard, Jarrett is positively incendiary, sustaining
lengthy rapid-fire lines, piercing multiphonics and searing screams.
"Take Me Back"—released the same year on his sole Columbia Records outing Expectations (1972) but, with guitarist
Samuel T Brown
and percussionist Airto Moreira
in the mix, in a more clattering version— explores Jarrett's gospel predilections but, with Motian's exuberant punctuations
piercing through Haden's simple but perfect support, is considerably more raucous and, consequently, joyous than his cur-
rent Standards Trio. That's not a criticism of the pianist's longstanding group with bassist Gary Peacock
and drummer Jack DeJohnette
; only that Hamburg '72's trio at times sacrifices finesse for a more raw, unfettered and ultimately infectious energy that
builds to a climax and then stops suddenly, leaving Jarrett alone to perform a segue that leads into the captivating "Life,
Dance"—at just three minutes a brief miniature compared to the rest of the album's eight minute-plus tracks—that is the
record's only previously unheard Jarrett composition, its sketch-like form creating the context for an in tandem bass and
drums solo where Haden's robust, woody tone and resolute approach to simplicity and ultimate perfection in his every
choice becomes one of the album's many highlights.
In fact, Hamburg '72 is a true milestone from the first of its 56 minutes to the last—a classic once lost, but now found again
and sounding better than ever. A lengthy version of Haden's "Song for Che"—first heard on the bassist's classic Liberation
Music Orchestra (Impulse!, 1969) and the only non-Jarrett original of the the set—closes Hamburg '72 on a particularly
open-ended note, with Haden moving from visceral pizzicato to drone-based arco and Jarrett from piercing saxophone to
more dramatically building piano, before Haden once again dominates and the 15-minute epic ends with a slow fade of
Motian and Jarrett's percussion.
That Jarrett no longer engages in formal composition has been a subject for much discussion and debate in recent years.
While his "from the ether" solo concerts and standards-based trio performances can rightly be considered spontaneous
composition of the highest order, archival finds like Sleeper and Hamburg '72 do make the case for a certain loss when the
pianist decided to put his writing pen down. While it seems unlikely that Jarrett will change his current stance, if ECM can
continue to unearth recordings like the stellar Hamburg '72, there's hope that fans of Jarrett the composer—and Jarrett, the
more freewheeling, reckless performer—will remain more than satisfied.
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19720802 Keith Jarrett Solo (DI) (nrk video)
Keith Jarrett (p, fl)
Kino, Molde, Norway
(Molde International Jazz Festival) August 2nd 1972
CD1
01 Set I Part I (21.11)
02 Set I Part II (24:49)
(TT 46:00)
CD2
03 Set II (32:19)
04 Flute Encore (3:58)
Embedded in the concert are "The Magician in You" (Part I, 27:44-32:40) and Rainbow (Part II, 21:10-23:00).
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19720900 Keith Jarrett Trio
Conception Vessel is the debut album by Paul Motian and was released on the ECM label. It was released in 1972 and
features performances by Motian with Keith Jarrett, Charlie Haden, Leroy Jenkins, Sam Brown and Becky Friend.
The Allmusic review by Ron Wynn awarded the album 4 stars stating "This is Motian's debut as a leader. It includes ambi-
tious cuts with guitarist Sam Brown and also features pianist Keith Jarrett.".[1]
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19720000 American Quartet
Dewey Redman (ts, musette) Keith Jarrett (p, ss, tamb) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc)
1972 or 1973, Jubilee Auditorium, Edmonton, AB, Canada
1973
19730220-21-22-23 25 American Quartet + 1
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, maracas) Keith Jarrett (p, ss, tamb) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc) Danny Johnson
(perc)
February20 21 22 23 24 25 1973, Village Vanguard, New York, NY
First Set
5 (If The) Misfits (Wear It) (Keith Jarrett) (alt. Take) 13.24
1 Fort Yawuh (Keith Jarrett) (Intro only)
6 Whistle Tune (Keith jarrett) 2.29
7 Spoken Introduction (section only)
Second Set
3 De Drums (Keith Jarrett) 11.53
4 Still Life, Still Life (Keith Jarrett) 8.37
Third Set
7 Spoken Introduction (section only)
8 Angles (Without Edges) (alt. take) 14.17
9 Roads Traveled, Roads Veiled (Keith Jarrett) 20.25
5 (If The) Misfits (Wear It) (alt. take) (Keith Jarrett) 13.24
Fourth Set
10 De Drums (excerpt) (alt. take) 7.27
11 Melting The Ice (Keith Jarrett) 18.03
1 Fort Yawuh (Keith Jarrett) (Body only)
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On Fort Yawuh, Keith Jarrett is joined by Dewey Redman (tenor sax), Charlie Haden (bass), Paul Motian (drums), andDanny
Johnson (percussion) to produce this set recorded live at the legendary Village Vanguard in New York City on February 24,
1973. About two minutes into "Fort Yawuh," Jarrett prepares the listener for a piano solo by announcing himself with quick
and sharp keyboard jabs that evolve into spared and beautiful crescendos that before too long involve the soulful wails
of Redman on the sax. The following song, "De Drums," is the one track that really swings on this album. Another long one,
at 12 minutes in length, "De Drums" is much more focused on a
and consistent rhythm that is established immediately by a smooth five-note bassline accented by the piano and shakers.
Although describable as smooth and cool, this song has a palpable energy perhaps due to the construction of the bassline
whose pauses give an enjoyable sense of suspense. A little more than five minutes into this song there is a thematic shift
that speeds up the tempo and makes this title swing even more while involving Redman's sax and Motian's drum kit. Half
past the eight-minute mark the tempo settles back down to its original drawl, and the song finishes with a lazy bop that
makes this the standout track on the album. Fans of Jarrett's avant-garde liberalism will find "De Drums" to be the track most
unlike the other four selections on this album. "Still Life, Still Life" is more like a ballad in that it's very slow, but it still main-
tains the structural freedom featured in the "Fort Yawuh," "(If the) Mysfits (Wear It)," and "Roads Traveled, Roads Veiled."
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19730200 Keith Jarrett With Orchestra
1: Willi Freivogel (flute) string section of the Südfunk Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgart, Mladen Gutesha (conductor)
2; Keith Jarrett (p)
3: American Brass Quintet
4: Keith Jarrett (p)
5: Fritz Sonnleitner Quartet: Fritz Sonnleitner, Günter Klein, Siegfried Meinecke, Fritz Kiskat
6: Ralph Towner (guitar) string section of the Südfunk Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgart, Keith Jarrett (cond)
7: 4 celli, 2 trombones
8: Keith Jarrett (p, gong, perc) string section of the Südfunk Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgart, Keith Jarrett (conductor)
February 1973, Ludwigsburg, Germany
1 Metamorphosis (K. Jarrett) 19.19
2 Fughata For Harpsichord (K. Jarrett) 5.26
3 Brass Quintet (K. Jarrett) 20.53
4 A Pagan Hymn (K. Jarrett) 7.27
5 String Quartet (K. Jarrett) 16.37
6 Short Piece For Guitar And Strings (K. Jarrett) 3.52
7 Crystal Moment (K. Jarrett) 4.54
8 In The Cave, In The Light (K. Jarrett) 12.18
1-8: Keith Jarrett - In The Light (ECM (G) 1033/34)
87
19730311 (corrections VA)
First set
01 Title Unknown (?) / Angles (Without Edges) 12:39 (few sec miss at beg on b "berlin" copy)
02 Yaqui indian folk song 04:43 (cuts off after couple sec of applause)
1. Track 1 (27:19)
2. Encore (6:48)
88
19730319- or 23 Keith Jarrett Solo (DI) (fl+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
1973, Bern, Switzerland
Solo Bern 1973 24.20
[CD] Keith Jarrett Solo– Bern 1973
1. Set 1
2. Set 2 45:31
3 Speech/ Flute Fragment 00:18
4 Expectations (Keith Jarrett) 06:16
When Down Beat magazine reviewed Keith Jarrett's ECM "Solo Concerts" in 1974, it was awarded the top rating
of 5 stars. The magazine's reviewer stated, "If this is not music for everyman, then everyman is lost in the void."
89
19730321-22 Keith Jarrett Solo (br)
Keith Jarrett (p), Salle de l’ERA, Geneva, Switzerland
-
I visited this concert, which took place at "Heilig Geist Spital" with a terrible instrument. Jarrett was a little bit sick as he
told. So he played only one longer part. The encore was played on flute.
90
19730330 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
March 30th 1973, Hotel Mohren, Willisau, Switzerland
Friday, March 30, 1973
Hotel Mohren, Willisau, Switzerland
Concert, recording by Niklaus Troxler (producer of the concert), available at Swiss
National Sound Archives
01 Part I 57:40
91
19730630 Keith Jarrett Solo (BR) (FL+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
June 30, 1973, Philharmonic Hall, New York, NY, USA
1. Set 1 (22:28) [ end missing, presenter's voice over music from 22:12 to the end of the track]
Radio Broadcast
19730630 Keith Jarrett Solo (RO)
Keith Jarrett (p)
Friday July 07, 1973, Lincoln Centre, New York, New York, United States of America
Concert [reported by Francis Marmande, in his review on Bordeaux 2016]
In the official CDs there is no mention at all of the Encore in the Tracklist .
Track 01 31:04
1. Improvisation (50:55)
92
Broadcast: NRK1 August 13, 1973
93
19731000 Keith Jarrett Solo
October 1973, wien
Track01 9:12
Early October 1973 Vienna, Austria
(Musik fur 14 Hande )
- Solo 7-minute piece recorded for the Austrian television. Produced in October 1973 and broadcast in 1974.
More information here: Piano-Jazz: Musik fur 14 Hande
[Link]
94
19731103 American Quartet (PL) (di) (fl+++)
November 3, 1973 (a) (7 items; TT = 56:34)
Philharmonie, Berlin
Source/Quality: RB (A-)
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, perc); Keith Jarrett (p, ss); Charlie Haden (b); Paul Motian (d, perc); Guilherme Franco (perc); Willis
Conover (ann)
Second Set
The first set has been discovered coming from Boston 19740918
95
19731104 American Quartet + 1 (fl+++)
Keith Jarrett (p, ss) Dewey Redman (ts) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr) Guilherme Franco (perc)
November 4th 1973, Aula de l’école de commerce, Geneva, Switzerland
first set
01 radio intro (00:32)
02 Still Life, Still Life (first part) (29:02)
03 Still life Still Life (2Nd part) (theme stated on piano) (12:13)
04 Track 03 (11:50)
05 Yaqui Indian Folk Song (02:03)
TT 55:52
Second set
1. Track 1 (5:35)
2. Track 2 (32:40)
96
1974
197400000 American Quartet
Keith Jarrett (p) Dewey Redman (ts, tamb) Charlie haden(b) Paul Motian(dr)
Sonator: There is a concert with the American Quartet before 1975, after 1973 ???
It took place in München, Theater an der Brienner Straße. I was among the audience. Sorry, I don't know the date.
97
19740114 American Quartet
Keith Jarrett (p) Dewey Redman (ts, tamb) Charlie haden(b) Paul Motian(dr)
January 14th 1974, Kosei Nenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan
98
19740227-28 American Quartet + 2
Dewey Redman (ts, tamb) Keith Jarrett (p, ss, osi dr) Sam Brown (g -4,8) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc) Guil-
herme Franco, Danny Johnson (perc)
February 27th & 28th 1974, Generation Sound Studios, New York, NY
1 The Rich (And The Poor) (Keith Jarrett) 9.18
2 Blue Streak (Keith Jarrett) 2.33
3 Fullsuvollivus (Fools Of All Of Us) (Keith Jarrett) 6.28
4 Treasure Island (Keith Jarrett) 4.26
5 Introduction (Keith Jarrett)
Yaqui Indian Folk Song (traditional) 2.15
6 Le Mistral (Keith Jarrett) 9.25
7 Angles (Without Edges) (Keith Jarrett) 5.16
8 Sister Fortune (Keith Jarrett) 4.22
9 Death And The Flower (Keith Jarrett) 10.02
1-9: Keith Jarrett - The Impulse Years, 1973-1974 (Impulse IMPD 5-237)
1-8: Keith Jarrett - Treasure Island (Impulse AS 9274)
99
19740317 Keith Jarrett + Orchestra
March 17, 1974 Alice Tully Hall, New York -
Dennis Russell Davies
Kenneth K.: “Jarrett was the featured soloist in Carla Bley’s ‘3/4, for Piano and Orchestra’ conducted by
Dennis Russell Davies. (…) This may be his first encounter with Dennis Russell Davies with whom he would work over
the next two decades. Bley’s piece required a pianist well above her skill set; not sure exactly how
Jarrett was approached but the concert took place on a Sunday afternoon, just two days before his engagement at the Van-
guard. Jarrett would reprise this performance that December in Minneapolis, where he
performed a series of concerts for quartet and serious compositions, including a piece from ‘In the Light’.”
Chet Baker (tp -1/4) Lee Konitz (as -1/4) Keith Jarrett (p) Charlie Haden (b -1/4) Beaver Harris (dr -1/4)
April 14th 1974, New York, NY
1 Donna Lee 6.22
2 Lover Man (Davis – Ramirez – Sherman) 4.50
3 There Will Never Be Another You 6.26
4 Like someone in love (Van Heusen - Burke) 4.00
5 Country (Keith Jarrett) [Improvisation No. 1] 4.53
6 My Song (Keith Jarrett) [Improvisation No. 2] 4.00
1-6: Lee Konitz - Chet Baker - Keith Jarrett Quintet (Jazz Connoisseur (Israel) JC 113)
100
19740418 European Quartet (DI) (BR) (PA) +++
(Dime entry)
Keith Jarrett Quartet, Hannover April 17 1974
TT: [Link]
1. Track 1 (5:00)
2. Spiral Dance (Jarrett) (13:52) [a few seconds missing at the end]
3. Blossom (Jarrett) (15:46) [a few seconds missing at the beginning]
4. Give me Your Ribbons;I’ll Give you My Bows (7:55)
5. The Windup (Jarrett) (13:32)
6. Mandala (Keith Jarrett) (7:16) [a few seconds missing at the end]
7. Solstice (Jarrett)(14:35) [a few seconds missing at the beginning]
8. 'Long As You Know You're Living Yours (Keith Jarrett) (17:08)
101
1974042425 European Quartet
Jan Garbarek (ts, ss) Keith Jarrett (p) Palle Danielsson (b) Jon Christensen (dr)
April 24th & 25th 1974, Arne Bendiksen Studios, Oslo, Norway
1 Spiral Dance (Jarrett) 4.07
2 Blossom (Jarrett) 12.11
3 'Long As You Know You're Living Yours (Keith Jarrett) 6.10
4 Belonging (Jarrett) 2.12
5 The Windup (Jarrett) 8.22
6 Solstice (Jarrett) 13.12
1-6: Jan Garbarek/Keith Jarrett - Belonging (ECM (G) 1050)
102
19740506 European Quartet (BR) (di) +++ (NRK video)
Keith Jarrett (p) Jan Garbarek (ss, ts) Palle Daniellson (b) Jon Christensen (dr)
May 6th 1974, Oslo, Norway
1 The Windup
2. Long As You Know You're Living Yours (08:49)
3. Mandala (16:28)
4. Blossom (24:49) TT 37:08
103
19740630 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p) June 30 1974,
Newport Jazz Festival in New York,
Carnegie Hall
the same evening there were a solo by McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock
Sound Quality A
Stereo
01 Intro 08:37
02 Angles Without Edges 11:45
03 Le Mistral (Keith Jarrett) 15:59
04 Yaqui Indian Folk Song 03:03
tt 39:28
104
19740713 Keith Jarrett Solo (VA)
Keith Jarrett (p)
July 13th 1974, “Festival Internazionale Del Jazz Della Spezia”, Teatro Civico, La Spezia, Italy
Unknown Titles
No recording is known to exist of this concert.
1 Juan-les-Pins 49.31
[CD] Keith Jarrett – Solo Jazz à Juan-Les-Pins 1974
Jarrett K. Solo
Media: Tape and CD-R
Duration: 51.40
Sound quality: B
Source: audience recording
01 Part I 14:50
105
19740801 Keith Jarrett Solo (BR) (fl+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
August 1st 1974, Macerata, Italy
1. Track 1 (37:18)
2. Yaqui Indian Folk Song (5:36)
ۥ
1. Track I, 14:50
106
19740918 American Quartet (SP) (BR) (DI)
1. The Rich (And The Poor) > Death and the Flower (Keith Jarrett) (38:37)
2. Angles Without Edges (13:48)
3. Yaqui Indian Folk Song (04:46)
TT (57:11)
107
1974100910 American Quartet + 1
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, per) Keith Jarrett (p, fl, osi dr, perc) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc) Guilherme
Franco (perc)
October 9th & 10th 1974,Generation Sound Studios, New York, NY
1 Death And The Flower (Keith Jarrett) 21.49
2 Prayer (Keith Jarrett) 10.06
3 Great Bird (Keith Jarrett) 8.43
4 Prayer (alt. take) 2.35
5 Inflight 9.06
6 Kuum 11.36
7 Vapallia 7.48
8 Backhand (Keith Jarrett) 11.05
9 Victoria 4.57
1-9: Keith Jarrett - The Impulse Years, 1973-1974 (Impulse IMPD 5-237)
1-4: Keith Jarrett - Death And The Flower (Impulse AS 9301, GRD 139)
Review by Scott Yanow
This set by the Keith Jarrett Quintet (with the leader on piano, soprano and flute, tenor-saxophonist Dewey Redman, bassist Charlie Haden, drummer
Paul Motian and percussionist Guilherme Franco) contains three of Jarrett's originals. The main selection, the 21-minute "Death and the Flower,"
develops logically from atmospheric sounds to intense group improvising and back again; it is the main reason to acquire this CD.
The theme of Great Bird Has been used in the Survivor’s Suite
Back Hand is the fourth album on the Impulse label by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett. Originally released in 1974 it features
performances by Jarrett's 'American Quartet' which included Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian with Guil-
herme Franco added on percussion.
Aside from its appearance in the The Impulse Years: 1973-1974 boxset, Back Hand has only ever been reissued on compact
disc in Japan, packaged in a miniature replica of the original vinyl LP sleeve. It also appeared in Italy, in 2001, as a sup-
plement to "La Repubblica" national newspaper, copyrighted as "Musicom S.R.L." The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow
awarded the album 4.5 stars stating "The group (with Jarrett occasionally switching to flute and Redman to the bizarre-
sounding musette) is in typically exploratory, yet often melodic form on lengthy renditions of four of Jarrett's inside/outside
originals.".[1] the Italian edition also features Victoria - 5:04
108
19741016 Keith Jarrett Solo (BR) (RO)
Keith Jarrett (p) Lisner Auditorium, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
“He played solo and opened for the Gary Burton Quintet. At the end, he complained about the piano.”
Wednesday, October 16, 1974
01 Part I 52:34
Newport 1974
October 23, 1974
[Venue], [City], [State], United States of America
Newport Jazz Festival
109
19741022-23-24-25-26-27 American Quartet (BR)
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, maracas) Keith Jarrett (p, ss, tamb) Charlie Haden (b)
Paul Motian (dr, perc)
Improvisation 36:41
Improvisation 40:00
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, per) Keith Jarrett (p, fl, osi dr, perc) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc)
December 20, 1974 Federal Court Building, St. Paul, MN, USA
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, per) Keith Jarrett (p, fl, osi dr, perc) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc)
110
1975
19750117 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
January 17, 1975, Kreis-Kulturraum, Kronach, Germany
Part 1 28'45"
Part 2 42'15"
Encore: In Your Quiet Place 6'37"
From H.D.K.:
I managed the Kronach recital. I've been music teacher at the Kronach Gymnasium and many of my pupils didn't get a
ticket. So I asked Keith whether he would agree to make an audio recording or not. I promised not to distribute the tape.
Manfred Eicher himself placed the mikes. I'm sure the audience was the youngest (on average) Keith ever played for.
<[Link]
zurueck;art410935,6292677>
The second part starts with one of the themes from “The Survivors’ Suite” - and the same theme is repeated at around the
25th minute .
111
19750124 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
January 24th 1975, Opera, Köln, Germany
1 Köln, Pt. 1 (K. Jarrett) 26.02
2 Köln, Pt. 2a (K. Jarrett) 14.54
3 Köln, Pt. 2b (K. Jarrett) 18.13
4 Köln, Pt. 2c (K. Jarrett) Memories of Tomorrow 6.59
1-4: Keith Jarrett - The Köln Concert (ECM (G) 1064/65)
Pt 2a and Pt 2b are a continuous set
There is a short bridge linking 2a to 2b Some CD/LP editions of this concert do not include these few notes.
The (extrait audio) can be found in Simon Savary’s Site :
[Link]
Part I 28.50
Part II 34.37
Part III (Treasure Island) 10.59
112
19750205 Keith Jarrett Solo (+++) (PA)
Keith Jarrett (p)
February 5th 1975, Paris, France, audience recording
1 Paris (K. Jarrett) 27.24
[CD] Keith Jarrett – Solo Paris 1975
1. Part I (30:53)
2. Part II (30:03)
3. In Your Quiet Place (6:46)
Notes. Part II begins with Survivors‘ Suite - Beginning's second theme (at 21:15 on the Quartet album).
first set
113
19750313 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
March 13th 1975, Royce Hall,UCLA Los Angeles, USA
Kenneth K.: This was probably the weekend following his gig in LA€ •
114
19750529 American Quartet
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, per) Keith Jarrett (p, fl, osi dr, perc) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc)
May 29th 1975, Sankei Hall, Osaka, Japan
115
19750604 American Quartet
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, per) Keith Jarrett (p, fl, osi dr, perc) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc)
June 4th 1975, Prefectural Citizen’s Hall, Akita, Japan
116
19750600 Kenny Wheeler Quartet
Kenny Wheeler (flh) Keith Jarrett (p) Dave Holland (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
June 1975, New York, NY
1 Heyoke (Kenny Wheeler) 21.49
2 Smatter (Kenny Wheeler) 5.58
3 Gnu Suite (Kenny Wheeler) 12.49
1-3: Kenny Wheeler - Gnu High (ECM (G) 1069)
Few jazz musicians treat it that way. And even fewer write tunes that demand such tonal nuance. Wheeler specializes in
languid, questioning themes that practically force him to think in expansive terms when soloing. The title suite, which lasts
nearly thirteen minutes, moves through long rubato passages into broken samba-like grooves and, eventually, a more asser-
tive choppy swing. When Wheeler makes his entrance, he doesn't barge in; rather, he glides, taking care not to step too
heavily on any one beat. Follow closely as he develops his solos, however: Wheeler frequently ventures into the trumpet's
extreme upper register, where brute force is often needed, and somehow hangs onto his innate sense of lyricism. Believe
the title: His high notes are a new kind of high.
Gnu High is also notable as the rare date from this period where Keith Jarrett appears in a supporting role. The pianist total-
ly "gets" Wheeler's tunes—at times on "Smatter," which features a solo-piano interlude, Jarrett generates flowing melodies
with such facility, you might think he wrote the tune. That's also a function of tone: Because Wheeler's sound is so warm
and inviting, everyone around him plays that way too.
117
19750703 American Quartet (+++)
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, per) Keith Jarrett (p, fl, osi dr, perc) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc)
July 3rd 1975, Newport Jazz Festival, Avery Fisher Hall, New York, NY, USA
In his fourth appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival (he had previously appeared in 1967 as a member of Charles Lloyd's quartet, per-
formed solo in 1973 and appeared with his quintet in 1974), pianist-composer Keith Jarrett continued to ride a wave of popularity that
would only increase dramatically with the release of The Koln Concert, one of the best-selling solo albums of all time, at the end of the
year. With a potent quartet consisting of two former members of Ornette Coleman's group in tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman and
bassist Charlie Haden, along former Bill Evans drummer Paul Motian, Jarrett and his crew performed material from
1975's Shades (which has since gone out of print and is only available now as Japanese import).
Jarrett's quartet opens this July 3rd performance with a ruminative solo piano improvisation that gradually develops into an energized
workout on the keys before returning to the evocative theme. By the 5:24 mark, Jarrett segues abruptly to the fully developed solo piano
piece "In Front" (from his 1971 ECM album, Facing You). Following a drum barrage from Motian, the band then jumps into "Shades of
Jazz," one of Jarrett's most memorable and swinging compositions. Jarrett and Redman double on the head while Haden's insistent walk-
ing bass lines propel the tune behind Jarrett's swinging solo. Following a repeat of the head, Redman takes off on an exhilarating, bold-
toned tenor solo with Haden's grooves still providing the rhythmic propulsion underneath Motian's incessantly swinging ride cymbal
work.
Jarrett next settles into a soulful heartland melody on solo piano as the intro to the evocative "Rose Petals." Motian's free drumming on
this rubato piece serves as a perfect rhythmic foil for Jarrett's and Redman's tightly crafted unisons and rhapsodic soloing here. Motian
stretches out considerably on an unaccompanied drum solo that kicks off the Ornette Coleman-influenced number "Diatribes," which has
Jarrett swinging fervently and soloing with remarkable virtuosity. Redman adds some heat of his own on this uptempo burner that strad-
dles the inside-outside aesthetic with some passionate tenor blowing that tips over into the Albert Ayler zone. This intensely freewheel-
ing piece concludes as it started, with a frantic fusillade on the kit by Motian. The quartet next tackles Jarrett's soulful, grooving, gospel
flavored "Southern Smiles," an earthy number which seems more indebted to soul-jazz pioneer Les McCann than avant-garde pioneer
Ornette Coleman. Redman's tenor solo here is suitably gritty and full of the funk factor. This Newport Jazz Festival concert closes on a
poignant note with a delicate waltz-time number that opens with solo piano and builds to a moving crescendo as the band enters midway
through.
-Written by Bill Milkowski
September 27, 1975 Campus of Michigan St. University, East Lansing, MI,USA
October 2-3 1975 Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA -
David J.: € He lectured the audience about applauding after solos, or actually asked
them why they did it, was it a good solo or were they just acknowledging that they knew it was a solo?
Coughing came up too. Group cough, college students coughing just to see how mad he would get, after a long tirade
and a long silence (where he said he would continue when all the wise guys quit coughing).
118
Dewey Redman stepped up to the mic and coughed. I recall material from Treasure Island or Yahwuh, but not sure.
119
19751000 Keith Jarrett With Orchestra (PL)
Jan Garbarek (ts, ss) Keith Jarrett (p) Charlie Haden (b) Mladen Gutesha (cond) Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgart
October 1975, Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg, Germany
1 Runes (Dedicated to the unknown) (Keith Jarrett) 15.19
2 Solara March (Dedicated to Pablo Casals
and the Sun) (Keith Jarrett) 9.40
3 Mirrors (Dedicated to my teachers) (Keith Jarrett) 27.49
1-3: Keith Jarrett - Arbour Zena (ECM (G) 1070)
With saxophonist Jan Garbarek and bassist Charlie Haden along for the ride, Keith Jarrett indulges in three slow, rambling, meditative, vaguely neo-
classical concertos for piano and string orchestra. While a few of Jarrett's and Garbarek's passages here and there have a syncopated jazz feeling,
this is mostly contemporary classical music, perhaps even somewhat ahead of its time (it might fit in with the neo-Romantic and minimalist camps
today). However, although this music can be attractive in small doses, the lack of tempo or texture contrasts over long stretches of time -- particularly
the nearly 28-minute "Mirrors" -- can be annoying if you're not in the right blissful mood. Mladen Gutesha and the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orches-
tra perform the string parts with what can only be described as commendable patience.
Given his overall focus on just two projects over the past three decades—with
the exception of relatively rare diversions into the classical world or recordings like Jasmine (2010), an intimate
duo date with bassist Charlie Haden—it's easy to forget that there was a time when pianist Keith Jarrett was not
just one of the most innovative performers on the planet, but a writer constrained by no stylistic boundaries.
These days, focusing as he does on performing solo and with his longstanding Standards Trio, it's only with the
release of archival finds like Sleeper—Tokyo, April 16, 1979 (2012),with his Belonging Quartet of the mid-to-late
'70s, that we're reminded his purview was once far broader.
Not that his current activities aren't broad in scope—Somewhere (2013), is one of his best Standards Trio re-
cords since 1988's Still Live—but in his 42-year relationship with ECM Records, it was during his first decade
that the pianist more clearly adhered to the label's genre-busting modus operandi, devoting "itself to all kinds of
music, as long as it was good."
That MO, the cornerstone of its Re:solutions series of reissues which, for its first batch, has put out seven al-
bums on CD (four for the first time, one previously only available for a limited time in Japan), vinyl and high re-
solution digital formats, was exemplified in much of Jarrett's output between 1971's Facing You and
1982's Ritual—a Re:solutions release of solo piano music, written by Jarrett but performed by noted conductor
Dennis Russell Davies. But anotherRe:solutions reissue, 1976's Arbour Zena (unlike Rituals, previously availab-
le on CD), was an early example of Jarrett being more than a groundbreaking pianist; he was also a distinctive
composer—and not just in the jazz sphere of his Euro-centric Belonging Quartet or aptly titled American Quar-
tet.
120
Jarrett had already released music more aligned with the classical sphere on 1974's In the Light, which contai-
ned works for string quartet and brass quintet, a fughata for harpsichord and more; but it was with Arbour Ze-
na—reuniting the pianist with the string section Stuttgart's Südfunk Symphony Orchestra and conductor Mladen
Gutesha (who'd performed In the Light's "Metamorphosis")—that Jarrett found the magic nexus between com-
position and improvisation, both through his own contributions on piano and with the participation of Haden and
saxophonistJan Garbarek, also making the record an even broader marriage of his European and American
concerns.
Arbour Zena's three extended pieces—the shortest, "Solara March," is nearly 10 minutes while the longest, the
side-long "Mirrors," comes close to 28—explore Jarrett's more romantic side, with occasional references to his
Americana and gospel roots. Jarrett's writing is largely structured for the string orchestra, with the pianist, Haden
and Gabrarek overlaying improvisational contributions that integrate seamlessly; as ever, with ECM, this is no
"jazz group with strings" affair—even the term "Third Stream," used by Gunther Schuller in a 1957 lecture to
refer to a synthesis of classical and jazz, doesn't really apply. Instead, in particular on "Mirrors," Jarrett and Gar-
barek explore ways to intertwine with the strings' compositional contexts to create something that's more a con-
fluence—something neither jazz nor classical, but simply something else.
The final minutes of the album's lengthy closer do include some unfettered interplay between Jarrett and Garba-
rek—and there's a beautiful passage in "Solara March" where the strings lay out briefly, allowing Jarrett, Haden
and Garbarek more unrestricted elbow room, though still within the confines of an underlying structure to which
the strings soon reengage, leading to a conclusion that could easily fit in either of his jazz quartets of the time.
But in conjunction with the strings, what makes Arbour Zena so compelling is its utter unification of result.
Jarrett had already enlisted Garbarek for another string orchestra recording, 1974'sLuminessence: Music for
String Orchestra and Saxophone—like In the Light, also with Südfunk and Gutesha—but there Garbarek was
the sole improviser, with Jarrett acting solely as composer. It could be seen as a precursor to Arbour Zena, a
more successful recording overall (thoughLuminessence is far from lacking in charm), if for no other reason than
the interactive possibilities of three musicians as superb as Jarrett, Garbarek and Haden gave the pianist much
more grist when it came to exploring his nexus of form and freedom, and sounds more readily associated with
classical music and jazz. One of seemingly countless career high points, Arbor Zena is another superb entry in
ECM's Re:solutions series, demonstrating both the label and its artists' predilection for defying classification
and, instead, simply focusing on a relentless search for new musical terrain and fresh creative perspectives.
Track Listing: Runes (dedicated to the unknown); Solara March (dedicated to Pablo Casals and the sun); Mir-
rors (dedicated to my teachers).
Personnel: Keith Jarrett: piano; Jan Garbarek: tenor and soprano saxophones; Charlie Haden: double bass;
String Orchestra: members of the Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgart, Mladen Gutesha conducting.
121
19751107 Ameuropean orchestra (SP) (PL)(+++)(DI)
Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, Haden, and Orchestra
string section called "Capella Classica" under the direction of Alois J. Hochstrasser.
The program was entitled "Compositions for soloists and strings".
The First set is divided into 2 parts (fade-out fade-in at 19:54) some music is missing .
Disc 1
1 Medley (includes Runes(dedicated to the unknown) and Solara March) 42:39
Disc 2
2 The Heart Space (K. Jarrett) 12:16
3 Mirrors(dedicated to my teachers) (K. Jarrett) 25:52
4 Encore : Solara March (reprise of the final part) (dedicated to Pablo Casals and the sun) (K. Jarrett) 8:09
Made from the master cassettes total time from 79:41 to 79:20
122
19751210 American Quartet + 1
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, perc) Keith Jarrett (p, wood fl, osi dr) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc) Guilherme
Franco (perc)
December 10th 1975, Generation Sound, New York, NY
1 Everything That Lives Laments (take 6) (K. Jarrett) 15.37
2 Rose Petals (take 4) (K. Jarrett) 8.21
3 Rotation (take 1) (K. Jarrett) 10.58
4 Mysteries (take 1) (K. Jarrett) 15.17
5 Everything That Lives Laments (take 1a) (K. Jarrett) 10.00
1-5: Keith Jarrett - Mysteries The Impulse Years 1975-1976 (Impulse IMPD-4-189)
Review by Al Campbell :
This two-fer combines pianist Keith Jarrett's 1976 releases Mysteries and Shades, originally released on Impulse as separate LPs. Both
dates feature Jarrett on piano, Dewey Redman on tenor saxophone, Charlie Haden on bass, Paul Motian on drums, and Guilherme
Franco on percussion. Mysteries mixes avant-garde with exotic melodies that find the musicians incorporating Pakistani flute, Chi-
nese musette, and an abundance of percussion. Shades includes extra percussion supplied by the entire band, with Jarrett and Red-
man sticking to their main instruments, continuing exploratory, yet melodic music, played with a bit more heat than on Mysteries.
New liner notes are absent, but the original packaging -- front and back cover art and liner notes -- remain intact.
01 6:58
123
1976
19760114 American Quartet (BR)
From the UCSD archives: “Jazz pianist Keith Jarrett will perform in concert at the University of California, San Diego Friday, Jan. 16, at
8:30 p.m. in the UC San Diego Gym. (…) Tickets for the performance are $3 for UC San Diego students in advance and $4.50 for gen-
eral admission. Tickets can be obtained at the UC San Diego Box Office on campus (452-4559) or through Ticketron agencies.”
March 8, 1976 Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Detroit, MI,
124
19760311-12-13-14 American Quartet (BR)
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, per) Keith Jarrett (p, fl, osi dr, perc) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc)
1. Part I (41:16)
2. Part II (30:18)
125
19760400 American Quartet +++ (pl)
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, per) Keith Jarrett (p, fl, osi dr, perc)
Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc)
April 1976, Unicorn Club, New York, NY USA
Source television broadcast stereo
Media audio tape audio tape CD-R Duration 98:12
Track 1 (11:50)
Death And The Flower (Keith Jarrett) (23:28) [cut at 14:03?]
Backhand (Keith Jarrett) (11:59)
Track 4 (5:13) [this track is from the CD-R]
Track 5 (5:53)
Spiral Steps (Keith Jarrett) (7:05)
Track 7 (6:16)
Track 8 (4:18)
Track 9 (14:51)
Speech (1:27)
Yaqui Indian Folk Song (5:52) [end missing]
My notes show that the Keith Jarrett Quartet (Jarrett, Redman, Haden, Motian) played nonstop for one hour and twenty minutes, fol-
lowed by one short encore. They didn’t be-gin until 10:50 at night, because they were preceded by two other groups — Oregon (Towner,
McCandless, Moore, and Wolcott) playing seven pieces over a 45-minute period, then the Gary Burton Quintet (Burton, Swallow, Mo-
ses, Metheny, and Goodrick) playing five pieces over a 40-minute period. (Chuck Hill)
October 10, 1975 (8 items; TT = 97:38)
Unicorn Club, Ithaca IT SHOULD BE WRONG !!
Source/Quality: RB (B)
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, perc); Keith Jarrett (p, ss, perc); Charlie Haden (b); Paul Motian (d,
perc)
Disc 1
1 Introduction 0:04
2 Spiral Steps (K. Jarrett) 13:06
3 Le Mistral (K. Jarrett) 14:23
4 Unknown Title 12:02
5 Yaqui Indian Folk Song (K. Jarrett) 6:09
Disc 2
1 Unknown Title 12:06
2 Death and the Flower (K. Jarrett) 23:08
3 Backhand (K. Jarrett) 16:40
126
19760400 American Quartet
Dewey Redman (ts, perc) Keith Jarrett (p, ss, breco, cel, osi dr) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc)
Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg, West Germany, April, 1976
1 The Survivors' Suite: Beginning (Keith Jarrett) 27.34
2 The Survivors' Suite: Conclusion (Keith Jarrett) 21.32
1-2: Keith Jarrett - The Survivors' Suite (ECM (G) 1085)
A quick perusal of the personnel and mechanics of this album is practically all one needs to get
an idea of the tonal colors and moods with which its imagery is composed. The Survivors’ Suite
finds Jarrett in a multi-instrumental role along with the all-star cast that makes up his American
Quartet. The sheer synergy of the playing truly makes this music shimmer. For this reason, I hesi-
tate to single out particular solos and motifs. Suffice it to say each member has his moment of
glory in the concisely knit fabric of the album’s 49-minute duration.
The music shifts dramatically from soulful dirges to upbeat thematic variations in a vibrant flow of
ideas. A sense of control reigns. One never feels lost while listening (or is, in fact, lost but doesn’t
care), for the surroundings are so resplendent with life. This is a supremely evocative experience
and the similarity of associations it has inspired in so many listeners is striking to say the least
(peruse a few other reviews, and you’ll see what I mean). The Survivors’ Suite reaches beyond
jazz, even if firmly rooted in jazz’s soil. Its sound is vast yet intimate, breathing with the sheer life
force of its music-makers. There is a marked difference between its two sections, simply titled
“Beginning” and “Conclusion.” They are not polar opposites and are more than complementary.
They walk the same trails, perhaps pointing out different sights along the way, all the while know-
ing they will soon meet again. Where the former is timid yet progressive, the latter is democratic
and viscous.
This is, without a doubt, a high point among Jarrett’s many ECM outings. It is expertly recorded
(as evidenced by its superb balance of warmth and coolness), fluidly played, and widely cher-
ished, as I am sure it will continue to be for decades to come.
127
19760501 American Quartet (BR) (di) (FL+++)
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, per) Keith Jarrett (p, fl, osi dr, perc) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc)
May 1st 1976, Hotel Mohren, Willisau, Switzerland
Death and the Flower (Keith Jarrett) > (32:10)
Inflight >(18:02)
Rose Petals (Keith Jarrett) (11:06)
Shades Of Jazz (Keith jarrett) > (16:57) [beginning missing]
Piano solo > (6:20)
Everything That Lives Laments (Keith Jarrett) > (21:37) [cut at 5:55]
Mysteries (Keith Jarrett) (19.19) [end missing]
Yaqui Indian Folk Song ( 04:45)
TT 130:28
128
19760506 American Quartet
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, per) Keith Jarrett (p, fl, osi dr, perc) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc)
May 6th 1976, Westfälischer Kunstverein, Domplatz 10, Münster, Germany
TT 90:34
129
130
19760511 American Quartet (PL)
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, per) Keith Jarrett (p, fl, osi dr, perc) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc)
May 11th 1976, Auditorium Maurice Ravel, Lyon, France
The first speech is as follows: "If you don't know when to take pictures, I don't want any pictures. We stop immediately.
Everybody in the audience has my authorization to stop anybody who is taking pictures."
The second speech is as follows: "You know... Everybody claps at festivals.
What we're trying to do is make some music at festivals.
Sometimes it's very difficult because festivals are a social event, a press event, a political event,
a historic event, and there's no way to stop that because a festival is a collection of different people doing different
things. But it requires more of an audience and more of people backstage than those people usually think.
Good night. Thank you."
131
19760517 American Quartet (SP)
Dewey Redman (ts, musette, per) Keith Jarrett (p, fl, osi dr, perc) Charlie Haden (b) Paul Motian (dr, perc)
May 16th 1976(Monday) ,Munich, Gaermany, Theater in der Brienner Strasse 8 pm
1. Track 1 (42.00) (KJ on flute) Death and The Flower (Keith Jarrett)
2. Track 2 (8.02)
3. Everything that lives laments /Prayer (Keith Jarrett) (24.10)
4. KJ speaking/ Backhand (Keith Jarrett) (13.58)
5. Yacqui Indian Folk Song (4.27)
197605 25-30 Keith Jarrett Garbarek + Haden +others (BR) Arbour Zena tour
May 25-30 (?), 1976 Minneapolis, MN, USA One or several concerts.
Oakland 1976
June 10, 1976
Paramount Theatre, Oakland, California, United States of America
Concert confirmed
Set list unknown
197606 10-11-13-14 -15 16 Keith Jarrett Garbarek + Haden +others (BR) Arbour Zena tour
Jan Garbarek (tenor and soprano saxophones), Charlie Haden (bass), and Paul Shure (conductor) and 26-piece string orchestra
June 10, 1976 Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA, USA
June 11, 1976 Royce Hall, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
June 13, 1976 Seattle Opera House, Seattle, WA, USA
June 14, 1976 Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
June 15, 1976 Portland Civic Centre Theater, Portland, OR, USA
June 16, 1976 Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA, USA Keith commented that it was the best
the music had sounded and was pleased
ۥ
Produced by Albatross Productions.
132
197606 25 Keith Jarrett Garbarek + Haden +others (BR) Arbour Zena tour
133
19760721 Piano Solo (pa) (sp) (DI) (fl+++)
Jazz à [Link] Gould, juan les Pins, France
Jarrett K., Solo
Sound quality: E
Source: audience recording
1. Track I 10:17
2. Track II 02:48
3. Track III 29:41
4. track IV 32:11
5. Track V (incomplete) 21:27
6 encore (the same as Bremen 73) 3:45
01 set 1a (37:00)
02 set 1b (21:19)
2. Encore I (5:05)
3. Encore II (6:34)
4. Encore III (01:00)
134
19760806 Keith Jarrett Solo and with Orchestra (SP) (PA)
Keith Jarrett (p) White Mountain Festival,
Jarrett K., Solo (and with Orchestra)
Media: CD-R (2)
Duration:
Sound quality: G
Solo
1. Part 1 (18.00)
2. Part 2 (27.00)
3. Track 3 (23.00) with orchestra
4. KJ talks
5. Bach solo
With orchestra
1. Track 5
2. Track 6
3. Track 7
4. Track 8
5. Track 9
6. Track 10
7. Track 11
8. Track 12
1. Part I (18:25)
2. Ritual (27:57) [cut at end]
3. Part II (cont) (14:51)
4. Part III (23:29)
5. Part IV (8:01)
6. Fughata for Harpsichord (7:03)
7. Part VI (6:27)
8. Part VII (5:18) [cut at end]
9. Part VII (cont.) (1:23)
10. Part VIII (4:21)
11. Part IX (5:01)Information Audience recording. Part I and Part II are solo pieces. The other set is "In the Light".
Directed by Dennis Russel Davies.
[Link]
006229>
135
19760900 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (org)
September 1976, Ottobeuren Abbey, Germany,
1 Hymn Of Remembrance 4.02
2 Spheres, 1st Movement 7.40
3 Spheres, 2nd Movement 12.59
4 Spheres, 3rd Movement 10.13
5 Spheres, 4th Movement 12.20
6 Spheres, 5th Movement 4.34
7 Spheres, 6th Movement 11.25
8 Spheres, 7th Movement 8.16
9 Spheres, 8th Movement 5.18
10 Spheres, 9th Movement 12.06
11 Hymn Of Release 4.05
1-11: Keith Jarrett - Hymns/Spheres (ECM (G) 1086/87)
2,5,8,10: Keith Jarrett – Spheres (ECM 1302)
JOHN KELMAN,
Published: January 25, 2013
In a career well into its fifth decade, while continuing to make fine music in the new millennium, looking back at Keith Jarrett's discography
reveals that the 1970s was a particularly important—and busy—time for the influential pianist. In that single decade, Jarrett released epo-
chal solo piano explorations like The Köln Concert (ECM, 1975); orchestral works including Arbour Zena(ECM, 1975); and led not one
but two now-legendary groups—the American quartet responsible for The Survivors‘ Suite (ECM, 1976) and the European group first heard
on Belonging (ECM, 1974), but whose archival Sleeper (ECM) was a 2012 highlight. Amidst even all that activity, how-
ever, Hymns/Spheres stands out, as a unique recording and one with something of a history.
Originally a two-LP set, this 93-minute suite was whittled down to a very spare 40 minutes when, with the advent of compact discs, ECM
began reissuing back catalog. Other titles were cut down, like guitarist Pat Metheny's 80/81 (1980), with two tracks excluded in order to
allow the original double album to fit on a single disc (since rectified). But it seems clear that the decision to releaseHymns/Spheres as
simply Spheres (1985)—omitting the bookending "Hymn of Remembrance" and "Hymn of Release" and issuing just the first, fourth, seventh
and ninth movements of Jarrett's nine-part "Spheres" suite—it was an artistic decision as well, with the objective of creating a single disc
that stood on its own merits, rather than as something truncated for purely practical reasons.
Now fully restored, however, Hymns/Spheres, reveals itself to be a near-perfect recording—a continuation of Jarrett's solo piano explorati-
ons but, performed instead on Ottobeuren, Germany's Karl Joseph Riepp Organ, one with significantly greater sonic potential. Still, as pro-
found as it was,Hymns/Spheres clearly didn't have the selling power of a Köln or a Belonging, and with considerably higher manufacturing
costs in the 1980s (and correspondingly higher selling prices), the decision to issue a two-CD set would have been inherently risky.
Not that ECM has been averse to risk-taking in its 44-year history, but 37 years later, it's far more feasible to release Hymns/Spheres in its
entirety. Beyond cost, in the ensuing decades it has gained its more rightful place as more than just a unique recording in Jarrett's disco-
graphy, but an important one as well. Jarrett's solo improvisations have always possessed an inherent spirituality but, performed on baroque
organ, rarely has it been so far to the fore. The two hymns are particularly majestic, and if Jarrett's reputation as a fearless improvisational
136
explorer was already established by 1976, the many stops available on this baroque organ allowed him to experiment with sound as well,
making Hymns/Spheres as wondrous sonically as it is a high point in the ongoing evolution of Jarrett's extemporaneous acumen.
The reissue is also a first for ECM: a mini-LP gatefold that, with the CDs in wax paper sleeves, replicates the original as closely as possib-
le. Hymns/Spheres can finally be heard in its full (and remastered) glory, taking its rightful place as one of Jarrett's most significant record-
ings in its demonstration that, for this intrepid improviser, nothing is forbidden...and everything is possible.
See 19760507
137
19760918 European Quartet (fl+++)
Jan Garbarek (ts, ss) Keith Jarrett (p) Palle Danielsson (b) Jon Christensen (dr)
September 18th 1976, Frankfurt, Germany
See 19771018
Review by Al Campbell :
This two-fer combines pianist Keith Jarrett's 1976 releases Mysteries and Shades, originally released on Impulse as separate LPs. Both
dates feature Jarrett on piano, Dewey Redman on tenor saxophone, Charlie Haden on bass, Paul Motian on drums, and Guilherme Franco
on percussion. Mysteries mixes avant-garde with exotic melodies that find the musicians incorporating Pakistani flute, Chinese musette,
and an abundance of percussion. Shades includes extra percussion supplied by the entire band, with Jarrett and Redman sticking to their
main instruments, continuing exploratory, yet melodic music, played with a bit more heat than on Mysteries. New liner notes are absent,
but the original packaging -- front and back cover art and liner notes -- remain intact.
138
19761023 Keith Jarrett Solo +++
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 23rd 1976, Ann Arbor, MI
1. Part 1 (39:11)
2. Part 2 (34:39)
139
19761116 Keith Jarrett Solo (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama, Japan
140
1977
19770200 Gary Peacock Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
February 1977, Generation Sound Studios, New York NY
1 Vignette (Gary Peacock) 7.03
2 Tone Field (Gary Peacock) 7.56
3 Major Major (Gary Peacock) 8.56
4 Trilogy, I (Gary Peacock) 8.31
5 Trilogy, II (Gary Peacock) 9.42
6 Trilogy, III (Gary Peacock) 6.20
1-6: Gary Peacock - Tales Of Another (ECM (G) 1101)
The Allmusic review by Richard S. Ginell awarded the album 3 stars noting "Ritual has several of the characteristics of Jarrett's solo
improvisations -- the repetitive vamps and ostinatos, wistful lyricism, ruminative episodes developing organically out of what preceded
them -- but without the jazzy/bluesy feeling that runs through the solo concerts. Also, the piece begins in a mournful way unusual for the
usually optimistic Jarrett. In any case, it is a thoughtful, absorbing composition, thoroughly tonal harmonically, played with assured
technique and appropriate use of classical expressive devices by Davies. Classical listeners as well as Jarrett devotees will find much to
savor here"
141
JOHN KELMAN,
Published: February 28, 2014
In pianist Keith Jarrett's vast ECM catalogue, albums on which he does not play aren't exactly common, but nor
are they completely uncommon; his 1974 double-disc set In the Light features a handful of tracks on which he
performs, but its primary focus is on Jarrett the composer. Ditto Luminessence (1975), a trilogy of compositions
for string orchestra and improviser Jan Garbarek—a precursor to Arbour Zena (1976), also featuring the Nor-
wegian saxophonist and string orchestra, but also including Jarrett and bassist Charlie Haden as featured per-
formers. That album is part of ECM's Re:solutions series of reissues—seven albums in all so far, four on CD for
the first time, one previously only available for a limited time in Japan, and all also available in vinyl and high
resolution digital formats. AnotherRe:solutions entry, Ritual remains a complete anomaly in Jarrett's disco-
graphy: a composition written for solo piano in which he is not the featured performer.
A two-piece suite broken up more, most likely, to suit the needs of its original vinyl release than anything el-
se, Ritual is unmistakably Jarrett, but it's a whole different experience to hear another pianist perform it—
especially one like Davies, who comes largely from the classical world and is perhaps better known as a
conductor whose whose work, beyond a 40-year relationship with Jarrett, includes ECM New Series classics
like Arvo Pärt's Tabula Rasa (1984) (on which Jarrett performs, coincidentally), as well as the more re-
cent Melodic Warrior (2013), from guitarist/composer Terje Rypdal.
Davies may have little connection to jazz, Americana, gospel and many of the other reference points which cre-
ate the sum total that is Jarrett, but his performance of Ritual respects the composer's predilection, in this case,
for the juxtaposition of touching impressionism and bolder dramaturgy. That this music is, indeed, scored may
seem an anomaly for a pianist whose own solo recordings—from 1975's classic The Köln Concert to the over-
due 2013 complete release of 1982's Concerts—Bregenz / München and more freshly minted Rio (2013)—are
all about in-the-moment drawing of form from the ether. It's easy to forget that Jarrett, in his early days, was a
more formal composer of significance for his two 1970s quartets, so it's unknown whether or notRitual was a
solo improvisation that he then scored, or did he actually compose the piece over time, with pen and paper at
hand?
Ultimately it matters not, as the melodic disposition that is so often at the heart of everything Jarrett does
remains a constant here, and Russell Davies' performance is both confident and assured. His touch may be a
tad firmer than Jarrett's in the quieter moments, his attack more vehement in the more dramatic passages, but
these are nothing more than the consequences of interpretation.
In the end, Russell Davies best articulates the most important aspects of this brief (just 32 minutes) yet superb
recital in his brief notes: "although I could never, in improvisation, begin to assume his qualities as a creative
force, Ritual is a vehicle through which I can bring his spirit to the listener. Those who know Keith will hear him
in this music—it couldn't have been written by anyone else."
142
19770708 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p) probably a solo concert
July 8th 1977, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO
1. Monologue (0:12)
2. Part I (52:53)
3. My Song (Keith Jarrett) / Monologue (4:05) [a few seconds missing at the beginning, end missing]
4. Part II (31:58)
Sunday
143
19771012 European Quartet
Jan Garbarek (ts, ss) Keith Jarrett (p, perc) Palle Danielsson (b) Jon Christensen (dr)
October 12th 1977, Kongresshaus, Zürich, Switzerland
SET 1
1. Piano intro > (5:17)
2. Questar > (20:28)
3. Moonchild (Keith Jarrett) > (10:57)
4. Late Night Willie (10:59) [end missing]
SET 2
5. Track 5 / [Link] The journey home > (6:19) [beginning missing]
6. The journey home (cont) > (2:22)
7. The Journey Home (end) (13:02)
ENCORES
8. My Song (Keith Jarrett) (2:53)
9. The Windup (Jarrett) (9:02) [beginning missing]
TT 81:21
144
19771014 European Quartet (SP) (PA) (DI) +++
Jan Garbarek (ts, ss) Keith Jarrett (p, perc) Palle Danielsson (b) Jon Christensen (dr)
October 14th 1977, Paris, France
Jarrett K. Quartet (European)
Media: CD-R
Duration:
Sound quality: VG
Source: audience recording
1. Track I (9 :03)
2. Track II (6 :55), interrupted
3. Track III (16 :55)
4. Track IV (8 :20)
5. My Song (Keith Jarrett) (3 :17)
6. Encore (7 :25)
Back then the European Quartet was still named Keith Jarrett & "Belonging", after their first album (ECM 1050).
145
19771016 European Quartet (BR) (fl+++)
Jan Garbarek (ts, ss) Keith Jarrett (p, perc) Palle Danielsson (b) Jon Christensen (dr)
October 16th 1977, Vienna, Austria
1. Track 1 (4:45)
2. Track 2 (8:40)
3. Track 3 (10:51)
4. The Journey Home (2:16)
5. Track 5 (5:07)
6. Track 6 (7:59)
7. Country (Keith Jarrett) (4:47)
8. The Windup (Jarrett) (13:01)
9. Mandala (Keith Jarrett) (11:25)
10. Late Night Willie (14:54)
11. My Song (Keith Jarrett) (6:00)
01.Track01 13:46
02.Track02 11:34
[Link] Journey Home (Jarrett) 15:32
[Link] (Keith Jarrett) 4:48
[Link] Intro / The Windup (Jarrett) 13:15
[Link] (Keith Jarrett) 11:38
[Link] Night Willie 15:01
[Link] Song (Keith Jarrett) 6:05
TT 91:43
146
19771018 European Quartet (fl+++)
Jan Garbarek (ts, ss) Keith Jarrett (p) Palle Danielsson (b) Jon Christensen (dr)
october 18th 1977, Frankfurt, Germany
Frances Musiques broadcast. "Song of the Heart" is a new version of Sun Bear's Kyoto Part I. There is some confusion
about the date. It could be September 18, 1976, even though the FM speakers say it is dated november 20th 1977
(Sun Bears Kyoto concert in 1976 where he also played Song of the Heart may confirm that).
first set
TT 57:20
Second set
1 15.29
2 22.14
[CD] Keith Jarrett – European Quartet Frankfurt 1977
1. Part I (47:59)
2. Moonchild (Keith Jarrett) (17:00)
3. Country (Keith Jarrett) (8:07)
4. The Windup (26:47) [fade out at 20:22]
5. My Song (Keith Jarrett) (5:37)
6. My Song (Keith Jarrett) (Interrupted) (0:34)
7. My Song (Keith Jarrett) (solo)
147
19771023 Keith Jarrett solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 23rd 1977, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, UK
The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4.5 stars stating "Due to the popularity of the haunting "My
Song," this album is the best known of the Jarrett-Garbarek collaborations and it actually is their most rewarding meeting
on record. Jarrett contributed all six compositions and the results are relaxed and introspective yet full of inner tension.".
NOTE: NEL 1986, LA DIVISIONE FARMA ITALIANA DELLA BAYER, HA DISTRIBUITO A LIVELLO PRO-
MOZIONALE, IN LIMITATISSIMO NUMERO DI COPIE RISERVATE AI SIGNORI FARMACISTI, IL CE-
LEBRE DISCO DI KEITH JARRETT, ORIGINARIAMENTE PUBBLICATO NEL 1978, "MY SONG" E DAL
QUALE ERA TRATTO IL BRANO "COUNTRY" USATO NELLO SPOT PUBBLICITARIO DELL'ASPIRINA DI
QUELL'ANNO.
148
19771111 European Quartet (FL+++)
Jan Garbarek (ts, ss) Keith Jarrett (p, perc) Palle Danielsson (b) Jon Christensen (dr)
November 11th 1977, Boston, MA
1: unknown > the journey home (Jarrett)42:56
2: improvisation > 27:59
3: Country (Keith Jarrett) 4:37
4: encore break 1:48
5: my Song (Keith Jarrett) 6:51
TT 99:08
150
1978
1 Part I 35:00
2 Encore (American gospel)
3 Appalachian Spring (Aaron Copeland)
4 Part II
The city (Berkeley) is not completely certain, but the concert did take place in the San FranciscoBay Area.
Preston H.: “I attended a solo concert in the summer of 1978in Berkeley, CA. or it could have been May, 1980, at Zeller-
bach Hall.
I’m not sure. It was a long time ago and I don’t have any program information but I seem to recall that Jarrett was added on
Sunday night immediately after the Berkeley Jazz Festival (although not officially part of the festival itself; 5/22/80 was a
Thursday). I remember the crowd was pretty rowdy but it was the best Jarrett solo concert I ever
heard, something like a mystical experience in unholy circumstances.”
151
19780800 Keith Jarrett Solo (RO)
August 11,1978 Friday, August 11, 1978 Farms, Shelburne, Vermont, United States of America
152
19781119 Keith Jarrett Solo (RO) (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p)
Sunday, November 19, 1978 Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide, Australia
Victor P.: He walked out :“ played half the concert. Intermission :“ walked back on : played the other half.
Walked off . it was fantastic.• Year is uncertain.
Robert B.: “The concert was in a small venue in the Adelaide Festival Complex that would
have held an audience of only 200 or so, nothing but perfect silence –
no coughing or photos! (…) He spent most of the time playing in a
crouched position off the stool, vocalizing and gesticulating toward the
piano with his torso. He played one very long amazing improvisation,
then approached the microphone, his fingers drumming its stem, and said
“I’ll be back later… to play some more of whatever that was”.””
(this might be another concert than Victor, maybe in the mid-70s)
153
19781212 Keith Jarrett Solo (SP) (DI) (fl+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) December 12th 1978, Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan
From [Link]: “So-lo concert at Budokan in 1978 was the one of the good examples of those challenges. At that time, it was
reckless of Koinuma to have promoted a con-cert of a jazz player, in itself at the biggest venue known by the appearances of pop and
rock music superstar in the world, however, considering that there had been no problems about acoustics before at the recital of a noted
pianist of classic music, Koinuma had sounded Mr. Jarrett on this project, and he had taken a decisive step to play at Budokan. Usually, a
stage will be set at the one of the four corners of the coliseum style hall (10,000 people admitted), but Koinuma set up a stage at the
center of the hall and there had never been such a concert that 12,000 audience had been listening to his acoustic sound, surrounding
Keith Jarrett. At the moment a dead silence fell over the audience, just before the opening of the concert, the air-conditioner of the venue
discovered to be felt as a noise, had been immediately stopped. The audience had been satisfied with his performance in the genuine
silence in the middle of cold winter.”
TT [Link]
Part I (42:26)
Part II (29:54)
My Song (Keith Jarrett) (07:30)
Jarrett K. Solo
Media: Tape and 2 CD-R
Sound quality: B Source : radio broadcast
Note : two versions
1. Track I (45:51)
2. Track II (36:01)
3. My Song (Keith Jarrett) (8:18)
Keith Jarrett
Solo
Budokan, Tokyo
1978-12-12
Tracklist:
154
19780000 Keith Jarrett Solo (sp)
Keith Jarrett (p), , TV broadcast ,interview with KJ in his house, improv. Sometimes overlap with interviews
1. Part I (0:53)
2. Introduction (1:19)
3. Part II (4:40)
4. Interview (4:38)
5. Part III (0:51)
6. Interview (2:02)
7. My Song (Keith Jarrett) (3:07)
8. Conclusion (0:24)
9. Part IV (2:50)
1. Set I 50:26
2. KJ joking 1:37
3. Set II 30:51
155
1979
19790328 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
March 28th (?) 1979, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, CA
156
19790413 European Quartet
Jan Garbarek (ts, ss) Keith Jarrett (p, perc) Palle Danielsson (b) Jon Christensen (dr)
April 13th 1979, Kosei Nenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan
By John Kelman
While ECM has, in recent years, been in the process of getting some of its older titles back in print through its Old & New Masters
Edition series of box sets—some, like the music on Norwegian bassist Arild Andersen
's Green Into Blue—Early Quartets (2010), seeing release on CD for the first time—the German label has avoided adopting the
habit of so many others by steering clear of including previously unissued music from the sessions. Nor has the label fallen into the
"remastering" trap; unless additional music is being added to the release—as in the case of pianist Chick Corea
and vibraphonist Gary Burton
's Crystal Silence—The ECM Recordings 1972-79 (2009) box, where In Concert, Zürich, October 28, 1979 (1980)
was finally restored to its full, two-CD length glory—the original mastering is being used and, as was clear with The CODONA Trilo-
gy (2009), the label's steadfast attention to production quality from inception in 1969 means there's simply no need to reinvent a per-
fectly good wheel.
Still, it's great news when the label finds something good in the archives that merits release decades after the fact. Norwegian guitarist
Terje Rypdal's classic Odyssey (1975)—recently restored to two discs with the (overdue) inclusion of the original 2-LP vinyl album's
fourth side, the 24-minute "Rolling Stone"—has been reissued as Odyssey—In Studio & In Concert (2012), also including a third
CD, Unfinished Highballs, from an unearthed 1976 radio broadcast that teams the guitarist's touring band with the Swedish Radio
Jazz Group for an entire set of previously unheard Rypdal compositions. That box set has already sold out, with the label in the process
of getting another batch pressed, and it's a certainty that, if they've not already prepared for it, the release of pianist Keith Jarrett
's Sleeper: Tokyo, April 16, 1979 is destined for the same enthusiastic response.
When Jarrett's heralded European Quartet (also known as the Belonging Group)—with saxophonist Jan Garbarek
, bassist Palle Danielsson
and drummer Jon Christensen
—folded in 1979, it left a small but precious discography, in contrast to the pianist's American Quartet which, in addition to two ECM
recordings, had a string of eight live and studio releases on Impulse!. Two studio recordings (1974's Belonging and 1978's My Song)
and one live recording (1980's Nude Ants) were all fans had until 1989, when the label issued Personal Mountains, a stunning
single-disc set from the same Japanese tour that is the source for Sleeper, and which righted the wrong of Nude Ants—a fine perfor-
mance, to be sure, but marred by a brittle sound not up to the label's usual standards. While the compositions are, for the most part,
nothing new to those familiar with Nude Ants and Personal Mountains, Sleeper presents, for the first time, an entire concert
from the tour, and absolutely no cross-over with previously released material.
If Sleeper accomplishes any single thing, beyond being a stellar performance from a group that has rightfully, in the ensuing years,
become legendary— and remains a touchstone for many musicians, young and old, decades after the fact— it's that this two-disc, 107-
minute recording is a reminder of just how compelling a composer Jarrett can be. While the pianist considers his nearly 30-year run with
his Standards Trio of bassist Gary Peacock
and drummer Jack DeJohnette
to be composition as well—and rightfully so, in its relentless, in-the- moment reinvention of jazz standards and music from the Great
American Songbook—it's a different kind of composition, one which is still predicated on something that has come before rather than
putting pen to paper to create a brand new piece of music.
The seven songs on Sleeper range from challenging but relatively short-form structures (the relentless "Personal Mountains" and per-
sistently grooving, gospel-tinged "Chant of the Soil") to pieces so intrinsically songlike in nature that it's a surprise they've not been more
widely covered (the singable "Innocence" and darkly balladic "Prism"). And if the group's approach to the material is as open-ended as
ever—the free-wheeling but thematically folk-centric "Oasis," with its hand percussion and Garbarek's wooden flute, a full ten minutes
longer than the version on Personal Mountains, while the Latin-esque "New Dance" clocks in almost six minutes less than the
157
nearly 13-minute reading on Nude Ants—it's that very freedom that makes Sleeper such an essential reminder of Jarrett's compositi-
onal acumen and the group's ability to reinvent those songs, each and every night.
The only track making its first appearance with this group is "So Tender." With its more inherently jazz-centric changes, it's no surprise
that Jarrett ultimately included it as the only original on Standards, Vol. 2 (ECM, 1985), from those first 1983 sessions with Peacock
and DeJohnette. Here, from its brief solo piano intro to the brighter rhythmic approach taken by Danielsson and Christensen, it's further
proof (as if any were needed) of the credentials and credibility of Jarrett's band mates. From early work with artists including pianist
Steve Kuhn, saxophonist Lee Konitz and, most notably, composer George Russell
, Garbarek, Danielsson and Christensen had plenty of exposure to the American tradition, but the cultural differences that have, in many
cases, become considerably more dominant in subsequent years—or, in the case of Garbarek, were coincident with his work in Jarrett's
group, recording albums like his duo with pipe organist Kjell Johnsen, Aftenland (ECM, 1980), the same year as Sleeper's Japanese
tour—are exactly what made this quartet so memorable...and so groundbreaking. This group may not have swung the way Peacock and
DeJohnette did and still do, but they do swing, nevertheless.
At this point in everyone's career—with Jarrett continuing to divide his time between the Standards Trio and solo performances, Garba-
rek spending more time touring than recording with pianist Rainer Bruninghaus, bassist Yuri Daniel and drummers ranging from
Trilok Gurtu to Manu Katche , Christensen busy with Finnish pianist/harpist Iro Haarla and a new trio with Danish guitarist
Jakob Bro and American bassist Thomas Morgan , and Danielsson continuing to work with British pianist John Taylor
and drummer Martin France —it's an unlikely dream to see this group reunite.
And, truthfully, a reunion would be a proposition fraught with risk, since the only certainty is that, 33 years after the recording of Slee-
per, none of these evolutionary players would be interested in replicating the past, even if they were capable of recapturing the che-
mistry.
Perhaps it's better, then, to simply have a reminder like Sleeper— truly the archival find of the year, along with Rypdal's Unfinished
Highballs— of a time that once was and can never be again. If Jarrett, Garbarek, Danielsson and Christensen are now in very different
places, they remain indelibly marked by the experiences they shared—and the music they made—in this very special and unforgettable
group.
158
1979041617 European Quartet
Jan Garbarek (ts, ss) Keith Jarrett (p, perc) Palle Danielsson (b) Jon Christensen(dr)
April 16th & 17th 1979, Nakano Sun Plaza, Tokyo, Japan
1 Personal Mountains (Keith Jarrett) 16.01
2 Prism (Keith Jarrett) 11.13
3 Oasis (Keith Jarrett) 18.03
4 Innocence (Keith Jarrett) 7.16
5 Late Night Willie (Keith Jarrett) 8.46
1-5: Keith Jarrett - Personal Mountains (ECM (G) 1382)
It is very much out of character for the prolific Keith Jarrett and his producer Manfred Eicher to hold anything back, yet they've done it here, releasing these live
tapes of Jarrett's European quartet ten years after they were recorded. Presumably, they did it in order not to distract attention from Nude Ants, which was recorded a
week after these concerts, but that never stopped them before from just piling on more discs. In any case, these Tokyo recordings were too good to hide; the quartet
had reached an interactive creative high around this time, often burning at the rarified level that Nude Ants reached. Jarrett is both lyrically effusive and able to
ignite his European colleagues into giving him more swinging support than on earlier sessions. In particular, the title track has a lot of the exploratory fervor of
"New Dance" from Nude Ants, and "Late Night Willie" gets down deep into the Jarrett gospel feeling. Jan Garbarek is especially forthright in Tokyo on tenor, while
his soprano pierces like a beam of sunlight, and Palle Danielsson (bass) and Jon Christensen (drums) are loose, relaxed, and impeccably recorded. Clearly this is one
of the peaks of the European quartet's discography.
Collapse ↑
159
19790420 European Quartet
Jan Garbarek (ts, ss) Keith Jarrett (p, perc) Palle Danielsson (b) Jon Christen-sen (dr)
April 20th 1979, Kenmin Hall, Kanagawa, Japan
1 part 1 42:38
01 Part I 45:00
160
19790629 Keith Jarrett Solo (BR) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
June 29th 1979, Paris, France
1. 04 Encore 01 4:51
2. 05 Encore 02 4:51
3. 06 Encore 03 3:43
tt 76:44
Disc 1
1 Juan-les-Pins, July 25, 1979 (K. Jarrett) (Part 1) 44:01
2 Juan-les-Pins, July 25, 1979 (K. Jarrett) (encore beginning) 8:05
Interrupted with applause
3 Juan-les-Pins, July 25, 1979 (K. Jarrett) (encore resumes) 0:22
4 Joking with the Audience 0:21
"Some of you are conditioned to clap, and some of you are conditioned to shhh. I sat there clapping. I did not sit there shhh-ing"
5 Juan-les-Pins, July 25, 1979 (K. Jarrett) (encore reprise) 1:53
6 My Song (K. Jarrett) 7:27
7 Juan-les-Pins, July 25, 1979 (K. Jarrett) (encore) 6:49
8 Juan-les-Pins, July 25, 1979 (K. Jarrett) (encore) 8:40
Disc 2
1 Juan-les-Pins, July 25, 1979 (K. Jarrett) (Part 2) 38:06
2 Closing announcement 1:06
There are several places on this recording, especially on the first improvisation, where the speed fluctuates dramatically. The tune I've
called "Clapping Tune" has Jarrett playing, then clapping a rhythm and encouraging the audience to clap it; he then plays along. (I guess
you had to be there.) The final encore uses the same theme as the encore from the Bremen concert (July 12, 1973) included on Solo-
Concerts (ECM 1035-37 ST). The crowd recognizes it and applauds as Jarrett begins.
01 Set I 44:01
01 Set II 39:15 (cut off applause)
Encores
02 08:05
03 00:20
04 00:22
05 01:53
06 My Song (Keith Jarrett) 07:28
161
19790829 Keith Jarrett Solo (RO)
Keith Jarrett (p)
Wednesday, August 29, 1979 Salle Wilfrid Pelletier, Montreal, Canada
01 Part I 45:00
162
19791100 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p, org, ss)
November 1979, Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg, Germany
1 Invocations 1st (Solo Voice) (Keith Jarrett) 5.24
2 Invocations 2nd (Mirage, Realities) (Keith Jarrett) 8.55
3 Invocations 3rd (Power, Resolve) (Keith Jarrett) 7.35
4 Invocations 4th (Shock, Scatter) (Keith Jarrett) 6.48
5 Invocations 5th (Recognition) (Keith Jarrett) 5.04
6 Invocations 6th (Celebration) (Keith Jarrett) 5.32
7 Invocations 7th (Solo Voice) (Keith Jarrett) 3.05
1-7: Keith Jarrett - Invocations/The Moth And The Flame (ECM (G) 1201/02)
The Allmusic review by Richard S. Ginell awarded the album 3 stars noting "If this schizophrenic double-CD set didn't throw Keith
Jarrett's most devoted fans for a loop, nothing ever will. Here we have two radically disparate works involving different timbres, attacks
and mindsets, both within themselves and with each other. On "Invocations," a seven-movement suite, Jarrett returns to the massive pipe
organ in Ottobeuren, Germany for a series of sometimes wildly contrasting episodes... "The Moth and the Flame" finds Jarrett back in a
studio with a grand piano, improvising musical still lifes, rambling aimlessly, or doing his rollicking E-flat ostinato thing familiar from
the solo concerts. About all that these two pieces share, with the exception of the E-flat movement from "Moth," is an aversion to a jazz
pulse, so although there are plenty of rewarding passages here, casual Jarrett browsers are hereby warned".[2]
163
1980
19800322 Keith Jarrett With Orchestra
Keith Jarrett (p) Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Keene (cond)
March 22nd 1980, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
1 The Celestial Hawk: 1st Movement (K. Jarrett) 18.10
2 The Celestial Hawk: 2nd Movement (K. Jarrett) 7.01
3 The Celestial Hawk: 3rd Movement (K. Jarrett) 14.38
1-3: Keith Jarrett - The Celestial Hawk (ECM (G) 1175)
Comments from Hans: “One of the memorable moments in the concert was the ‘Everybody cough’-break in the midst of
one of the tunes.”
164
19800522 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
May 22nd 1980, Zellerbach Auditorium, Berkeley, CA, USA
165
19801100 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p, org, ss) Robert Bly (poem)
November 1980, Ottobeuren Abbey, Germany
1 The Moth And The Flame, Pt. 1 (Keith Jarrett) 6.59
2 The Moth And The Flame, Pt. 2 (Keith Jarrett) 5.35
3 The Moth And The Flame, Pt. 3 (Keith Jarrett) 6.23
4 The Moth And The Flame, Pt. 4 (Keith Jarrett) 8.09
5 The Moth And The Flame, Pt. 5 (Keith Jarrett) 9.41
1-5: Keith Jarrett - Invocations/The Moth And The Flame (ECM (G) 1201/02)
The Allmusic review by Richard S. Ginell awarded the album 3 stars noting "If this schizophrenic double-CD set
didn't throw Keith Jarrett's most devoted fans for a loop, nothing ever will. Here we have two radically dispa-
rate works involving different timbres, attacks and mindsets, both within themselves and with each other. On
"Invocations," a seven-movement suite, Jarrett returns to the massive pipe organ in Ottobeuren, Germany
for a series of sometimes wildly contrasting episodes... "The Moth and the Flame" finds Jarrett back in a
studio with a grand piano, improvising musical still lifes, rambling aimlessly, or doing his rollicking E-flat osti-
nato thing familiar from the solo concerts. About all that these two pieces share, with the exception of the E-
flat movement from "Moth," is an aversion to a jazz pulse, so although there are plenty of rewarding passa-
ges here, casual Jarrett browsers are hereby warned".[2]
166
1981
Mark M.:
€ He had a piano, harpsichord and at least one other keyboard onstage and he went back and forth amongst these instruments during the
same song. Also, I recall the beginning of the concert was delayed because someone coughed and he glared out into the dark concert hall,
waited several minutes and asked rhetorically if he could proceed “ no one dared say anything. He then played wonderfully.
• Kenneth K.: € It was a ˜birthday celebration€ for J.S. Bach, with Jarrett improvising on the clavichord,
harpsichord, and piano. Much of the piano performance revolved around a long rumination on the tune˜Happy Birthday.
This is the only time he ever performed live on a clavichord, and it took the audience a awhile
to comprehend the sight and sound of this peculiar instrument. A reviewof the concert described the audience reaction as ecstatic.€ •
audience of 5400
167
19810419 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
April 19th 1981, Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan
audience of 5400
audience of 24000
168
19810528 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
May 28th 1981, Festspielhaus, Bregenz, Austria
1 Bregenz, Pt. 1 (Keith Jarrett) 21.54
2 Bregenz, Pt. 2 (Keith Jarrett) 12.04
3 Untitled 9.30
4 Heartland 6.03
1-4: Keith Jarrett - Concerts (ECM (G) 1227/29)
By
JOHN KELMAN,
Published: November 18, 2013
In the realm of solo improvised piano performance, few approach Keith Jarrett's recor-
ded legacy—both for quality and quantity. WithRio (2011), Jarrett brought the number of solo CD releases on his longtime
label, ECM, to fifteen. The absence, in full, of Concerts(1982) on CD—originally three LPs of solo performances from Bre-
genz and München—has remained a mystery for years, the single-disc Bregenz show ultimately issued as Concerts, leaving
the double-disc München MIA ever since. There was a close call, with a three-CD box containing both concerts mysteriously
pulled at the eleventh hour, making this year's release of the complete Concerts: Bregenz / München even more welcome.
It's already been a banner year for Jarrett fans. Along with one his finest Standards Trio sets in years, Somewhere, Jarrett's
double-LP church organ improvs, Hymns/Spheres (1976), was also released in complete form, righting the wrong of 1985's
drastically reduced, single-CD Spheres. Add the totally unexpected No End—a 1986 home recording featuring Jarrett laye-
ring, with the assistance of two two-track cassette recorders, a surprisingly electric set of guitars, bass, drums, percussion,
recorder, voice...and, yes, a little piano. Concerts concludes the year on a high note; released the same day as No End,
these two recordings are as significant for what they mean as for what they are.
While Jarrett's post-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, new millennium solo sets have been largely excellent—Testament: Pa-
rist/London (2009) and The Carnegie Hall Concert (2006) particularly superb, despite the latter's 19 minutes of applause—
Concerts harkens back to a different time, when Jarrett had the energy to deliver solo performances best described
as epic—70, 80, 90-minute continuous sets where Jarrett built lengthy in-the-moment performances from the ground up,
remarkable for their compositional spontaneity and surprisingly rich narrative threads.
Recorded just six years after his mega-selling The Köln Concert (1975), both the May 28, 1981 Bregenz show and München
date, recorded five days later, find Jarrett in peak form, still pulling largely accessible long-form sets from the ether, in con-
trast with later shows like 1992's Viennaand 1997's La Scala, which reflect the pianist's growing interest in—and, by conse-
169
quence, desire to play—music closer to the classical sphere and less redolent of the gospel, blues, jazz and even near-pop
music constructs heard here. Jarrett's virtuosity was long past something he had to prove, and the result is music that,
beyond its depth, is also, at times, actually fun, Jarrett's playful nature no more evident than at the end of "Part I" from Bre-
genz where, amidst complex contrapuntal ideas, Jarrett pops in and out of the piano box, adding sharp percussive punctua-
tions and zither-like timbres. He's also at his most beautiful, in particular during both shows' encores, including the gentle,
Midwestern vibe of Bregenz's "Heartland" and, from München, the more decidedly jazz-flavored "Mon Couer est Rouge."
This overdue release of Concerts in its entirety finally makes all of Jarrett's solo piano releases for ECM available on CD. As
strong a set, thirty years later, as it was when it was first released,Concerts easily rivals—perhaps, even, betters— Köln
Concert as some of Jarrett's most profoundly deep yet user-friendly music.
Keith Jarrett's gift for brilliant invention is apparently inexhaustible throughout both of these concerts, recorded five days
apart in spring 1981. The combinations of lyricism, literally foot-stomping gospel, chordings and voicings alternately sumptu-
ously lush and astringently lean, and unexpected musical destinations reached in surprising ways, are here at least as rich
as anything else he's done.
In trying to describe Jarrett's concert-length solo improvisations, the temptation to play the reviewer's game of "Sounds Like .
. ." is irresistible. Bregenz, Part I, begins by modulating through two Sundays' worth of Protestant hymns, then continues
through a Beethovenianscherzo diabolique to massive chords in a blocky structure all Jarrett's own, to a lonely Hebrew
folksong, to Debussyan pastels, then a working-through of ostinato right-angled modulations that move into the piano's inte-
rior, where Jarrett directly plucks strings, alighting along the way on flamenco, Bart¢k, and a brief fling with fugato. What at
first sound like repetitive vamps turn out to be mini-themes on which variations begin before the theme's first statement is
completed.
But that describes (or doesn't) only about 20 minutes of this 2.5-hour set, and makes it sound like mere pastiche (it isn't). It's
tempting to say that Jarrett's art, like Wagner's, is that of transition, but that's wrong too. It makes no more sense to say that
Jarrett's improvisations are all journey than to say they are all destination. Like all great music, they are both, and neither.
Keith Jarrett plays many major chords in this set. He also plays many minor, augmented, and diminished chords, and atonal
passages of chords with no name. When he arrives at a fully resolved major cadence after a churning calculus of modulati-
on, one feels he has reached it only after considering every other possible progression in Western and some Eastern har-
monic languages, tonal or modal or otherwise. He hasn't, of course. On the fly, he couldn't (could he?). That it nonetheless
feels and sounds as if he has is what makes this music magical, and high art.
Jarrett stamps his feet here—a lot. With knuckles and hands he slaps and bangs the piano's case—Bregenz,
and München more so, are his most percussive concerts on record. He groans and grunts and generally breathes heavily.
He has said he does this less as self-expression than in frustration at being unable to force—first through his body, then
170
through the clunky, recalcitrant contraption of a concert grand—all the music he's hearing. I hear no reason here to doubt
him.
Parts III and IV of München—nearly 40 minutes of music—might have been titled "33 Variations on an Original Gospel The-
me." Jarrett never deviates from the simple circular motif he begins with, over the thump of chocolatey-rich left-hand chords
and his pounding left foot—he seems able to ride that theme anywhere he wants in these visits to old friends: Gershwin,
Brahms, a jazz lullaby, a Spanish serenade, a nocturne, back to gospel for a pit stop, then Copland, Schoenberg, Cage.
Everything—departure, travel, arrival—sounds inevitably right. It's one of the finest things he's ever done.
The original three-LP edition of Bregenz München, issued in 1982, sold out in the US within a year or so, never to reappear.
The shortish Bregenz was released on a single CD in the late 1980s, but München, one of the longest Jarrett solo concerts
on record, remained unissued on CD until now—odd, because it's one of his best. In a discography of 37 solo-keyboard
discs that include Facing You, The Köln Concert, Bremen/Lausanne, Staircase, and the monumentalSun Bear Concerts,
that is saying a great deal.
The concerts were simultaneously recorded in analog and digital. The original LPs were made from the digital masters, as
was the single CD of Bregenz. This new ADD set, from the analog masters, sounds best of all: warmer, with none of the
slightly chalky, harsh quality of the DDD Bregenz. Although Jarrett's piano is closer-miked than on, say, The Carnegie Hall
Concert(2005), there are still wonderfully convincing senses here of space, occasion, and venue. His foot-stomps on
wooden stages make these halls convincingly speak their volumes. Throughout, the combination of excellent recording qua-
lity, a fine instrument in perfect tune, and Jarrett's absolute precision of technique—no one else can so richly roll a chord—
makes this sound like one of the finest classical recordings: something it may yet turn out to be.
It's a rare thing when, from the first few notes of a recording, one feels one has come home. It happened 50 years ago, the
first time I heard the music of Bruckner; and 10 years later, when I heard Part 2 of Keith Jarrett's Bremen concert; and 10
years after that, when I first heardConcerts: Bregenz München. It still does, with every bit of this set, every time.—
Richard lehnert
171
19810604 Keith Jarrett Solo (BR) +++
Keith Jarrett (p)
June 4th 1981, Pavillon Baltard, Nogent-sur-Marne, France
1. Part I* (48:33)
2. Part II (33:53)
3. Encore: My Song (Keith Jarrett) (07:00)
Two white pianos were available. Keith Jarrett only played one.
172
19810906 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
Sunday, September 6, 1981 Marin Veterans Auditorium, San Rafael, California, United States of America
173
19811125 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
November 25th 1981, Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak, MI
174
1982
175
19820400 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
April 1982, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, CA
Keith Jarrett read several poems from Rumi.
1 Part I
2 Part II
3 Part III
176
19820800 Keith Jarrett Solo + Orchestra
Keith Jarrett (p) orchestra, Dennis Russell Davies (cond)
August 1982, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Cabrillo College, Aptos, CA
Keith Jarrett played the Stravinsky Piano Concerto.
He also played piano for John Cage’s “Dance/4 Orchestras” along with Dennis Russell Davies.
Keith Jarrett played Bartok Second Concerto.
Kenneth K.: € Peggy Glanville-Hicks ˜Etruscan Concerto KJ soloist
177
19820916 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
September 16th 1982, Aichi Kosei Nenkin Hall, Nagoya, Japan
1. Part I (48:23)
2. Part II (41:36)
3. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (6:17)
4. Blues (6:49)
5. All The Things You Are (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein) (6:35)
6. Meaning Of The Blues (B. Troup – L. Worth) (6:27)
178
19821102 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
November 2nd 1982, Barbican Hall, London, UK
19821104 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
November 4th 1982, National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland
The concert was interrupted because of someone taking photographs. Comments from David: “It was a cold rainy Manchester evening, a
sparse audience, some jaw dropping solos, but the evening was sadly remembered mostly for an extremely insensitive photographer on
the balcony (during a particularly sensitive section of a solo) blasting off a sequence of images on a motordrive, and Keith just slamming
his hands on the keyboard marching over to the man and saying, ‘Do you realise what it takes for me to build up to preparing for this
piece of work and then to perform it?’ He then told him to get out of the theatre, which to his credit he did.”
179
19821107 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
November 7th 1982, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, UK
1. Speech (02:08)
2. Part I (39:04)
3. Poem / Speech (02:14)
4. Part II (28:31)
5. Encore: Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (5:14)
Sound quality: A
1. Part 1 (37.00)
2. Part 2 (19.00)
3. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (5.17)
180
1983
19830100 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
January 1983, Power Station, New York, NY
1 Meaning Of The Blues (B. Troup – L. Worth) 9.23
2 All The Things You Are (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein) 7.44
3 It Never Entered My Mind (R. Rodgers – L. Hart) 6.42
4 The Masquerade Is Over (A. Wrubel – H. Magidson) 5.57
5 God Bless' The Child (A. Herzog – B. Holiday) 15.32
6 So Tender (Keith Jarrett) 7.15
7 Moon And Sand (A. Wilder – W. Engvick – M. Palitz) 8.54
8 In Love In Vain (J. Kern – L. Robin) 7.06
9 Never Let Me Go (R. Evans – J. Livingston) 7.49
10 If I Should Lose You (R. Rainger – L. Robin) 8.28
11 I Fall In Love Too Easily (S. Cahn – J. Styne) 5.12
12 Flying, Pt. 1 (Keith Jarrett) 16.03
13 Flying, Pt. 2 (Keith Jarrett) 14.45
14 Prism (Keith Jarrett) 6.31
1-5: Keith Jarrett - Standards, Vol. 1 (ECM (G) 1255)
6-11: Keith Jarrett - Standards, Vol. 2 (ECM (G) 1289)
Review by Scott Yanow
In January of 1983, Keith Jarrett returned to the trio format and his collaboration with bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette resulted in
three albums. The first release finds the trio digging into five standards with "God Bless the Child" being dragged out (although not unmercifully) for
15 minutes. The performances, which usually do not swing in a conventional sense, do have a momentum of their own. Jarrett is generous in allo-
cating solo space to Peacock and it is obvious that the three musicians were listening very closely to each other.
this second volume of Standards gets the edge over the first due to its slightly more challenging material. Jarrett, who has often taken himself a bit
too seriously, is surprisingly playful at times in this format. In addition to Jarrett's "So Tender," there are such superior songs explored on this date as
Alec Wilder's "Moon and Sand," "If I Should Lose You" and "I Fall in Love Too Easily." Bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette listen
closely to Jarrett and no matter what direction the pianist turns, they are already there waiting for him.
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19830411 Keith Jarrett Solo (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p)
April 11th 1983, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto ,CA
From Mike: “He played ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ (maybe as a second encore). I remember during what was probably the first
encore, where he did a bluesy vamp, the audience started clapping along and, after a while, he stopped playing, clapped along a bit and
then said that ‘What you are hearing out there is not the same thing as what I am hearing up here.’ That got them quiet…”
1. Part I (45:54) [fade out/in during music at 4:38 and 45:35, end missing]
2. Part II (30:50)
3. Blues (5.01) Beginning Missing
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19830708 Keith Jarrett Solo (BR) (PA) (fl+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
July 8th 1983, Arènes, Nîmes, France
tt 90:49
1. Set I 9:36
2. Set II 25:10
3. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) 5:20
183
19831000 Arvo Pärt
Gidon Kremer (vln) Keith Jarrett (p)
October 1983, Basel-City, Switzerland
1 Fratres (for violin and piano) 11.27
Arvo Pärt: Tabula Rasa (ECM (G) 1275)
Piano : K. Jarrett
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19831207 Keith Jarrett Solo (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p)
December 7th 1983, Symphony Hall, Boston, MA
01 The Lea-rig
02 My Collier Laddie
03 My Nanie o
04 Fragment
05 The Posie
06 The mill, Mill o
07 0, Were I on Parnassus hill
08 The German Lairdie
09 The battle of Sherra-Moor
10 lament of Mary Queen Of Scots
11 You're welcome, Wille Stewart
12 Killiecrrankie
December 3, 1983 Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York, NY,USA
December 3 (?), 1983 Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, CA,USA
185
1984
19840107 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
January 7th 1984, Prefectural Civic Center, Niigata, Japan
186
19840120 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
January 20th 1984, Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan
187
19840125 Keith Jarrett with orchestra
August 24, 1984 Cabrillo College, Aptos, CA, USA
(Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music)
Unknown conductor and Unknown orchestra
Kenneth K.: € Mozart Piano Concerto K488.
Incomplete information about the concert (excerpt from Google cache): € Bei zwei Konzerten erlebte das Festival
einen bisher ungekannten Ansturm. Dirigent Dennis Russel Davis hatte
nicht nur seine komponierenden Freunde Lou Harrison und William Bolcom
eingebracht â“ als weitaus folgenreicher erwies sich seine Einladung an
die Piano-Kultfigur Keith Jarrett. Als Jarrett im ersten
Orchesterkonzert im Funkhaus Halberg in Werken von Lou Harrison und
Colin McPhee mitspielte, mussten einige Fans das Ganze vom Flur aus
verfolgen, denn die Kapazitäten des großen Sendesaals reichten nicht
aus. Und auch der Ansturm aufs zweite Orchesterkonzert war groß: hier
trat Jarrett als Solist in Samuel Barbers Klavierkonzert auf. Ob seine
Fans allerdings in †¦
188
19841008 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 8th 1984, Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden
1 D. Scarlatti: Sonata f-minor K 481
2 D. Scarlatti: Sonata D-major K534
3 J. S. Bach: French Suite No. 5 G-major BWV 816
4 C. P. E. Bach: Würtemberg-Sonata No. 1 a-minor
5 L. van Beethoven: Sonata No. 8 c-minor
“Pathétique” op. 13
6 D. Shostakovich: Prelude and Fugue e-minor
from 24 Preludes and Fugues op 87
October 20, 1984 Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, CA,USA
October 21, 1984 Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, USA -
October 23 (?), 1984 Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, MN, USA
October 25 (?), 1984 Symphony Hall, Boston, MA, USA
November 11(Sunday) , 1984 Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, USA
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1985
19850100 Keith Jarrett With Orchestra
Keith Jarrett (p) New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Yoshikazu Tanaka (dir)
January 1985, Kanihoken Hall, Tokyo, Japan
1 Konzert Fur Klavier und Orchester,
No. 23 A Dur K.488
Keith Jarrett - Tokyo Music Joy '85-'87 (VideoArts Music (J))
190
19850206 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
February 6th 1985, Hamamatsu Citizen Hall, Hamamatsu, Japan
191
19850215 Keith Jarrett Trio +++
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
February 15th 1985, Kosei Nenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan
1 I Wish I Knew (Taylor- Lamb) 12:29
2 If I Should Lose You (R. Rainger – L. Robin) 14:37
3 Late Lament (Paul Desmond) 10:28
4 Rider (Keith Jarrett) 17:01
5 It’s Easy To Remember (Rodgers - Hart) 8:49
6 So Tender (Love Should Be) (Keith jarrett) 9:18
7 Prism (Keith Jarrett) 11:11
8 Stella By Starlight (N. Washington – V. Young) 13:53
9 God Bless' The Child (Holiday –Herzog) 7:47
1-9: Keith Jarrett - Standards (VideoArts Music (J))
193
19850701 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 1st 1985, Palais des Congrès, Paris, France
1. I Didn't Know WhatTime It Was(Rodgers -Hart) (9:42) [music starts abruptly at 0:09]
2. I Wish I Knew (Taylor- Lamb) (8:12)
3. If I Should Lose You (R. Rainger – L. Robin)(10:22)
4. I Fall In Love Too Easily (S. Cahn – J. Styne) (7:48)
5. God Bless’ The Child (A. Herzog – B. Holiday)(14:05) [fade out/in at 8:45]
6. Applause (0:15)
7. Last Night When We Were Young (Arlen – Harburg) (6:36) [cut at 6:13 during bass tuning]
8. The Wrong Blues (9:34)
9. All The Things You Are (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein) (9:25)
10. It’s Easy To Remember (Rodgers-Hart)(6:11)
11. Delaunay's Dilemma(John Lewis) (7:59) [end missing]
194
19850704 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) +++
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 4th 1985, Rocca Brancaleone, Ravenna, Italy
1. If I Should Lose You (R. Rainger – L. Robin)(8:57) [a few seconds missing at the beginning]
2. Old Folks (W. Robinson – D.L. Hill) (12:05)
3. Too Young To Go Steady (H. Adamson – J. McHugh) (12:51)
4. I Fall In Love Too Easily (S. Cahn – J. Styne) (6:06)
5. Rider(Keith Jarrett) (12:25) [fade out/in during music at 6:05]
6. I Should Care(Stordhal – Weston - Cahn) (16:15)
7. Woody‘ n’You(Dizzy Gillespie) (12:09)
8. If I Should Lose You (R. Rainger – L. Robin) (8:39)
Disc II
195
19850712 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) (di) (fl+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 12th 1985, North Sea Jazz Festival, Den Haag, Netherlands
The trio played two sets on the 12th, the first at 19.00, the second at 20.30.
1. I Didn't Know What Time It Was (Rodgers -Hart) (b) / My Shi(Ira Gershwin / Kurt Weill) p (27:37)
2. God Bless’ The Child (A. Herzog – B. Holiday)(16:52)
3. So Tender (Love Should Be) (Keith jarrett)(12:00)
4. Late Lament (Paul Desmond)(10:26)
5. Falling In Love With Love (R. Rodgers – L. Hart)(7:07)
6. I Wish I Knew (Taylor- Lamb) (10:23)
7. You And The Night And The Music (Schwartz-Dietz) (8:21) [fade out/in during music at 4:13]
8. The Way You Look Tonight (D. Fields – J. Kern)(6:41)
9. Old Folks (W. Robinson – D.L. Hill)(10:59)
tt 118:59
196
19850718 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 18th 1985, San Sebastian Jazz Festival, San Sebastian, Spain
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: Tape, CD-R and Video
Duration: (92, video 180 minutes, with many breaks)
Sound quality:
Video quality: B
Source: television broadcast
197
19850723 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) +++ (DI)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 23rd 1985, Jazz à Juan, Pinède Gould, Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins, France
1. Falling In Love With Love (R. Rodgers – L. Hart)(7:52) [a few seconds missing at the beginning]
2. Someday My Prince Will Come (Churchill-Morey)(8:12)
3. Late Lament (Paul Desmond)(7:38)
4. Rider(Jarrett) (10:11)
5. You And The Night And The Music (Schwartz-Dietz) (11:41)
6. I Wish I Knew (Taylor- Lamb) (6:56)
7. Stella By Starlight (N. Washington – V. Young)(9:48)
8. Skylark (H. Carmichael – J. Mercer)(6:21)
9. I Fall In Love Too Easily (S. Cahn – J. Styne) (6:00)
10. God Bless’ The Child (A. Herzog – B. Holiday)(15:00)
11. Delaunay's Dilemma (John Lewis)(7:46)
12. It’s Easy To Remember (Rodgers-Hart)(4:55) [presenter's voice over applause from 4:38 to the end of the track]
13. If I Should Lose You(Ralph Rainger) (23:04)
198
19850928 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
September 28th 1985, Beverly Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, USA
*Encore II is cut.
199
19851103 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP) (mu)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
November 3rd 1985, Barcelona, Palau de la Musica Catalana,Spain
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: CD-R
Duration: 113
1. Track I
2. Track II
3. Track III
Media: DVD
Video quality: A-
Source: TV
200
19851105 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Auditorium Maurice Ravel, Lyon, France
201
1986
19860130 Keith Jarrett with Orchestra
Keith Jarrett (p) Hakuro Mohri (cello) Masami Nakagawa (flute) Kinshi Tsu-ruta (biwa)
New Japan Philharmonic, Naoto Otomo (cond)
January 30th 1986, 2nd Tokyo Music Joy, U-Port Kanihoken Hall, Tokyo, Japan
According to [Link], the following pieces were played: Sacred Ground (For The American Indian) (K. Jarrett) / Improvisa-
tion Duo with biwa / Piano Concerto (L. Harrison). According to [Link], “Sacred Ground (For The American Indian)” is a
piece for piano, flute, cello, and clarinet, commissioned by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, premiered in 1985 at Alice
Tully Hall, with Jarrett joined by Paula Robison, Fred Sherry and Richard Stoltzman.
From [Link]: “In Tokyo in 1986, following a performance of a Lou Harrison piece, Keith Jarrett came back onstage in
response to enthusiastic applause and agreed to play an encore. After striking the first chord of a standard tune, Jarrett suddenly remem-
bered that the piano was especially tuned to Harrison’s Piano Concerto — a composition which called for the black keys to be tuned in
fourths and fifths, the white keys in just intonation. Undaunted, he was able to play a perfect rendition of the standard by spontaneously
selecting the “right” keys.”
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19860316 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
March 16th 1986, Avery Fisher Hall, New York, NY
1. Someday My Prince Will Come (Churchill-Morey)(9:17) [a few seconds missing at the beginning]
2. If I Should Lose You (R. Rainger – L. Robin)(16:26)
3. Late Lament (Paul Desmond)(11:01)
4. Track 4 (5:21) [beginning missing]
5. Bass tuning (0:25)
6. It’s Easy To Remember (Rodgers-Hart)(5:30)
7. In Your Own Sweet Way (D. Brubeck)(12:20)
8. I Wish I Knew (Taylor- Lamb) (14:36)
9. All The Things You Are (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein) (9:03)
10. Georgia On My Mind (Carmichael -Gorrell)(9:54)
11. My Funny Valentine (R. Rodgers – L. Hart)(17:41)
Disc II / Set II
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19860701 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) (Di) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 1st 1986, Teatro Romano, Verona, Italy
204
19860713 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 13th 1986, Philharmonie,gasteig,, Munich, Germany
1 My Funny Valentine (R. Rodgers – L. Hart) 10.50
2 Autumn Leaves ([Link] – [Link] – [Link]) 10.24
3 When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman) 8.22
4 The Song Is You (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein) 17.33
5 Come Rain Or Come Shine (H. Arlen – J. Mercer) 10.06
6 Late Lament (Paul Desmond) 8.40
7 You And The Night And The Music (Schwartz-Dietz)
Extension (Keith Jarrett)
Intro (Keith Jarrett)
Someday My Prince Will Come (Churchill-Morey) 19.08
8 Billie's Bounce (Charlie Parker) 9.06
9 I Remember Clifford (Benny Golson) 4.14
1-9: Keith Jarrett - Still Live (ECM (G) 1360/61)
Once Keith Jarrett gets into a concept, he likes to keep those tapes rolling. This two-disc live outpouring from a Standards Trio gig at Munich's Phil-
harmonic Hall was the biggest offering from this group up to that time (it wouldn't hold that distinction for long) -- and once again, Jarrett treats his
brace of pop and jazz standards with unpredictable, often eloquently melodic and structural originality. To cite a pair of highlights: "Autumn Leaves"
always seems to bring out an endless flow of invention from Jarrett, and "The Song Is You" gets off to a rollicking start and maintains a nearly relent-
less energy level for 17 minutes, closing with a Spanish vamp. Again, the rapport with his onetime jazz-rock associate, drummer Jack DeJohnette,
and bassist Gary Peacock is total; DeJohnette's mastery of shifting cymbal patterns while maintaining the pulse acts on the trio like a loose tether
made of carbon steel. There is a considerable amount of Jarrett vocalizing, though; sometimes he sounds like a tortured animal
205
19860716 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Spor ve Sergi Sarayi, Istanbul, Turkey
(Istanbul International Jazz Festival)
206
19860000 Keith Jarrett Solo
When Keith Jarrett released Spirits in 1986 on his longstanding/exclusive label, Germany's
ECM Records, this two-disc home recording—featuring the pianist on a multitude of instruments in addition to his main axe, including a
bevy or recorders and flutes, guitar, saz and percussion—came out of the blue to his legion of fans while, at the same time, not represen-
ting a total surprise. After all, at this point in time, the musically voracious Jarrett was busy recording and touring with his then-nascent
Standards Trio; delivering epic solo piano performances like Concerts: Bregenz/Munich—first released in 1981 but finally issued on
CD in its entirety for the first time concurrent with this release; and was looking to other instruments for improvisational grist, as he did
with church organ on 1979's Hymns/Spheres (another recent reissue in complete form) and harpsichord on 1986's Book of Ways.
But even those accomplishments did not represent the sum total of Jarrett's breadth since coming to ECM with the 1972 solo piano album
that shook the world, Facing You. In addition, the pianist led two now-legendary bands in the '70s, each with their own separate reper-
toires, largely penned by the pianist: his American Quartet with Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian; and the European
"Belonging" Quartet that, with Jan Garbarek, Palle Danielsson andJon Christensen, was recently heard on 2012's stellar archival
unearthing, Sleeper—Tokyo, April 16, 1979. Jarrett was also composing classical music as early as 1974's In the Light (1974) while
performing classical music written by others, including then-ECM newcomer, Estonian composerArvo Part's Tabula Rasa (1984).
A lot has changed since those halcyon days, however: Jarrett, since being taken down for a number of years in the mid-'90s with Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome, has largely reduced his regular work to just two contexts: the Standards Trio, last heard earlier this year
on Somewhere; and solo performances like Rio (2011)—though he did return to classical performance earlier this year with the won-
derful Bach: Six Sonatas for Violin and Piano (2013), featuring violinist Michelle Makarski.
Even so, Jarrett's overall musical purview has shrunken considerably over the years; while he asserts, quite correctly, that improvisation
is a form of composition, he still has not put pen to paper and formally composed any new music for more than three decades; while his
current activities can certainly be considered as more than enough, there remain those in his fan base who would love to see him turn
back to writing the kind of music he did for his two 1970s quartets. If artists' activities can only be measured—by their fans, that is—by
what they choose to release and perform in concert, then as brilliant as he remains as both an in-the-moment drawer of music from the
ether with his solo shows and as a similarly unfettered interpreter of the Great American Songbook and jazz standards both well-known
and obscure, then the Jarrett of the new millennium has become, if not in content, then certainly predictable in form.
Which makes the release of another unearthed piece of archival music, No End, something of a surprise—or, perhaps, it should be not so
much of one.
Recorded just a year after Spirits, in 1986—and again at Jarrett's home studio ("Cavelight Studios") in New Jersey—No End bears some
comparison to its predecessor. Like Spirits, the pianist does play his primary axe, but it's far from his main one; instead, No End's domi-
nating instruments are electric guitars, bass and drums, along with some percussion, recorder and voice. Electric?!?!? some of you
might say? Drums? From Keith Jarrett?
Well, while he has long been vocal about not liking electric keyboards, Jarrett has never come out against other instruments of the
plugged-in variety, and it's important to remember that, while the majority of his career has been in the acoustic world, he is still a child
of the '60s; he even performed Bob Dylan's "My Back Pages" on his 1968 live trio recording, Somewhere Before(Vortex), and Joni
Mitchell's "All I Want" on the studio date with the same group, The Mourning of a Star (Atlantic, 1971). Just because his preferences
lean to the acoustic side when it comes to piano, is it a reasonable assumption that the same applies across the board?
207
Clearly not, based on No End. And for those who thought they knew Jarrett, a warning: when you read, on a Keith Jarrett record, "Pro-
ducer's Note: Play this music LOUD," well, you know this ain't Kansas you're in anymore.
The very electric nature of No End makes it a very different beast than Spirits, although there's a certain spirituality to both that does, at
least, make them distant cousins. Most of No End's twenty, Roman-numbered tracks are based around either vamps or, as in the case of
the Phrygian "I," very simple chord progressions. Jarrett is clearly not as accomplished an instrumentalist here as he is on piano; though
he turns out to be a surprisingly good drummer, on electric guitar he clearly commands some language, but is not always successful at
actually articulating it. Still, there's something intrinsically charming about being a fly on the wall of Jarrett's home studio, where he
plays music for nobody but himself, and explores avenues that are about as far away as can be imagined from the music that's garnered
him his reputation as one of the most significant jazz pianists of the past half century.
It's a true mixed bag, with plenty of layering done by bouncing tracks between two two-track cassette decks (meaning a lot of hiss).
Based on Jarrett's guitar and bass parts, and with his in-the-weeds singing, "V" could be something sourced from the Caribbean, but his
straightforward, four-to-the-bar drumming keeps it situated a little farther north. "VI," on the other hand, is more outré, Jarrett's back-
ground guitar chords revealing that earlier-referenced broader language, even if his single-note work feels a little more rudimentary and
his bends are those of someone for whom guitar is clearly not a primary instrument.
And who would ever have expected Keith Jarrett of the mid-'80s to create music that actuallyrocks, is at times sloppily funky and else-
where, with Jarrett's tablas and hand percussion, approaches a kind of meditative world music?
The music of No End is ultimately incidental to its real value: evidence that there was a time when Jarrett was far less sedentary in his
ways; perhaps even more importantly, however, that after nearly 30 years, Jarrett has chosen to release these recordings also reveals
something important about where he is now. Not that anyone has to worry about showing up to a Jarrett show to find him with the "beau-
tiful deep red Gibson solid body" of the recording strapped on, but there's something revealing In his brief liner notes, when he says, ..."
somehow something happened during these days in the '80s that won't ever be repeated. I had wanted to record on drums most of my life,
and when I got the tape out recently, I thought I'd better run with it."
While it's up for discussion as to whether or not it's possible to attain some of the milestones we achieve when we're younger—there are
certainly artists who, in their sixties and seventies, are consistently putting out the best music of their career. No End may well not be
Jarrett at his best—even nearly three decades ago in 1986—but it Is proof positive that assumptions—even those with solid empirical
support—are rarely complete truths. Jarrett may have spent the better part of his long career honing the possibilities of a single instru-
ment within a largely singular genre, but his interests clearly reach farther afield. Hard though it may be to believe, nestled within Jarrett
the jazz interpreter and spontaneous composer is Jarrett the rock-edged instigator, polyrhythmic explorer and folkloric investigator.
No End is a decidedly and surprisingly lo-fi recording from the normally pristine ECM. But for the window that these 92 minutes open
into what were, at the time, some of Jarrett's private inspirations, No End may not be a great record, but it is an important one.
Another revue :
by S. Victor Aaron
Coming from a very prominent jazz and classical pianist who famously disparaged modern, plugged-in instruments at the
height of the fusion era, this is quite a revelation.
No End brings into the public realm recordings Keith Jarrett made in his small private studio back in 1986. On it, Jarrett play-
ed all the instruments: electric guitars, Fender bass, drums, percussion, table, vocals and, yes, piano. But, very little piano.
In his self-written liner notes he confesses a love for drums and guitar that exceeds his bread-and-butter piano. It also leaves
the listener with a most unlikely instruction, considering the source:
“Play this music LOUD, especially tracks 2 to 20, since many inner details will be lost at lower volumes.”
Getting advice like that from the mastermind behind The Köln Concert is akin to getting a viewer discretion warning at the
beginning of a Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood show.
Admittedly, I got no vibe at all from my first listen of No End. There are no fully developed melodies, just a series simple
vamps – twenty in all spanning 93 minutes — that quickly get rote. Every tune features Jarrett’s lead guitar, which is compe-
tent but ultimately, it’s noodling that can’t hold ones interest for any length of time. A few times I think I noticed where he
missed a beat. And the arrangements from song to song don’t vary much, making them sound alike. (For what it’s worth, I
have no idea why track 1 didn’t necessarily have to be played “LOUD”).
The second time around I followed Jarrett’s advice and put a closer ear to it, and that’s where I found some virtues, too. He
dubbed in all the parts using relatively primitive recording equipment in a cramped studio without the help of someone in the
control room while he performed, but somehow he pieced together well-integrated syncopations. No instrument sounds
overly dominant or tepid in the mix. Every instrument has a well-defined role.
And though he effuses about the drums and guitar in his notes, it’s Jarrett’s bass playing that sounds the most proficient; it
acts almost as a third guitar devising harmonic shapes often more intriguing than the riffs.
So what style of music does Electric Keith Jarrett play? It’s not jazz, that’s for certain. The percussion and drums are often
quasi-tribal, with some Latin, African and when he also plays the tabla, Indian influences seep in, too. He discreetly employs
background, wordless vocals to construct subtle drones, or even something similar to Indian raga when coupled with the
tabla. The melodies, err, riffs can loosely be described as rock, the 60s and 70s kind. There’s a vaguely Santana or Allman
Brothers feel to most of these tunes, a similarity that can also be attributed to the very informal way the songs were concei-
ved, like rock was at the turn of the 70s. Essentially, Jarrett was having a jam session with himself.
One view of this record could be that Jarrett forced himself out of his normal comfort zone and handcrafted a record that in
some ways is a freer expression than even some of the avant-garde leaning recordings he made with Charlie Haden, Paul
Motian and Dewey Redman about fifteen years earlier.
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A more cynical view is that No End is just him knocking around in his home studio in his spare time with half-baked ideas
performed with instruments he hadn’t mastered well enough to make a living playing and belatedly decided to hawk these
demos to his fans by embellishing its significance as valuable insight into the workings of his eccentric but sometimes brilli-
ant musical mind.
The truth probably lies somewhere between these two views. If No End was even a little essential, the tapes wouldn’t have
sat in a drawer for twenty-five plus years. But taken for what it is — a series of sketches by a talented musician putting him-
self in unusual situations that he hadn’t revealed to us before — it’s intriguing enough to fascinate anyone who’s already
absorbed a good chunk of his massive discography and are ready for something refreshingly different from him but not
in the forgettable Restoration Ruin sense.
Even with all those warts, or perhaps, because of them.
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19860718 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 18th 1986, Vitoria Jazz Festival, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
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19860726 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 26th 1986, Jazz à Juan, Pinède Gould, Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins, France
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19860828 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Salle Rolland-Brunelle, Joliette, QC, Canada
(Festival de Lanaudière)
212
19861013 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
October 13th 1986, Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan
213
1987
214
19870307 Keith Jarrett
March 7, 1987 at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in New York
These are performances in which tempos, phrasing, articulation and the execution of ornaments are con-
vincing,” wrote Gramophone of Jarrett’s first recorded account of The Well-Tempered Clavier. “Both in-
strument and performer serve as unobtrusive media through which the music emerges without enhance-
ment.” In this live recording from Troy, New York, made in March 1987, just one month after his studio
recording of the work, Keith Jarrett addresses the challenges of Bach’s great set of preludes and fugues
once more. Part of the goal is transparency, to bring the listener closer to the composer. As Jarrett ex-
plained at the time: “The very direction of the lines, the moving lines of notes, are inherently expres-
sive…When I play Bach, I hear almost the process of thought. Any colouration has nothing to do with this
process.
215
These remarks seemed to be Mr. Jarrett's apology for the dearth in his concert of the sort of late-Romantic chromaticism that has estab-
lished him as the artistic heir of Bill Evans. Only in one brief encore did he let loose with the cascading piano runs springing from a post-
Chopin harmonic palette that have made him so popular.
It has been some 15 years since Mr. Jarrett began performing solo improvisatory concerts, and in that time, his style has grown progres-
sively more austere. Instead of long, winding improvisations that flit from style to style, Mr. Jarrett's inventions on Friday tended to be
short, self-contained fragments in search of compositional form. The lush harmonic vocabulary of Gabriel Faure, while still a noticeable
influence, is now surpassed by the drier style of Erik Satie.
This live solo piano concert at Tokyo's Suntory Hall is not a solo concert in the usual freewheeling Jarrett sense. Rather, it sounds like a formal recital of individual
compositions, each followed by applause (unlike the improvised concerts where applause only comes at the end of a set). Keith is often in an introspective, even
dark mood, with deep growling in the lower bass regions in the closing minutes of "Opening." Yet he can also be quietly affirmative and devotional, always the
musician/virtuoso who doesn't flash his technique for its own sake. Of the eight tracks, only "Fire Dance" has some of the jazzy verve associated with the solo
concerts. The Jarrett devotee will want this; others should use caution.
216
19870411 14 Keith Jarrett Solo (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) April 11 14 1987, Suntory Hall, Tokyo, Japan
The exact day is unknown. What is certain is that Keith Jarrett played three solo concerts at the Suntory Hall
between April 11 and April 14.
218
19870626 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
June 26th 1987, Place des Arts, Montréal, QC, Canada
219
19871009 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
October 9th 1987, Lexington, KY
1 Lifeline 11.32
Keith Jarrett - Changeless (ECM (G) 1392)
Only one tune of the concert was included in the album.
One of only a handful of Keith Jarrett "Standards" Trio records without a standard within earshot, this is a triumph, for Jarrett has successfully brought
the organically evolving patterns of his solo concerts into the group format. Each of the first three selections is built upon a constant revolving ostina-
to, and each evolves from one stage to the next like a Jarrett solo piano improvisation. "Dancing" has a swaying Latin beat in the percussion and
bass; "Endless" is full of lyrical invention at a slower tempo; "Lifeline" is catchy and hypnotic; and the fourth number, "Ecstasy," grows out of "Lifeline,"
closing the album perhaps inevitably with a drawn-out, peaceful piano tremolo. Bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette are clearly
listening hard, going with the flow. The recordings were taken from four separate concerts in Denver, Dallas, Lexington, KY., and Houston. Jarrett
may spout off about society's self-centered soullessness in his querulous liner notes, but he and his trio have clearly backed his words by example,
pulling off a genuine collective musical experience.
220
221
19871016 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
222
1988
19880407-24 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
April 4th – 7th 1988, Japan
According to [Link], Keith Jarrett played ten concerts with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette in Japan between April 7,
1988 and April 24, 1988.
223
19880424 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Festival Hall, Osaka
224
19881017 Keith Jarrett Solo (BR) (di) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 17th 1988, Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
1 October 17, 1988 (Keith Jarrett) 38.23
2 The Wind (R. Freeman – J. Gladstone) 6.32
3 Blues (Keith Jarrett) 5.22
1-3: Keith Jarrett - Paris Concert (ECM (G) 1401)
1. Part I (36:40)
2. Audience noise (0:06)
3. Part II (37:39)
4. Audience noise (0:08)
5. Encore I (5:16)
6. Audience noise (0:04)
7. The Wind (7:04)
8. Blues (5:19)
1. Part I (43:04)
2. Part II (36:11) [beginning missing]
3. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (5:58) [a few seconds missing at the beginning]
4. Blues (2:07) [end missing
225
1989
226
19890113 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (harpsichord)
January 13th 1989, Japan
Yatsugatake Kohgen Ongakudoh, Nagano, Japan
According to [Link], Keith Jarrett probably played three or four solo concerts between January 17, 1989 and January 21,
1989.
January 17th – 21st (?) 1989, 5th Tokyo Music Joy, Japan
227
19890325 Keith Jarrett Solo (BR) (fl+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
March 25th 1989, Teatro Comunale, Florence, Italy
1. Applause (0:28)
2. Part I (47:58) [fade out/in during music at 46:45 and 47:55] (2 different sources ?)
3. Part II (28:33)
4. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (7:23)
5. All The Things You Are (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein) (3:28)
6. Blues (4:09) [a few seconds missing at the beginning]
A tour in Chile with the trio is mentioned in a letter written by Stephen Cloud to Kunihiko Yamashita on October 7, 1988 (source: “My
Experience: My Ferocious Longing” book). I don’t know if it eventually happened.
228
19890700 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
July 1989, Montréal Jazz Festival Place des Arts, Montréal, QC, Canada
Disc I
Applause
1. Applause (0:19)
2. I Loves You Porgy (7:31)
3. I'm In The Mood For Love (6:27)
4. I Love You (Cole Porter) (3:42)
5. Someone To Watch Over Me (8:10)
6. Everything Happens To Me (M. Dennis – T. Adair) (6:58)
7. The Wind (R. Freeman – J. Gladstone) (8:13)
8. I Should Care(Stordhal - Weston - Cahn)(7:24)
9. I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good (7:57)
10. U Dance (5:40)
Disc II
Audience recording
229
19890727-28 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
July 27th or 28th 1989, Musikland Niedersachsen, Uelzen, Germany
1. Part I (28:49)
2. Part II (4:39)
3. Part III (21:17)
4. Part IV (24:37)
230
19891007 Keith Jarrett Trio +++
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
October 7th 1989, Konserthuset, Oslo, Norway
1 All Of You (Porter) (Cole Porter) 8.16
2 Little Girl Blue (R. Rodgers – L. Hart) 6.44
3 Just In Time (A. Green – B. Comden – J. Styne) 11.04
4 Old Folks (W. Robinson – D.L. Hill) 10.42
5 Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing (S. Fain – P. Webster) 7.26
6 Dedicated To You (S: Cahn – S. Chaplin – H. Zaret) 12.19
7 I Hear A Rhapsody (Fragos-Baker-Gasparre-Bard) 10.57
8 How About You? (R. Freed – B. Lane) 5.55
1-8: Keith Jarrett - Standards In Norway (ECM (G) 1542)
AUDIENCE RECORDING. PROBABLY SECOND SET AND ENCORE. THE SONGS ON ECM RELEASE MUST BE FROM 1ST SET…
Review by Scott Yanow
Keith Jarrett has recorded quite a few albums with his "Standards Trio," which also features bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette,
and virtually all of their releases are enjoyable. The music that they create is in some ways an update of the type of interplay that took place between
Bill Evans and his sidemen, where all three musicians often act as equals (although Jarrett, like Evans, has most of the solo space). An uptempo
"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" is a surprising highpoint of this disc but also quite memorable are " All Of You (Porter)," "Old Folks" and "How
About You?"; none of the eight performances from the concert appearance are throwaways. Jarrett's vocal sounds are more restrained than usual
while his piano playing is in peak form.
231
19891009 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Royal Festival Hall, London, UK
The Keith Jarrett Standards Trio gets back down to business with two CDs' worth of familiar and perhaps not-so-familiar tunes, recorded in one
evening in Cologne, Germany. There is a concept this time, for all the standards carry a dedication to some jazz man or woman who performed them
-- and they are not predictable choices; Lee Konitz for "Lover Man," "It's Easy to Remember" for John Coltrane, " All Of You (Porter)" for Miles Davis,
etc. Almost every number has a reflective solo piano introduction, with one of the notable exceptions being Jarrett's rolling, convoluted opening varia-
tions on "All the Things You Are" (Sonny Rollins). "Solar" (the Bill Evans tribute) has challenging, fractured interplay between Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette
and Gary Peacock, and it directly segues into Jarrett's own obsessive "Sun Prayer," which seems to lose its way after a fine start. The other Jarrett
composition, "U Dance," a carefree folk-like tune with a rhumba rhythm, closes the concert with a tribute to no one in particular. While the Standards
Trio rarely takes anything for granted, transforming everything in its path, the results are not quite as inventive here as on other releases, though Disc
Two is clearly more interesting overall than Disc One. Warning to the wary: Keith Jarrett, singer, is in rare groaning form on "I Hear a Rhapsody" and
"Solar."
232
19891016 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
October 16th 1989, Philharmonie,Gasteig, Munich, Germany
233
19891025 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
October 25th 1989, Metz, France
234
19891201 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
December 1st 1989, Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York, NY
"I understand what Hovhaness is doing. 'Lousadzak' certainly isn't a virtuosos piano piece. It's so simple that
it's almost impossible to get anything into it. But when you do, it's like someone telling you a very simple
truth that you thought of as a cliché all your life. [But] when you hear someone say it as though they had
really experienced it, you know right away that it's a cliché because people just say it wrong."
235
1990
236
19900500 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (harpsichord)
May 1990, Cavelight Studio, NJ
Das Wohltemperierte Klavier – Buch II (J.S. Bach)
1 Praludium und Fuge C-dur, BWV 870 4.12
2 Praludium und Fuge c-moll, BWV 871 4.29
3 Praludium und Fuge Cis-dur, BWV 872 3.31
4 Praludium und Fuge cis-moll, BWV 873 6.00
5 Praludium und Fuge D-dur, BWV 874 8.08
6 Praludium und Fuge d-moll, BWV 875 3.38
7 Praludium und Fuge Es-dur, BWV 876 4.57
8 Praludium und Fuge es-moll, BWV 877 7.36
9 Praludium und Fuge E-dur, BWV 878 7.53
10 Praludium und Fuge e-moll, BWV 879 7.15
11 Praludium und Fuge F-dur, BWV 880 5.41
12 Praludium und Fuge f-moll, BWV 881 5.49
13 Praludium und Fuge Fis-dur, BWV 882 5.53
14 Praludium und Fuge fis-moll, BWV 883 7.18
15 Praludium und Fuge G-dur, BWV 884 4.11
16 Praludium und Fuge g-moll, BWV 885 6.24
17 Praludium und Fuge As-dur, BWV 886 7.53
18 Praludium und Fuge gis-moll, BWV 887 8.45
19 Praludium und Fuge A-dur, BWV 888 3.12
20 Praludium und Fuge a-moll, BWV 889 7.14
21 Praludium und Fuge B-dur, BWV 890 10.06
22 Praludium und Fuge b-moll, BWV 891 8.10
23 Praludium und Fuge H-dur, BWV 892 5.20
24 Praludium und Fuge h-moll, BWV 893 4.09
1-24: Keith Jarrett - J.S. Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Buch II (ECM (G) 1433/34)
237
19900704 Keith Jarrett solo (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p)
Salle Wilfred-Pelletier, Place Des Arts, Montréal, QC, Canada
(Festival International de Jazz de Montréal)
238
19901111 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
November 11th 1990, Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
239
19901119 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
November 19th 1990,Teatro Lirico Milano
240
19901124 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Budapest,Erkel Theatre,Hungary,
Notes: only one set
241
1991
According to [Link], Keith Jarrett played eleven concerts with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette in Japan between April 5,
1991 and April 24, 1991.
242
199104010 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Ibaraki Prefectural Culture Center, Mito, Japan
243
19910711 Keith Jarrett Solo (di)
Keith Jarrett (p)
July 11th 1991, Royal Festival Hall, London, UK
1 Part I 36.58
2 Part II (inc.) 27.25
3 Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) 7.01
4 Blues 4.30
1-4: [CD] Keith Jarrett – Live At The Royal Festival Hall 1991
FM recording
1. Part 1 (28:53)
2. Applause (1:17)
3. Part 2 (38:10)
4. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (7:25)
5. Blues (4:30)
6. Interview with Ian Carr (5:56)
1. Set I 37:21
2. Set II 27:31
3. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) 07:20
4. Blues 04:32
5. Applause 00:17
244
19910713 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p) Robert Bly (poem)
Austria, July 13th 1991, Vienna State Opera, Vienna, Austria
1 Vienna, Pt. 1 (K. Jarrett) 41.53
2 Vienna, Pt. 2 (K. Jarrett) 26.03
Keith Jarrett - Vienna Concert (ECM (G) 1481)
Keith Jarrett
Vienna Concert
(ECM)
Although I write about mostly modern electronic and indie and avant rock on this site, my musical interests
have always included just about every musical genre. While I don't have the depth of knowledge that some
do in either classical or jazz (or anything else for that matter), I've slowly tried to delve into and expand my
listening into both genres (which are admittingly pretty intimidating to someone without much knowledge of
either) and pull out the things that strike me on a certain level. In some cases (I won't name names), the
names that everyone seems to mention all the time simply didn't do it for me, and at other times I wished I
hadn't missed out on a particular release for so long.
Such is the case with Vienna Concert by Keith Jarrett. After hearing a friend rave about Jarrett for long peri-
ods of time, I slowly started listening to different pieces of his work as they were recommended. While there
are other works by Jarrett that I also enjoy (The Köln Concert, parts of his epic Live At The Blue Note re-
cordings), The Vienna Concert is the one piece of his work that I feel is utterly indispensible. Recorded in
1991 at the Vienna State Opera, it's just Jarrett at the piano but it is quite simply one of the most soulful
and beautiful pieces of music that I've ever heard recorded on the instrument.
Like much of Jarrett's work, Vienna Concert is improvised, and it is broken into two long pieces. The first
part runs just over forty minutes and the second just over twenty-five. The first piece alone is completely
worth having by itself as Jarrett builds slowly from a devastatingly beautiful contemplative melody into a
soulful swagger that has Jarrett letting out some of his trademark "oohs" and "aahs" as he hits just the right
spots. As the piece repeats variatons on the theme, it has moments where it gradually builds in intensity
and then backs off again, tugging you closer and then just slightly easing back to draw you in even more.
About halfway through, Jarrett takes the piece higher and higher, changing the feel and the chord progres-
sion before again backing off and taking things down very quiet before unleashing an almost riotous section
about two-thirds of the way into the recording that keeps piling on the tension until you wonder if the whole
piece is going to fall apart in shambles. Again showing the work of a musician who is completely on, he pulls
back just slightly but winds down the piece with what may be the most uplifting and beautiful moments on
the entire recording.
Part II starts with much more intensity than Part I and as a result doesn't feel quite as varied overall but
Jarrett's piano prowess is still on fine display as he moves through several spirited passages that are abso-
lutely astounding. As a musician who has a hard time doing much of anything musical, it's rather astounding
for me to hear someone so obviously in tune with their instrument that they can sit down and play nearly
seventy minutes of music (without planning any of it beforehand) and having it come out so amazing.
Speaking about the The Vienna Concert, Jarrett stated, "I have courted the fire for a very long time, and
many sparks have flown in the past, but the music on this recording speaks, finally, the language of the
flame itself."
245
19910720 Keith Jarrett Solo (SP) (PA) +++
Keith Jarrett (p)
July 20th 1991, Jazz à Juan, Pinède Gould, Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins, France
K. Jarrett solo
Media: CD-R
Duration: 69:07
Sound quality: A
Source: radio broadcast
TT 93:40
1. Part I (42:40)
2. Audience noise (0:06)
3. Prelude To A Kiss (I. Mills – D. Ellington) (8:10) [cut at 3:06]
4. No Moon at All (Mann – Evans) (7:05)
5. I Should Care(Stordhal - Weston - Cahn)(6:23)
6. Track 6 (6:28)
7. Summertime(Gershwin-DuBoseGershwin) (9:39)
8. Old Man River(Kern – Hammerstein II) (9:42)
9. Butch And Butch (O. Nelson) (3:27) [cut at 2:19]
1. Set 1 (42:22)
2. Sophisticated Lady (Ellington) (8:24)
3. Unidentified standard (6:35); (classic arrangement)
4. I Should Care(Stordhal - Weston - Cahn)(6:04)
5. Autumn Nocturne(Myrow – Gannon) (6:08)
6. Summertime(Gershwin-DuBoseGershwin) (9:11)
7. Old Man River(Kern – Hammerstein II) (9:16)
8. Butch And Butch (O. Nelson) (1:30) beginning missing
FM recording
246
19910700 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
July 1991, Salle De Musique, La Chaux De Fonds, Switzerland
24 Preludes And Fugues Op. 87
1 Prelude & Fugue No.1 in C major 8.11
2 Prelude & Fugue No.2 in A minor 2.10
3 Prelude & Fugue No.3 in G major 3.29
4 Prelude & Fugue No.4 in E minor 7.24
5 Prelude & Fugue No.5 in D major 4.05
6 Prelude & Fugue No.6 in B minor 5.22
7 Prelude & Fugue No.7 in A major 3.11
8 Prelude & Fugue No.8 in F sharp minor 6.21
9 Prelude & Fugue No.9 in E major 3.48
10 Prelude & Fugue No.10 in C sharp minor 6.19
11 Prelude & Fugue No.11 in B major 3.21
12 Prelude & Fugue No.12 in G sharp minor 6.52
13 Prelude & Fugue No.13 in F sharp major 7.03
14 Prelude & Fugue No.14 in E flat minor 7.03
15 Prelude & Fugue No.15 in D flat major 4.20
16 Prelude & Fugue No.16 in B flat minor 8.59
17 Prelude & Fugue No.17 in A flat major 5.14
18 Prelude & Fugue No.18 in F minor 4.35
19 Prelude & Fugue No.19 in E flat major 4.17
20 Prelude & Fugue No.20 in C minor 8.05
21 Prelude & Fugue No.21 in B flat major 4.01
22 Prelude & Fugue No.22 in G minor 5.09
23 Prelude & Fugue No.23 in F major 5.28
24 Prelude & Fugue No.24 in D minor 10.24
Keith Jarrett - Dmitri Shostakovich: 24 Preludes And Fugues Op. 87 (ECM (G) 1469/70)
247
19910900 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (harpsichord)
September 1991, Cavelight Studio, NJ
Französische Suiten
1-6 Suite Nr. 1 d moll, BWV 812 16.07
7-12 Suite Nr. 2 c moll, BWV 813 15.50
13-19 Suite Nr. 3 h moll, BWV 814 16.58
1-7 Suite Nr. 4 Es Dur, BWV 815 15.13
8-14 Suite Nr. 5 G Dur BWV 816 20.14
15-22 Suite Nr. 6 E Dur, BWV 817 16.48
Keith Jarrett - J.S. Bach: The French Suites (ECM (G) 1513/14)
248
19911012 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
October 12th 1991, Studio Power Station, New York, NY
1 Bye Bye Blackbird (R. Henderson) 11.14
2 You Won't Forget Me (K. Goell – F. Spielman) 10.46
3 Butch And Butch (O. Nelson) 6.37
4 Summer Night (A. Dubin – H. Warren) 6.42
5 For Miles (Jarrett - Peacock - DeJohnette) 18.43
6 Straight No Chaser (T. Monk) 6.47
7 I Thought About You (J. van Heusen – J. Mercer) 4.02
8 Blackbird, Bye Bye (Jarrett - Peacock - DeJohnette) 3.00
1-8: Keith Jarrett - Bye Bye Blackbird (ECM (G) 1467)
This is the Keith Jarrett Trio's -- featuring bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette -- elegy for their former employer Miles Davis, recor-
ded only 13 days after the maestro's death. The lonely figure in shadow with a horn on the cover contrasts with the joyous spirit of many of the
tracks on this CD, yet there is still a ghostly presence to deal with -- and in keeping with Miles' credo, Jarrett's choice of notes is often more pur-
posefully spare than usual. There is symmetry in the organization of the album, with "Bye Bye Blackbird" opening and the trio's equally jaunty
"Blackbird, Bye Bye" closing the album, and the interior tracks immediately following the former and preceding the latter are "You Won't Forget
Me" and "I Thought About You." The centerpiece of the CD is an 18-and-a-half-minute group improvisation, "For Miles," which after some De-
Johnette tumbling around becomes a dirge sometimes reminiscent of Miles' own elegy for Duke Ellington, "He Loved Him Madly." As an imme-
diate response to a traumatic event, Jarrett and his colleagues strike the right emotional balance to create one of their more meaningful albums.
249
19911021 Keith Jarrett with Orchestra (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) orchestra, Dennis Russel-Davies (cond)
October 21st 1991, Beethovenhalle, Bonn Germany
1. Applause (0:26)
2. Igor Stravinsky, Momentum pro Gesualdo di Venosa (First Movement) (2:25)
3. Igor Stravinsky, Momentum pro Gesualdo di Venosa (Second Movement) (2:02)
4. Igor Stravinsky, Momentum pro Gesualdo di Venosa (Third Movement) (2:32)
5. Applause (0:47)
6. Presenter's voice (0:42)
7. Applause (0:32)
8. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 21 in C Major, K. 467 (Allegro Maestoso) (14:23)
9. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 21 in C Major, K. 467 (Andante) (7:09)
10. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 21 in C Major, K. 467 (Allegro Vivace Assai) (7:10)
11. Applause (1:23)
12. Presenter's voice (0:16)
13. Applause (0:27)
14. Bridge of Light for Viola and Orchestra (17:15)
15. Applause (1:20)
16. Presenter's voice (0:16)
17. Igor Stravinsky, Pulcinella (First Movement) (2:00)
18. Igor Stravinsky, Pulcinella (Second Movement) (7:26)
19. Igor Stravinsky, Pulcinella (Third Movement) (3:09)
20. Igor Stravinsky, Pulcinella (Fourth Movement) (4:01)
21. Igor Stravinsky, Pulcinella (Fifth Movement) (1:46)
22. Igor Stravinsky, Pulcinella (Sixth Movement) (1:20) [incomplete
Keith played a Mozart concerto, KV 467. The orchestra, conducted by Dennis Russel-Davies, also played “Bridge of Light for Viola and
Orchestra” and Stravinsky compositions (?).
Review by Richard S. Ginell
This is Keith Jarrett's most accomplished collection of classical compositions yet, seated squarely in the American East Coast neo-classical tradition
of Samuel Barber, David Diamond, Irving Fine, etc. Jarrett's writing for strings is masterful here; the lines move and interweave instead of being
shoveled on as in some pieces of the '70s, and the compositions have shape and direction. Most of all, they share a common feeling of reflection and
an unabashed willingness to let the instrumental soloists sing. "Elegy for Violin and String Orchestra" is a particularly gorgeous and inspired piece of
music, the "Adagio for Oboe and String Orchestra" is not far behind, and "Bridge of Light for Viola and Orchestra" transfers Jarrett's classical idiom to
a full chamber orchestra, now with overtones of late-period Vaughan Williams. Jarrett himself plays the piano on his "Sonata for Violin and Piano,"
whose third movement hearkens back to the repetitive grooves of the solo concerts. Three of the four works date from 1984, while Bridge of Light
was written in 1990 -- and in the orchestral pieces, ECM has given conductor Thomas Crawford and the excellent Fairfield Orchestra glowing sound.
Though these works have nothing to do with jazz per se, all Jarrett buffs should investigate this music on its own terms.
250
1992
19920228-0301 Keith Jarrett – Michala Petri
Keith Jarrett (harpsichord) Michala Petri (alto & soprano recorder)
February 28th, 29th & March 1st 1992, Cavelight Studio, New Jersey
Bach Sonaten
1-4 Sonate h moll, BWV 1030 17.14
5-7 Sonate Es Dur, BWV 1031 9.08
8-10 Sonate A Dur (transp. G Dur), BWV 1032 11.23
11-14 Sonate C Dur, BWV 1033 8.05
15-18 Sonate e moll, BWV 1034 12.43
19-22 Sonate E Dur (transp. F Dur), BWV 1035 11.39
1-22: Bach – 6 Sonatas, BWV 1030-1035 (RCA Victor 09026 61274 2)
1. Track 1 (41:49)
2. I Loves You Porgy (Gershwin) / All Blues (Miles Davis) (9:01)
3. You Don´t Know What Love Is (Gene De Paul) (4:07)
4. Part 4 (12:52)
5. Old Man River(Kern – Hammerstein II) (9:00)
6. I Should Care(Stordhal - Weston - Cahn)(5:57)
251
19920720 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 20th 1992, London, UK
252
19920725 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) (DI) +++
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 25th 1992, Jazz à Juan, Pinède Gould, Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins, France
1. In Your Own Sweet Way (D. Brubeck)(10:51) [presenter's voice over applause from 10:39 to 10:50]
2. My Funny Valentine (R. Rodgers – L. Hart)(11:24)
3. Bye Bye Blackbird (R. Henderson) (13:30) [presenter's voice over applause from 12:57 to 13:22]
4. You Won’t Forget Me (K. Goell – F. Spielman)(8:40) [presenter's voice over applause from 8:15 to the end of the track]
5. Straight no chaser (Thelonius Monk)(7:24) [presenter's voice over applause from 7:12 to the end of the track]
6. Meaning Of The Blues (B. Troup – L. Worth) (15:05) [presenter's voice over applause from 14:41 to the end of the track]
7. Butch And Butch (O. Nelson) (11:38) [presenter's voice over applause from 11:07 to 11:30]
8. . I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer) (9:33) [presenter's voice over applause from 8:57 to 9:14]
9. Summer Night (A. Dubin – H. Warren)(5:45) [presenter's voice over applause from 5:08]
253
19920916 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Paul Motian (dr)
September 16, 1992, Deer Head Inn, Allentown, PA
1 Solar(Chuck Wayne) 11.21
2 Basin Street Blues (Spencer Williams) 9.09
3 Chandra (Jaki Byard) 9.21
4 You Don't Know What Love Is (DePaul – Raye) 12.55
5 You And The Night And The Music (Schwartz-Dietz) 5.41
6 Bye Bye Blackbird (R. Henderson) 10.13
7 It's Easy To Remember (R. Rodgers – L. Hart) 7.47
1-7: Keith Jarrett - At The Deer Head Inn (ECM (G) 1531)
This album was supposed to be a documentary recording only, and wasn't originally planned for release, but
as Jarrett says in the sleeve notes "I think that you can hear on this tape, what jazz is all about".
254
19921017 Keith Jarrett Solo (br)
Keith Jarrett (p)
1992, Monaco
1 Part 1 8.15
2 Jarrett arguing about coughing 1.27
3 Part 2 27.34
4 Part 3 21.20
5 applause & Keith Jarrett talking 5.32
6 Encore 1 6.53
7 Encore 2 5.04
[CD] Keith Jarrett Solo – Monaco 1992
255
1993
19930220 Keith Jarrett Solo (PA) (FL+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
February 20th 1993, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands
1. Part I (43:02)
2. Part II (33:00)
3. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (6:33)
4. Blues (4:48) [a few seconds missing at the beginning
The concert started just before 21:00. He played one major piece. It was about 45 minutes of improvisation. After the break, he played
another major piece. It was about 30 minutes of improvisation. He played two encores. The first was the standard ‘Over the Rainbow’.
The second was a few-minute blues. (Arno Jacobs)
1. Part II (31:12)
2. Encore I (5:47)
3. Danny Boy (Traditional) (5:26)
4. Blues (4:42)
256
19930300 Keith Jarrett With Orchestra
Marcia Butler (oboe) Michelle Makarski (violin) Patricia McCarty (viola) Keith Jarrett (p) The Fairfield Orchestra, Thomas
Crawford (cond)
March 1993, State University Of NY, Purchase, NY
1 Elegy For Violin And String Orchestra 14.50
2 Adagio For Oboe And String Orchestra 9.54
Sonata For Violin And Piano 27.11
3 Celebration 6.15
4 Song 7.00
5 Dance 3.09
6 Birth 8.34
7 Dance 2.13
8 Bridge Of Light For Viola And Orchestra 17.01
1-8: Keith Jarrett - Bridge Of Light (ECM (G) 1450)
257
19930531 Keith Jarrett with Orchestra
Keith Jarrett (p) Patricia McCarty (viola) Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra, Kazuhiro Koizumi (cond)
May 31st 1993, Izumi Hall, Osaka, Japan
258
19930619 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
June 19th 1993, Jazz In June, Ravinia Festival, Highland Park, IL
259
19930725 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP) +++
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 25 1993, Open Theater East, Yomiuri Land, Tokyo, Japan
1 In Your Own Sweet Way (Brubeck)
2 Butch And Butch (O. Nelson)
3 Basin Street Blues (Spencer Williams)
4 Solar(Chuck Wayne) / Extension
5 If I Were A Bell (F. Loesser)
6 I Fall In Love Too Easily (S. Cahn – J. Styne)
7 Oleo (Rollins)
8 Bye Bye Blackbird (R. Henderson)
9 The Cure (Keith jarrett)
10 I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer)
1-10: Keith Jarrett Live At Open Theater East 1993 (VideoArts Music (J))
K. Jarrett, Trio
Media: CD-R
Duration: 128.04
Sound quality: E
Source: DVD Live at open theater east
1. Applause
2. In Your Own Sweet Way (D. Brubeck) (13.05)
3. Butch And Butch (O. Nelson) (7.35)
4. Basin Street Blues (Spencer Williams) (7.23)
5. Solar(Chuck Wayne)/Extension (27.08)
6. Applause
7. If I Were A Bell (Frank Loesser)(15.06)
8. Instruments tuning
9. I fall in love too easily (S. Cahn – J. Styne) (10.00)
10. Oleo (Sonny Rollins)(11.38)
11. Bye Bye Blackbird (R. Henderson) (12.01)
12. The Cure (Keith Jarrett)(11.29)
13. I though about you (Van Heusen -Mercer) (7.24)
260
19930900 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
September 1993, Purchase, NY
1 Suite HWV 452 9.23
2 Suite HWV 447 7.33
3 Suites II - No. 7 HWV 440 8.05
4 Suites I - No. 8 HWV 433 12.46
5 Suites I - No. 2 HWV 427 9.19
6 Suites I - No. 4 HWV 429 13.52
7 Suites I - No. 1 HWV 426 12.28
1-7: Keith Jarrett - G.F. Handel: Suites For Keyboard (ECM (G) 1530)
L’interpretazione delle Suite di Handel, fa parte del repertorio classico standard? Purtroppo direi
proprio di no! E perché? Forse è musica troppo facile da suonare, che non rende in maniera virtuosis-
tica di fronte ad un pubblico??! E chi sono i grandi interpreti di Handel?
Partiamo dall’ultima : i maggiori interpreti, dopo l’ascolto di questo CD, sono senz’altro Jarrett e
Richter! Solo loro due hanno dedicato un CD antologico a questo grande del Barocco; degli altri vi
sono poche tracce, salvo un pezzo messo qua e la ogni tanto, tra cui mi viene in mente Gulda alla
“Sapienza” a Roma nel 1965 con la Suite in mi minore, oppure, sempre alla “Sapienza”, Fischer nel
1949 con la Suite in re minore! Gould, invece, fece degli esperimenti sul clavicembalo moderno senza
risultati eclatanti.
Allora chi sono i due rimasti, forse tra i più grandi del 900’!
Di Richter, non starò qui a parlare, ma è il più grande interprete della seconda metà del novecento, e
dedicò ad Handel alcuni stupendi concerti live; uno di questi lo si può trovare in un CD della “Russia
261
revelation”(10045) con cinque Suites (la n°2-9-12-14-16). Il concerto è impeccabile, ma la qualità
della registrazione live non è delle migliori, ma il Cd è assolutamente da avere!!
Jarrett penso sia il primo a dedicare un CD in studio completamente dedicato ad Handel con sette
Suites. Allora veniamo alla prima domanda: sono facili da suonare? Sicuramente sono più facili della
musica di Bach, ma sono brani molto più scoperti, in cui nessuna nota deve essere fatta a caso, e tutti
i fraseggi devono essere cesellati. Una nota sbagliata, o un fraseggio fuori posto si noterebbe subito,
come in Mozart, ed in questo Jarrett è assolutamente impeccabile. La scelta delle Suite cade poi su
quelle meno famose; non c’è quella con la Passacaglia, manca quella con la Sarabanda ( Kubrik la usò
in “Barry Lindon”), manca quella con le variazioni sul “Fabbro armonioso”.
Secondo me questa scelta è stata fatta a posta per mettere in risalto una peculiarità della scrittura di
Handel: la vitalità ritmica e melodica, e la semplicità e chiarezza del contrappunto!
Ascoltiamo l’attacco della Suite n°16 e la precisione degli abbellimenti assolutamente sempre filologi-
ci! Oppure la Fuga della Suite n°2 (l’unico pezzo famoso), come l’entrate delle voci e gli incatenamenti
contrappuntistici siano sempre chiari grazie alla precisione del tocco ed alla assoluta indipendenza
delle dita di Jarrett. Gustiamo ancora il bellissimo preludio e fuga che apre la Suite n°8, degna di un
Bach, dove tutte le tensioni agogiche sono rese con la dovuta drammaticità; ed ancora la Fuga in mi
minore della Suite n°4 dove non viene perso un solo inciso ritmico.
Questo è sicuramente il miglior CD di classica di Jarrett ( forse insieme ai concerti di Mozart registrati
recentemente ), e speriamo che prima o poi scavi ancora nel repertorio Barocco, magari tirando fuori
le Suites di Purcell ( so che le ha suonate in concerto). Una nota di merito all’alta qualità della regist-
razione dell’ ECM, mai metallica! Speriamo che questo CD ci faccia scoprire il genio tastieristico di
Handel, che in queste musiche ha messo l’energia e la sensualità dei migliori Oratori ed Opere, e ci
faccia apprezzare ancora di più l’arte di Jarrett, che secondo me risiede nella perfetta conoscenza di
TUTTA la musica!
Marco Lo Muscio
262
19931031 Keith Jarrett Solo (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p)
Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall, Istanbul, Turkey
263
1994
19940603 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
June 3rd 1994, Blue Note, New York, NY, 1st set,
1 In Your Own Sweet Way (D. Brubeck) 17.59
2 How Long Has This Been Going On? (G&I Gershwin) 9.09
3 While We're Young (A. Wilder) 11.01
4 Partners (Charlie Parker – K. Jarrett) 8.28
5 No Lonely Nights (K. Jarrett) 7.16
6 Now's The Time (Charlie Parker) 8.30
7 Lament (J.J. Johnson) 7.09
1-7: Keith Jarrett At The Blue Note: The Complete Recordings (ECM (G) 1575/80)
264
19940605 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
June 5th 1994, Blue Note, New York, NY 1st set
1 On Green Dolphin Street (B. Kaper – N. Washington) 21.07
2 My Romance (R. Rodgers – L. Hart) 9.40
3 Don't Ever Leave Me (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein) 5.08
4 You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (C. Porter) 6.58
5 La Valse Blue (R. Wilbur) 7.03
6 No Lonely Nights (K. Jarrett) 6.21
7 Straight, No Chaser (Th. Monk) 6.13
1-7: Keith Jarrett At The Blue Note: The Complete Recordings (ECM (G) 1575/80)
The six-CD box set Keith Jarrett at the Blue Note fully documents three nights (six complete sets from June 3-5, 1994) by his trio with bassist Gary
Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette. Never mind that this same group has already had ten separate releases since 1983; this box is still well
worth getting. The repertoire emphasizes (but is not exclusively) standards, with such songs as "In Your Own Sweet Way," "Now's the Time," "Oleo,"
"Days of Wine and Roses," and "My Romance" given colorful and at times surprising explorations. Some of the selections are quite lengthy (including
a 26-and-a-half-minute version of "Autumn Leaves") and Jarrett's occasional originals are quite welcome; his 28-and-a-half-minute "Desert Sun"
reminds one of the pianist's fully improvised Solo Concerts of the 1970s. Throughout the three nights at the Blue Note, the interplay among the musi-
cians is consistently outstanding. Those listeners concerned about Jarrett's tendency to "sing along" with his piano have little to fear for, other than
occasional shouts and sighs, he wisely lets his piano do the talking.
265
19940624 Keith Jarrett Solo (BR)
June 24, 1994 Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, CA,USA
Official recording, THE RAINBOW COLORED LOTUS / A BIG HAND FOR HANSHIN,
Polydor, 2 CDs (with other artists)
From the Japanese album The Rainbow Colored Lotus / A Big Hand For Hanshin. Originally performed for the new year eve
special "Symphony for Earth" aired by NHK TV , Tokyo, December 31, 1994
266
1995
19950100 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p) (???)
January 1995, Italy
1. Part II (30:55)
2. Danny Boy (Traditional) (4:47)
3. Blues (4:33)
Probably not without a sense of irony to the setting of this recording, Part 1 climaxes into a sheer citation of the famous aria
Nessun Dorma from the opera Turandot by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini.
267
19950312 Keith Jarrett Solo (DI) (+++)
Keith Jarrett
Part I (34:54)
Part II (20:27)
Speech (00:25)
Encore: Danny Boy (Traditional) (04:53)
Encore: Mon Coeur Est Rouge (Keith Jarrett) (04:44)
268
19950626 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) +++
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
June 26th 1995, Arena, Verona, Italy
Disc II
269
19950705 Keith Jarrett Trio (DI) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 5th 1995, Jazz à Juan, Pinède Gould, Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins, France
Disc I
Disc II
270
1996
19960320-0405 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
According to [Link], Keith Jarrett played ten concerts with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette in Japan between March 20,
1996 and April 5, 1996.
Disc two
d2t01 All The Things You Are (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein) [Link].50]
d2t02 Nardis (Miles Davis)[Link].12]
d2t03 La Valse Bleue (R. Wilbur) [Link].70]
d2t04 . I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer) [Link].45]
d2t05 Woody’n You (Dizzy Gillespie) [Link].63]
d2t06 Blame it on my youth (O. Levant – E. Heyman) [Link].12]
Total time: [Link].27
271
19960330 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo, Japan
272
Keith Jarrett piano
Gary Peacock double-bass
Jack DeJohnette drums
Recorded March 20, 1996 at Orchard Hall, Tokyo
Engineer: Toshio Yamanaka
Produced by Manfred Eicher
Keith Jarrett’s trend-setting standards trio returns to Japan in celebration of its 15th year in this commanding live recording,
which from bare pianistic threads spins an up-tempo version of “It Could Happen To You” to kick things off just right.
With DeJohnette’s brushes flying and Peacock likewise enamored, free and easy exchanges abound. At this point we’re
already hooked, so that “Never Let Me Go” becomes a mantra to guide us through the rest. There’s so much tenderness
from Jarrett here, it’s a wonder he can emote with so little vocal breach. This, along with Peacock’s soulful slides, makes
for one of the most heartwarming tracks in the trio’s output. Peacock’s early lepidopteran solo in “Summer Night” traces
Jarrett’s masterful story arc word for word and shifts into high gear for “John’s Abbey” in a chain of powerful music-
making. The trio’s sparkling rendition of “Billie’s Bounce” is a splash of cold water on the face. Jarrett’s right hand slaloms
through the left’s gentle punctuations before a concluding solo from DeJohnette puts the icing on this positively exuberant
cake. It’s one of a few standout moments from the drummer, who relays hand percussion and hi-hat in “I’ll Remember
April (DePaul – Raye - Johnston)” and leads the trio into an organic fadeout. All of which makes the relatively brief “Mona
Lisa” a magical moment. Painting with a dark and bar-lit hue, its grandeur is obscured, embraced, inhaled.
Two tracks find Jarrett drawing improvised pieces from the energies at hand. “Last Night When We Were Young” blends
into “Caribbean Sky,” while “My Funny Valentine” morphs into “Song.” In each there is a hip nostalgia, Jarrett’s sweeping
gestures the perfect foil for every tectonic shift the rhythm section brings topside. Like a mountain shadow looming in the
twilight, the latter offers especial solace, standing as a vestige of times we have yet to know. DeJohnette’s quiet rumblings
are a distant thunder, even as Peacock’s restless song offers the promise of a new day.
Were it not for the due process this trio brings to every verdict, it might be easy to let these live recordings blend into one
another. Yet these are cases without perpetrators, whose crimes are absolved the moment they are committed. Like a virus
that adapts to vaccinations, their creativity spreads with an all-consuming will to be felt. Only here, rather than pain and
decay, there is affirmation, resurrection, and spirit. We encounter this most vividly in “Autumn Leaves,” which in addition
to being one of the trio’s signatures finds delicate balance here through Jarrett’s anticipatory style. Jarrett makes block
chords blossom with melody, just as he deepens the single note. In the wake of such marvel, perhaps only this rhythm sec-
tion can sustain the flame with the skill that Peacock and DeJohnette possess in spades. DeJohnette’s brushes in particular
keep up with every roll, while Peacock’s excitations somehow ring contemplatively.
Jarrett and his band mates carry a tune without ever letting us forget that they wouldn’t be here without that tune to begin
with. Whether through bold, linear lines or atmospheric touches, the trio puts melody over matter, because in the end melo-
dy is all that matters.
273
19960401 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
April 1st, 1996, Shibuya Orchard Hall, Tokyo, Japan
274
19960706 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 6th 1996, Brussels, Belgium
Also circulating as a July 1996 / Paris concert
1. Applause (0.30)
2. Broadway (8.50)
3. Things aint what they used to be(Ellington) (8.30)
4. I’ll Remember April (DePaul – Raye - Johnston) (13.13)
5. The Old Country (Nat Adderley, Curtis Lewis) (10.46)
6. When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)(7.55)
275
19960715 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater, Istanbul, Turkey
(International Istanbul Jazz Festival)
Mike L.:
“During the first set, he complained about a bum key on the piano and kept tapping it – Gary and Jack joined in on a blue improv, then he
ended the set early so that the piano would get fixed. A friend of mine presented the show and managed to find a tuner to fix the piano.
Second set was great and Jarrett seemed happy. My friend handed him the cheque after the show and all Jarrett said was, “Next time,
make sure the piano is tuned”.”
Encores:
4. Mon Coeur est Rouge (Keith Jarrett) 5:49
5. Danny Boy (traditional) 6:14
6. Unknown Blues (Similar to, but different from, other mid-tempo "Blues" played in KJ's known releases) 2:55
7. Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) 4:18
276
19961023 Keith Jarrett Solo (DI) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 23rd 1996, Teatro Comunale, Modena, Italy
Disc I
1. Part I (37:17)
2 Part II (34:41)
3. Encore I: Danny Boy (Traditional) (06:11)
Disc II
4. Encore II (08:53)
4. Encore III: Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (07:17)
6. Encore IV (09:44)
7. Encore V: Mon Coeur est Rouge (Keith Jarrett) (03:51)* (cut)
Ho avuto modo di assistere ad una delle esibizioni per solo piano di Jarrett, al teatro comunale di Ferrara, il
25 ottobre 1996, ai tempi della registrazione del cd “La Scala”: mi aspettavo molto, ma non sono riuscito
ad entrare in sintonia con quello che sentivo, perché più di ogni altra cosa ricordo la tosse della gente che
disturbò inevitabilmente anche lo stesso Jarrett, che si fermò per qualche istante e invitò la gente a scaricare
la propria tosse per non disturbarlo successivamente. Posso dire che è stato un concerto convenzionale,
dove l’artista, in qualche modo impossibilitato a raggiungere la sua estasi per via della rottura che era
avvenuta col pubblico, si è spesso soffermato su figure armoniche e temi che non impressionarono parti-
colarmente la platea. Affrontò atmosfere blues staccandosi decisamente dal pianismo contemporaneo di
stampo europeo che contraddistingue le sue esibizioni migliori, suonando come in tutte le sue esibizioni
due lughe “suites”. Il bis del concerto fu affidato a “Over the Rainbow”, davvero una splendida inter-
pretazione che si trova anche sul cd “La Scala”.
È impressionante quanto il disabituarsi ai concerti influenzi negativamente la capacità di apprezzare il
suono di un teatro, naturale e privo del cristallino reverbero di una registrazione su cd. Ascoltare Jarrett in
uno dei suoi cd per piano, apprezzare e immaginare lui al pianoforte nel ricreare questo suono, e poi assis-
tere ad un suo concerto e sentire un suono ben diverso, è tutta un’altra cosa, si corre veramente il rischio di
non apprezzarlo a sufficienza. E’ poi incredibile quante volte si alzi e si vederlo contorcersi attorno allo
strumento, segno che il processo creativo ha molta influenza sul suo fisico in quel momento.
[Link]
19961028 Keith Jarrett Solo (fl+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 28th 1996, Torino, Italy Teatro Regio
CDI
Part I 42:14
Part II 31:27
Cd II
Encore Danny Boy (Traditional) 5:15
Encore Mon Coeur est Rouge (Keith Jarrett) 6:19
Encore : Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) /Blues 7:10 (end Missing)
277
19961030 Keith Jarrett Solo (fl+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 30th 1996, Teatro Carlo Felice, Genova, Italy
October 30, 1996
Teatro Carlo Felice,
Genova, Italy
Set I
1. Track I 30:49
Set II
TT 78:15
Tracks 2 -3 are the same track interrupted by an applause and a short pause – KJ restarts playing exactly where he was interrupted.
1,2,3,5,6: Keith Jarrett – A Multitude of Angels (ECM )
A Multitude of Angels is a 4-CD set of recordings from a series of solo concerts in Italy in October 1996, documenting the
conclusion of Keith Jarretts experiments with long-form improvisation in performances from Modena, Ferrara, Turin, and
Genoa.
These were the last concerts I played having no breaks within each set, Keith Jarrett explains in his liner notes.
The arc of the music is characteristically comprehensive: Jazz is ever present here, alongside my deep closeness with clas-
sical music (modern and ancient, Ives and Bach).
278
Keith Jarrett: A Multitude of Angels
By JOHN KELMAN
November 8, 2016
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But a little over a decade prior to that, another of jazz's greatest musicians of the past half centu-
ry, pianist Keith Jarrett, was quietly and without yet letting on to the public, losing his ability to
not just deliver the marathon solo concerts where he seemed directly channeled to the ether,
pulling form with absolutely no preplanning or preconception; he was reaching the point where a
then-little known condition called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (aka or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis,
these days going by the bigger mouthful of Systematic Exertion Intolerance Disease) was about
to force the pianist to not just withdraw from public performance, but from playing altogether.
All of which makes A Multitude of Angels not just a reason for celebrating the release of four solo
performances from before he went quiet for two years (though that would be reason enough); it
is far more important than that. A Multitude of Angels is also a case where the pianist's spirit truly
triumphed over physical limitations that would hobble most...and would ultimately interfere with
a professional career on the cusp of entering its fourth decade.
Documenting what would become the final four uninterrupted, long-form solo performances that
Jarrett would ever deliver—his last four concerts period, in fact, before his two-year hiatus—this
four-disc box set provides at least some insight into Jarrett's struggle to overcome a worsening
and, at the time, undiagnosed physical condition...though, based on the performances themsel-
ves, it would be hard to detect that his worsening condition was having any impact at all. Jarrett
describes, in his personally written liner notes, ..."how sick and amazingly weak I 'seemed' to be"
and the "constant nausea" that are amongst CFS' symptoms. Still, his performances across these
four nights in October, 1996 are as filled with imagination and invention—energy, even—as any of
his solo piano recordings from the time, including Vienna Concert (1992) and La Scala (1997).
At the time, few would have known just how difficult it was for Jarrett to make it onto the stage
on those four nights; in truth, even now, few who have not suffered the ravages of CFS or a simi-
larly crippling chronic fatigue condition can fully appreciate the sheer profundity of what Jarrett
describes. Today, with CFS a more documented and discussed medical condition, too many not
in-the-know still suggest that those suffering should "just get up and pull yourself up by your
bootstraps," or that that "all you need to do is exercise." As well-intended as these uninformed
suggestions may be, the simplest way to explain them away is to compare CFS sufferers to an
automobile: say what you will, if there's no gas in the tank, that car isn't going anywhere.
Perhaps the statement that best articulates how crippling CFS can be comes from an earlier inter-
view, where Jarrett indicated that it wasn't just about being unable to play; it was the idea that
just looking at his piano was exhausting.
279
For two years, from 1996 to '98, the pianist went completely quiet, as he explored possible ave-
nues for which, at least in Western medicine, there remains no definitive treatment to this day.
But when he reemerged in 1998, releasing The Melody at Night, With You (1999)—a series of
wonderfully intimate solo piano interpretations of jazz and Great American Songbook standards
which, recorded at home and over the course of months, were atypical in their brevity, sparsen-
ess and relatively unembellished form—it was clear that things had changed.
Still, it was a welcome return for Jarrett's legion of fans. Jarrett may have been back but, with
CFS being a generally chronic condition that, even today, is at best managed but rarely cured,
gone was the pianist capable of delivering completely improvised solo sets that could last
anywhere from 35-80 uninterrupted minutes, without breaks. When the pianist—who first came
to greater international attention for his marathon solo concerts with 1975's Köln Concert—
returned to unaccompanied live shows, rather than continuing with the lengthy, uninterrupted
improvisations of years past, Jarrett chose, instead, to comprise his concert of a series of shorter
spontaneously composed pieces, usually ranging from as little as three minutes to rarely more
then ten. Still, documented concerts—including the particularly potent Carnegie Hall Concert
(2006) and Testament: Paris/London (2009)—are clear evidence that Jarrett's stamina may have
been reduced, but his creative juices and fount of ideas were flowing as well as they ever had.
In the ensuing years—and as undeniably wonderful as his solo performances have continued to
be—Jarrett seems to have fallen prey to something that working in the context of shorter improvs
appears to have rendered inevitable: while the actual improvisations are as individual as they've
ever been, a typical Jarrett solo performance in the new millennium is likely to consist of a num-
ber of stylistic touchstones, including, amongst others: atonality; fugue-driven classicism; blues-
tinged, gospel-informed joyful explorations; and standards-inspired referenced to the jazz langu-
age. These markers in no way diminish the quality of his solo performances, but they do add a
certain air of predictability that was far less prevalent—if, indeed, to be found at all—in his ear-
lier, long-form solo concerts.
The recently released (for the first time in its entirety on CD) Concerts—Bregenz/Munchen (1982;
reissued 2013) is but one example of how, rather than thinking on a smaller scale that seems to
intrinsically define certain stylistic markers, Jarrett's epic improvisations feel more well and truly
drawn from the ether; pieces that evolve organically from a completely blank slate and may, in-
deed, possess a number of styles within; but, more often than not, possessing an overarching
narrative driven by the various motifs that evolved naturally and seamlessly from what came be-
fore.
A Multitude of Angels' four concerts—recorded in the Italian towns of Modena, Ferrara, Torino and
Genova—are no different, with individual sets lasting anywhere, not including encores, from 30 to
45 minutes (with two sets per night). Musically, they range from strong classical roots—looking
as far back as the 18th century (specifically Jarrett's channeling of Bach's counterpoint-driven
fugues into his own spontaneously composed music), through to late-19th to mid-20th century
masters like Debussy, Satie and Ives—to blues and gospel-infused passages with rhythms so
propulsive that Jarrett's foot can be heard stomping hard, as an ostinato slowly emerges, for
example, in the midst of "Modena, Pt. I," which opens in more abstract lyricism.
All the markers that have come to define Jarrett's post-CFS solo performances can be heard at
various points throughout A Multitude of Angels, but rather than being self-contained entities de-
fined by a specific touchstone, they come in the context of ever-evolving pieces where there's
absolutely no way to predict when and where they will suddenly appear. And it's that very unpre-
dictability that makes A Multitude of Angels Jarrett's most richly rewarding solo release in many
years...and a strong contender to unseat 1978's six-CD Sun Bear Concerts (documenting five
stellar nights in Japan, 1976) as the very pinnacle of the pianist's career as an improvising solo
pianist.
But where A Multitude of Angels differs from what came before is this: Jarrett may have been
suffering from a crippling fatigue infinitely more severe than "just being tired"—along with nausea
that would cause many artists to cancel their performance—but the vibrancy, energy and power
that imbues these four performances is all the more remarkable for it, a true triumph of the spi-
rit—or, perhaps, the result of one or more of the various angels referenced in the title of the box.
Jarrett suggests, in his liners, that there were, indeed, angels aplenty, which "include[d] everyo-
ne around me; the audiences, the pianos, the sickness (angel of death?), the Sonosax DAT Re-
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corder (which had no glitches the whole time), the choice of transformer-less mikes, my manager
and my wife (certainly not exactly in that order)...there is no other reason I can give for the un-
believable experience I reentered. They took their places aside of me and urged me, gently, to go
on."
And go on he does, across four discs that add up to nearly five hours of extraordinary, spiritually
healing—even if it did no more than heal the pianist while he was actually playing, but as any CFS
sufferer will tell you, any respite is worth having—and, at many times, transcendent music, all
composed in the moment and with no prior preconception. Dissecting individual performances
feels somehow pointless; every one of them is a reminder (as if any were needed) of the veritab-
le force of nature Jarrett was, pre-CFS. Of a time when a simple (or not so simple, as in the ope-
ning of "Modena, Pt. II") premise could become the catalyst for an effortless flow of ideas, of me-
lodies, of pulses, of abstractions...of anything that the pianist seemed capable of linking together
with Promethean yet somehow inevitable connectivity. Of building pieces that were a constant
surprise while, at the same time, being somehow anticipated, because the only thing that could
be predicted was Jarrett's unerring unpredictability.
Even the shorter encores are stellar, including a particularly soft and melancholic
"Danny Boy" in Modena; a brief, untitled "Ferrara Encore" that seems to touch, spiritually—and in
its spacious depth of tone and touch (two constants throughout all four performances)—on the
pianist's studies of Gurdjieff Work and Sufism; the exuberant blues of "Genova Encore 1"; and a
particularly evocative version of the Great American Songbook chestnut "Over the Rainbow,"
where Jarrett's ability to reshape even the most familiar source material into his very own proves
that he may have been running on fumes by this point in the performance, but he was still capab-
le of the improvisational élan that has distinguished him since he first began exploring solo piano
improvisations on Facing You (1972).
Whether or not there are any other unreleased solo performances in the archives—Jarrett recor-
ded these and other shows on his own, using a couple of microphones and a reliable recorder,
and is consequently credited as both engineer and producer, with ECM label head/producer Manf-
red Eicher taking the nod for mastering the set alongside engineer Christoph Stickel—is uncertain.
There is certainly some reason to hope.
But if A Multitude of Angels represents the last, 20 years later, of Jarrett's epic improvisational
forays to be released, it's as strong a swan song of that period in his life as any. More, truthfully,
because in its revelatory nature, surprising energy and persistent invention, this collection of four
outstanding concerts that few could manage in good health, let alone Jarrett's declining physical
condition—where the pianist writes that he "was busy playing as though it was the last time"—
stands amongst the very best of the pianist's long-form solo piano releases. It's a set whose im-
portance cannot be underestimated and should not be undervalued.
"I swear: the angels were there," Jarrett also writes in his liners. After hearing A Multitude of An-
gels, it's very possible that, while you may not see them, you might very well hear them, too.
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By STEFANO BATTAGLIA
November 21, 2016
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La ECM ha appena pubblicato A Multitude of Angels, un cofanetto di quattro dischi che documentano altret-
tante staordinarie performance solistiche di Keith Jarrett registrate in Italia nel 1996. Ne abbiamo approfit-
tato per chiedere ad uno dei principali pianisti italiani, Stefano Battaglia, una riflessione su questo ambizioso
progetto discografico.
Quello che Battaglia ci ha inviato, è molto di più. Unendo la passione di fan di Jarrett con l'acume tecnico di
straordinario improvvisatore, Battaglia (che a sua volta pubblicherà un doppio CD dal vivo per la ECM tra
qualche mese), offre una delle più appassionanti analisi dello spirito Jarrettiano mai pubblicate, scritta con la
consapevolezza e l'introspezione che l'ascolto di ogni performance solistica del pianista di Allentown merita e
richiede.
Pubblichiamo quindi l'articolo in maniera integrale, con tutte le sue osservazioni, digressioni e riflessioni,
senza editing, quasi fosse un concerto solistico di Jarrett registratto dall'inizio alla fine. Manca solo un bis
(almeno per ora).
Improvvisazione spontanea
Da sempre, i grandi improvvisatori della storia della musica, dal rinascimento ad oggi, sono stati musicisti
sofisticati e pieni di conoscenza. Spesso dei virtuosi del proprio strumento. Dunque questa spontaneità,
questa meraviglia, questo incanto della ricerca e della scoperta rimaneva per lo più un gioco segreto per
musicisti naif o dilettanti, dunque con legittime ambizioni espressive ma nessuna ambizione formale.
Inoltre gli strumenti a tastiera, relativamente moderni, condizionati dal temperamento e dunque già comple-
tamente separati dalla natura primitiva dello strumento, sono l'emblema della sofisticazione. Il pianoforte,
tra tutti gli strumenti a tastiera, è certamente il più sofisticato, e i più grandi improvvisatori solitari degli
ultimi quattro secoli sono indubbiamente pianisti perché il piano è certamente uno strumento fatto apposta
per favorire la prassi solitaria.
Come è noto tutti i più grandi concertisti di clavicordo e clavicembalo nel sei e settecento e molti tra i più
grandi pianisti dell'ottocento avevano almeno l'esperienza dell'improvvisazione. Alcuni erano addirittura
grandi improvvisatori. Quasi sempre era sufficiente un basso continuo, una progressione armonica, una pic-
cola cellula melodica, e la mente e il corpo (la tecnica) favìcevano il resto. Ma sempre con un canovaccio di
partenza: che fosse un'aria popolare, una cadenza interludio o un semplice ritornello, tutto era potenzial-
mente utile per sfoggiare virtuosismo e arte della variazione ritmica, melodica e armonica. Ma la composizi-
one no, quella ha sempre avuto i suoi tempi meditati, la forma deve poter essere dominata e controllata,
nulla può essere lasciato al caso o alla pura emozione.
Il percorso artistico di Keith Jarrett contiene due caratteristiche straordinarie: il pianista di Allentown è
certamente un grande improvvisatore, e lo sarebbe qualsiasi strumento suonasse, anche fosse uno strumen-
to primitivo o una zucca vuota, ma anziché vivere l'improvvisazione come gesto liberatorio, compone. Com-
pone in tempo reale pur sapendo -immagino-che nessuna improvvisazione potrà giungere a risultati formali
sublimi come è in grado la composizione, ma è disposto ad accogliere la sfida sapendo che, per contro,
nessun interprete al mondo, anche il più sublime, riuscirà mai raggiungere una verità tanto sincera e dunque
una temperatura espressiva, quanto un sapiente improvvisatore.
Per questo il piano solo, così come siamo ormai abituati a considerarlo oggi, prima di Keith Jarrett non e-
sisteva: persino nel jazz del '900 i grandi virtuosi dell'improvvisazione al pianoforte tenevano rari concerti in
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solitudine (più facilmente si ritagliavano degli squarci solistici nell'ambito di concerti con il gruppo), e anche
quando lo facevano, né più né meno come i loro predecessori del barocco e del romanticismo, aderivano ad
un repertorio, in qualche modo dunque riproponendo da un punto di vista formale la formula del concertismo
classico, con una precisa drammaturgia predeterminata dalla combinazione di brani.
Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, Erroll Garner, Bud Powell, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, combinavano l'improvvi-
sazione ad un repertorio definito e pre-esistente, sia che fossero standards dalla grande tradizione di Broad-
way e Hollywood, sia che si trattasse di composizioni originali.
Appena dopo Facing You, il suo album capolavoro d'esordio che si basava su brani e improvvisazioni in forma
relativamente breve, la performance di Jarrett si è cristallizzata su forme meditative, un flusso continuo e
senza soluzione di continuità, che combinava la temperatura espressiva -in quegli anni elevatissima-tipica
dell'improvvisazione spontanea con una forte tensione formale, da macrostruttura unitaria e compatta, seb-
bene assai eterogenea idiomaticamente. Queste due caratteristiche combinate (lunghezza dei brani e conte-
nuti sempre diversi e imprevedibili) si rivelarono da subito assai adatte per creare delle forme concerto
molto varie e libere nei contenuti e cangianti stilisticamente: il gospel e il blues assorbito agli esordi con i
Messengers di Art Blakey, la passione per molte tradizioni diverse del repertorio occidentale europeo, dal
barocco al classico, dal romanticismo al novecento; quindi alla adesione, a volte quasi miracolosa per forza
espressiva, a certe tradizioni extra-europee dell'Anatolia, probabilmente veicolate dalla sua adesione al la-
voro di Gurdjieff e forse, ipotizzo, dal sodalizio con Paul Motian, di origine armena.
Performance
Il percorso artistico di Keith Jarrett è certamente tra i più intensi e articolati di tutta la storia del jazz, sia per
l'ampiezza del raggio creativo che per la durata del suo zenith, lungo ben trent'anni, cominciato alla fine
degli anni sessanta e durato sino alla fine degli anni novanta, quando la salute del pianista è stata minata
dalla rara malattia che lo ha costretto dapprima ad un forzato riposo, quindi di lì in avanti a gestire diversa-
mente il rapporto con l'energia psicofisica e dunque la performance.
Chi segue i suoi recital di piano solo sin dai primi anni settanta, sa che sino a quel momento la struttura
formale dei concerti era costruita attorno all'improvvisazione totale di due lunghi brani, quasi sempre abitati
da più sezioni interne, talvolta con importanti cambiamenti narrativi ed idiomatici, e totalmente centrata sul
concetto letterale di performare: cioè dare forma, nello specifico, a qualcosa che prima di essere suonato nel
rito-concerto, semplicemente, non esiste, e dunque elaborando in tempo reale una composizione vera e
propria senza alcun materiale musicale preesistente. Una forma macrostruttura da circa un'ora di improvvi-
sazione spontanea o, meglio ancora, di composizione istantanea.
Si sono dati a questa prassi esecutiva nomi diversi, ma nel concreto la chiave privilegiata per comprendere
profondamente questi concerti è proprio l'impegno straordinario e simultaneo di corpo, mente e spirito, dove
tutti e tre i centri sono presenti contemporaneamente in modo totalizzante e tra loro armonizzato.
In questo senso il termine performance rimanda anche ad un'idea di sforzo straordinario (in senso letterale,
cioè raro, extra-ordinario), usato per lo più tra gli sportivi e gli attori. Da cui si comprende facilmente il mo-
tivo per il quale dopo questi concerti italiani e l'inizio della malattia la formula è stata abbandonata.
Va detto però che più difficilmente si giunge a risultati convincenti quando si aderisce ad un pre-testo
rappresentando un copione pre-esistente ripetuto infinite volte nelle prove (attori, danzatori, musicisti ese-
cutori) e allenamenti (sportivi).
L'improvvisatore al contrario si offre la possibilità privilegiata di essere lì in quel momento a raccontare con
la musica esattamente ciò che vuole e può raccontare in quel momento secondo lo strumento che gli capita,
alla sala che trova, all'audience che partecipa, cioè la sua verità nel momento presente. Tempo presente che
è l'unico tempo che conta, essendo il passato scomparso ed il futuro ancora lì da venire.
Dunque manifestarsi anziché rappresentare: una sfida stimolante, improba quanto affascinante.
Manifestazione
Questa è anche una delle chiavi per comprendere il largo consenso di Jarrett: la partecipazione ad un pro-
cesso di manifestazione, la natura speciale di questa esperienza quando condivisa. Esperienza che il pubblico
sente come straordinaria rispetto agli infiniti concerti-rappresentazione a cui è abituato. E non importa se
questo sentire è lucido e/o consapevole. La potenza della manifestazione è letteralmente incomparabile,
anche se confrontata alla più sublimi delle rappresentazioni. È proprio un'altra esperienza. È la differenza tra
una messa cantata, con la sua liturgia rappresentata e le prove del coro, ed un rito esoterico. Non voglio qui
parlare di magia, ovviamente, e scrivo esoterico in senso letterale (esoteros, interiore), dove appunto attra-
verso lo svelamento delle zone più segrete e intime di un'individuo, in questo caso il performer-sciamano,
tutti gli individui si rivelano, si riconoscono.
Il microcosmo individuale del pianista rivela un macrocosmo che comprende più individui, giungendo attra-
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verso la musica ad una possibile comprensione collettiva. È questo il mistero della musica, lo è sempre stato
e sempre lo sarà. La comprensione di questo mistero non è intellettuale, ma spirituale. Non si afferra in
quanto dinanzi a me, fuori da me, ma attraverso un processo empatico (en-dentro, pathos-sentimento) che
collega direttamente il pubblico al cantore. Pubblico che partecipa dunque ai travagli dell'improvvisatore,
quindi potenzialmente provando gli stessi travagli e dunque, in senso originario del termine, compassione
(cum-pathos). E anche con-passione! Questa spiega benissimo il motivo per cui la pletora di imitatori del
pianista-Jarrett non si avvicinano mai ai risultati musicali del loro modello: senza verità individuale, devozio-
ne e manifestazione, la musica è svuotata al solo oggetto, che, sebbene sublime, perfetto e ben congegnato
non è paragonabile all'altro tipo di esperienza, che è al contempo musicale ed extra-musicale.
Angeli
Lo spirito sembra dunque essere la porta principale, ed è proprio Jarrett nel libretto che accompagna il cofa-
netto ad offrire delle chiavi per comprendere il senso profondo della sua prassi solistica di performer-
improvvisatore: sia attraverso un titolo rivelatore che evoca la moltitudine di angeli e spiega che hanno cir-
condato il suo lavoro negli anni, e in particolare in quei concerti, durante i quali oltre ad essere il performer,
Jarrett si era forzatamente ritagliato un ruolo di produttore e tecnico del suono, registrando autonomamente
con un Dat Sonosax (angelico perchè ha sempre miracolosamente funzionato, appunto) appoggiato ad una
sedia sul palco. E rivela quanto decisivo sia nel rito la presenza vibrante e concentrata dell'altro, inteso come
audience. Dunque, come dicevo anche gli strumenti, le stanze entro cui avveniva il rito, ecc. Decisivo anche
in senso negativo, naturalmente, individuando negli angeli della morte i demoni che ostacolano il processo
creativo: la salute, sua e dell'audience (quanti colpi di tosse, doveva essere stata una stagione probante in
Italia il 1996!) e i vari rumori più o meno inevitabili di quando si compie un'esperienza condivisa con centi-
naia di persone, tutte diverse.
Musica devozionale
Se dovessi dunque esprimere una mia verità sulla musica di Keith Jarrett, oltrepassando l'illimitata ricono-
scenza e i miei personali gusti musicali, oggi direi che si tratta di musica devozionale, e per questo potente
al di là dell'oggetto musicale. Non mi interessa sapere l'obiettivo di tale devozione, qualsiasi Dio egli sia. Ciò
che mi interessa è il canale di collegamento, la devozione che viene veicolata e sprigiona in sé una tale
quantità di fede e verità individuale, forza e fragilità, bellezza e brutalità, luce e oscurità, innocenza e
consapevolezza, controllo e abbandono, da rendere ogni suo concerto appassionante e irrinunciabile a
prescindere dall'oggetto musicale che determina. Ha a che fare con l'espansione del cuore, l'invocazione,
l'inno, la lode e la preghiera. La relazione tra il fisico e il metafisico.
Ricordo la commozione mia e di altre diverse centinaia di persone ai concerti del cantante pakistano Nusrat
Fateh Ali Kahn.
La potenza del suo cantare in Qawwali, la musica devozionale Sufi, era per tutti noi totalmente metalinguis-
tica, dal momento che nessuno capiva una parola dei testi. Ma era sufficiente a collegare tutti i nostri cuori
in un modo che ad evocarlo mi mette ancora i brividi.
Radicalismo e successo
Certamente si deve ricordare quanto per l'America del '900 abbia pesato il multiculturalismo, nel bene e nel
male, ovviamente non solo per il jazz, e che Jarrett è un pianista americano: direi paradigmaticamente ame-
ricano, per la quantità di linguaggi che intreccia osmoticamente nella sua musica. Durante la mia gioventù
letteralmente invasa negli ascolti del suo lavoro della fine degli anni sessanta e di tutti gli anni settanta (tut-
to il lavoro, non solo quello in solo), mi domandavo le ragioni per le quali Keith Jarrett fosse così seguito da
un pubblico tanto vasto e trasversale pur facendo libera improvvisazione radicale, solitamente non di grande
auspicio per chi insegue il successo di massa. Nemmeno si può dire che abbia mostrato di cercare delibera-
tamente consenso concedendosi profusamente a media, uffici stampa, battage promozionali; né di essere
particolarmente disponibile ed empatico, forse nemmeno particolarmente simpatico (e sottolineo forse, non
avendolo mai conosciuto personalmente).
Nel corso della sua storia il jazz si è sempre nutrito del doppio canale cultura e intrattenimento, c'è una lista
infinita di jazzisti che hanno ostentatamente scelto di cavalcare il confine tra arte e spettacolo, e molti tra
loro questo confine lo hanno deliberatamente spostato a favore di una fruizione più probabile, cercando il
riconoscimento più immediato del mercato che gli onori dei libri di storia della musica.
Persino Duke e Miles, tra i giganti della storia, sembravano più apertamente inseguire il consenso, in un
certo modo e con dinamiche molto diverse tra loro.
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Di più, e mi ripeto, credo che da un punto di vista creativo sia, tra gli artisti che hanno segnato la storia del
novecento, uno dei più longevi. Per longevità creativa non intendo solo la quantità di anni, ma la capacità di
stare nella cretività attraverso una tensione dinamica e propulsiva nel corso di tanti anni, rinnovando la ri-
cerca attraverso cambiamenti, più o meno radicali. I nomi di Picasso e Davis possono da soli spiegare bene
quanto tento di dire e, per capirci, Coltrane sembrava avviato ad una dimensione simile, anche dal punto di
vista delle caratteristiche devozionali e meditative della sua musica, se il destino gli avesse concesso altro
tempo.
Dunque dicevo improvvisatore radicale: oso aggiungere radicale nonostante questo aggettivo abbia assunto
nella storia della musica significati diversi e quasi ideologici in merito alla scelte idiomatiche: chi vuole
suonare solo musica rinascimentale è radicale, chi non vuole sentire più una triade perfetta è radicale, chi
pensa che il jazz sia morto con le contaminazioni degli anni settanta è radicale, chi esegue solo rumori fuori
dal temperamento è radicale, chi riesce ad ascoltare Haydn solo al fortepiano e Bach esclusivamente al cla-
vicembalo è radicale, ecc ecc. Ecco allora che si evidenzia che la radicalità solitamente agisce per esclusione,
determinando esclusiva attenzione solo a ciò che è, in contrasto/opposizione con ciò che non è. Ed è così
anche per l'unico altro vero pianista performer dell'improvvisazione di matrice-emanazione jazzistica, Cecil
Taylor, che è certamente radicale nel linguaggio, totalmente identificato con le avanguardie afroamericane
del free anni sessanta, che egli stesso ha contribuito a germogliare e sviluppare insieme ad una parte nutrita
della comunità culturale afroamericana, non solo musicale, ma anche letteraria, poetica, filosofica.
Meditazione
Se parliamo dunque di concerti come strumento di meditazione, per esempio userò la meditazione più semp-
lice e diffusa del cristianesimo, quelle delle nostre nonne: il rosario, che descrive poeticamente una corona di
preghiere paragonandole ad un rosaio, appunto.
Si può dire che una delle caratteristiche di Jarrett è proprio quella di aver piantato nel suo rosaio, nel corso
della sua vita, una tale varietà di fiori-preghiere da rendere la sua meditazione così ricca da renderla fruibile
ed evidentemente godibile ad un'ampio uditorio nella forma condivisa del concerto. E tutti dischi live in solo
sono la straordinaria testimonianza di questo percorso e di quanto sono riconoscibili i semi di questo rosario
e quanto potente è stato il suo sgranare condiviso per venticinque anni, tra il 1973 (Solo concerts e Bre-
men/Losanne) e il 1997 (La Scala), passando per Koln Concert (1975), Sun Bear Concerts(1976), Concerts
(1981), Paris Concert (1990), Vienna Concert (1991), e ora i concerti italiani del 1996.
Provando a sintetizzare in una parola il processo che tante volte Keith Jarrett ha compiuto pubblicamente e
che tante volte ha provato a illustrare nelle note dei suoi dischi o attraverso interviste, descrivendolo poeti-
camente come—lasciar scorrere il fiume-in sostanza si tratta di meditazione. Non è un segreto che la musica
è da sempre -e per sempre sarà-uno strumento potentissimo di rivelazione. Nulla come il suono e il silenzio
sono chiavi privilegiate per aprire le porte dell'interiorità individuale. A queste zone interiori nel corso dei
secoli sono stati dati nomi diversi e soggettivi a seconda della civiltà, della cultura e della tradizione, e
certamente questa non è né l'occasione nè il luogo adatto per indagare su ciò, ma rimane il semplice dato
oggettivo che la musica, esattamente quanto il silenzio da cui deve germogliare, è il passepartout più poten-
te per aprire quelle porte ed esplorare le stanze di cui sono a custodia.
Chi conosce quel processo sa che sono necessarie due cose: la dilatazione del tempo e dunque l'effetto ripe-
titivo, mantrico del suono e della sua iterazione, e un rapporto univoco ed esistenziale tra suono (controllato
ed elaborato) e silenzio, dunque dove l'uno ha bisogno dell'altro per esistere: tutto quanto non appartiene
né all'uno né all'altro riporta il performer da uno stato che possiamo descrivere come di apnea alla superfi-
cie, a galla, ostacola questo processo. Talvolta lo distrugge.
Questo, se ce ne fosse bisogno, spiega il motivo per cui dinanzi a platee vacanziere, rumorose e maleducate,
il performer con le sue fragilità esposte, talvolta in modo inopportunamente aggressivo, vede interrompere il
processo, con grande scandalo da parte di una parte del pubblico e godimento dei media, che possono così
riempire le pagine dello spettacolo e gli spazi culturali di inutili -e assai più facili-riflessioni riguardo al carat-
teraccio del performer in questione.
Il fatto è che tutti sommati, gli infiniti potenziali distruttori di silenzi e di suoni, creano una specie di mon-
tagna ulteriore, una montagna-sopra la montagna, e chi è impegnato a scalare si trova dinanzi ad una dop-
pia sfida: oltre a quella di condividere un percorso di contemplazione del sé attraverso la musica, quella di
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convincere il mondo che la musica non è sempre solo un gioioso e più-o-meno sofisticato sottofondo, o una
semplice collezione di brani che il performer introietta a memoria e replica implacabilmente ogni sera a
prescindere dal contesto, ma che può essere invece un'esperienza più, intima, profonda e totalizzante, tanto
straordinaria quanto fragile.
In questo senso tutte le musiche di repertorio, tutte, senza distinzione, dalla classica
pop, dal jazz al rock, hanno fatto un pessimo servizio all'educazione dell'ascolto inducendo alla noia, o alla
leggerezza e alla distrazione attraverso un approccio esclusivamente professionale e di routine, oppure
eccessivamente condizionato dalle paure di fallire formalmente, spesso risolte solo tecnicamente.
Rivelazione
Il concerto invece potrebbe (sempre dovrebbe?) essere un'esperienza di rivelazione. Rivelazione del perfor-
mer che si mostra a sé e a chi lo ascolta, rivelazione di chi ascolta e che si trova catapultato in un'esperienza
di esplorazione del sé, proprio ed altrui, attraverso il processo meditativo offerto dalla musica.
Se l'altro è chiunque abbia voglia di condividere questo percorso con il performer, quando il performer ha le
capacità di rivelarsi davanti all'altro, insieme all'altro, e chi ascolta ha la disponibilità ricettiva a partecipare a
questo percorso, ecco che avviene il miracolo, il circuito attraverso il quale la musica è il luogo entro cui non
vi è più alcuna distanza tra performer e audience: tutte le menti, tutti i corpi e tutti gli spiriti si collegano, lì,
in quel preciso momento, per un tempo che si dilata al di fuori dello spazio fisico. E attraverso la musica si è
tutti uniti ad un livello più profondo, metalinguistico, e dunque ci si comprende.
Intendiamoci, comprendere significa semplicemente capire profondamente, che non ha a che fare con
l'andar d'accordo. E nemmeno con il gradimento. Ma la comprensione profonda crea, questo sì, l'esperienza
unica della musica e del significato che deve poter riaffermare continuamente su questo pianeta. Il ruolo di
grande canale universale di collegamento tra gli esseri viventi.
A Multitude of Angels
Il cofanetto dunque offre quattro registrazioni dell'ottobre del 1996, le ultime nella forma prediletta medita-
tiva, senza pausa tra un brano e l'altro. Sono la chiusura di un lungo capitolo iniziato circa venticinque anni
prima.
Musicalmente c'è da sottolineare una forte presenza di idioma jazzistico, non sempre così scontata in passa-
to (penso al bellissimo Dark Intervals del 1988)
Modena
Due lunghe improvvisazioni di mezz'ora l'una circa: la prima formata da quattro "zone"-sezioni e la seconda
da tre. Dico subito che l'ultima sezione della prima parte e la prima sezione della seconda sono le mie prefe-
rite.
Jarrett cerca subito una forma forte e leggibile, più un gesto compositivo che improvvisativo: una lunga
ballata armonica di un lirismo travagliato, mai scontato, su di un ritmo lento e danzante con delle orchestra-
zioni che sembrano venire dalle sofisticate tradizioni novecentesche di certi songwriters brasiliani.
Dopo dieci minuti, attraverso una breve transizione si ferma su di un pedale armonico e ritmico e rimane su
questo groove a suo modo per altri dieci minuti. Quante volte lo abbiamo sentito improvvisare su di un osti-
nato ritmico armonico? Del suo rosario, questa preghiera-mantra è tra le più riconoscibili e consuete.
Dopo una lunga parte interessante a una voce che suona come una transizione, Jarrett trova sui tasti un
effetto corde particolare, che però rapidamente (troppo!) si trasforma nuovamente in un fugato neoclas-
sico(!). È una di quelle sezioni dove l'improvvisazione fatica a trovare una forma coerente da un punto di
vista idiomatico, ma la febbrile concentrazione e la temperatura espressiva dell'improvvisazione giustifica i
difetti strutturali.
La coda è bellissima, è uno di quei brani che spesso Jarrett improvvisa e che a me sembrano una sorta di
inno dell'America, la cui melodia idealmente potrebbe essere stata composta nello Iowa da Black Hawk, con
quella semplicità innocente che sembra poter ispirare tutte le persone, senza manierismo e senza false sofis-
ticazioni, diretta forte e sincera: universale, in una parola.
Questa parte finale, sublime anche da un punto di vista pianistico, mi riporta specialmente ad un composito-
re armeno-americano, Alan Hovhaness, anche lui portato a mischiare elementi di musica innica, consonante
ed occidentale, con elementi extra-occidentali, bizantini, indiani, spesso modali o costruiti su semplici penta-
toniche.
Non mi sorprenderebbe che ad introdurre a Jarrett la musica di Hovhaness ci avesse pensato George Avaki-
an il suo primo agente ai tempi del quartetto di Charles Lloyd e armeno a sua volta, la cui moglie violinista
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molto aiutò la diffusione della musica di Hovahness negli Stati Uniti.
La seconda parte si apre magnificamente con una "vera" improvvisazione, di quelle cioè che anche
dall'esterno al più innocente dei fruitori suona come qualcosa che si inventa al momento, al contrario della
composizione istantanea, che quasi sempre all'esterno può suonare né più né meno come un brano pre-
esistente.
Jarrett gioca con le tensioni ritmiche e gli intervalli in modo estremamente intenso ed astratto, senza polari-
zzazione armonica.
Poi incomincia una lunga e faticosa transizione nella quale rimane solo la pulsazione ritmica come unico co-
mune denominatore, ma si passa continuamente da atmosfere contrappuntistiche neoclassiche ad echi di
ragtime al folk americano, senza mai scegliere una vera direzione.
Con un'inizio così esaltante, è un peccato che questa sezione si perda un po' da un punto di vista "composi-
tivo."
Infatti arriva un'altra transizione che porta ad una lunghissima canzone tonale grondante di nostalgia. Non è
facile tenere al guinzaglio il sentimentalismo, in questi casi.
Percepisco sempre sincerità, ma certo rimane il fatto che dopo i primi dieci minuti così propulsivi ed intensi,
questa seconda parte cala di forza, sia da un punto di vista musicale che in un'ottica "meditativa," perchè
sembra svanire la dimensione della ricerca.
Come bis a questo punto mi aspettavo un nuovo shock narrativo, invece si rimane nel territorio della nostal-
gia e della canzone.
La piccola delusione è compensata dalla qualità della canzone: Jarrett suona, divinamente e senza mai straf-
are, una versione di "Danny Boy" che è una di quelle song of songs che sembrano sempre esistite, la tradizi-
onale Londonderry Air, un'antico anthem irlandese che invita al coro. Qui non c'è mai ridondanza, è suonata
con sincero amore e con il cuore aperto. Lui non ci suona sopra e non butta via nemmeno una nota, il pub-
blico si commuove, come dargli torto?
Ferrara
Si ripropone la stessa struttura modenese, con quattro sezioni nel primo brano e tre nel secondo
Come a Modena Jarrett attacca con una improvvisazione lirica e densamente armonica, cercando la compo-
sizione istantanea più che l'improvvisazione, e lo fa per di più di 15 minuti, con momenti sublimi di relazione
tra canto e orchestrazioni che piano piano si aggrovigliano in una stimolante pantonalità che lentamente, con
la giusta pazienza, si trasforma in una sezione più ritmica dove l'armonia si coagula su di una modalità
semplice che innesca un mantra esotico, iterativo e minimalista.
Naturale a quel punto giungere all'amato ostinato, un groove pieno di elettricità dove Jarrett libera a lungo il
suo inconfondibile fraseggio su di un centro armonico minore, sino a swingare in modo coinvolgente trovan-
do anche delle cellule melodiche decisamente convincenti
La coda è un classico esempio di quanto le progressioni armoniche barocche siano ancora potenziali per un
certo tipo di forma canzone tonale, semplice ed elegante. È una tradizione ancora viva e che Jarrett rivitaliz-
za, ce ne fosse bisogno, sebbene nella sostanza (e non nello stile) ci riporti al settecento, ai fasti della nostra
civiltà musicale, rischiando di metterla alla prova delle sofisticazioni attuali. Mi è venuta in mente subito Les
moulins de mon coeur (divenuta poi The Windmills of Your Mind, con un testo inglese) di Michel Legrand dal
film "Il caso Tohmas Crown," e basata sulla mozartiana Sinfonia concertante.
Jarrett se ne inventa una ex-novo tenendosi in un ambito di ammirevole coerenza e sobrietà, con un suono
sontuoso e invenzioni melodiche molto dirette, senza fronzoli e virtuosismi (che sono la tomba di questo tipo
di stanze armoniche...), dunque per questo... assai virtuose.
La seconda parte riparte dal contrappunto, e da una pulsazione, ma in un contesto completamente astratto,
senza polarizzazione armonica. Jarrett inizia questa seconda parte cercando partendo dal nulla, personal-
mente mi appassiona sempre sentire una partenza tanto onesta e concentrata, in febbrile e paziente attesa
di far germogliare l'idea. Sono sezioni a-idiomatiche, dove "non si sa che musica stia suonando," e credo sia
affascinante avere la possibilità di stare fuori dai linguaggi, usando il suono e i ritmi come grimaldello per
aprirsi le porte di tutto il percorso.
Forse un po' troppo rapidamente abbandona questo terreno, che sembrava assai fertile, per fermarsi su di
un centro armonico, che dopo una lunga transizione ad una voce si trasforma in un vero e proprio jubilee da
liturgia afroamericana, quella allegra, spontanea e rumorosa della comunità africana cristiana, dove la musi-
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ca devozionale è sollievo dalle fatiche e gioioso strumento di liberazione. Manca solo il clapping della comu-
nità stessa, ma certamente nel cuore di tutti le mani stavano battendo a tempo con il pianista.
Tutto si trasforma dapprima in gospel sino a liberarsi per venti minuti sull'amato ostinato che dilata ulterio-
rmente questa sezione profondamente afroamericana liberando un fraseggio da grande chitarrista rock-
blues, senza cali di tensione
Il punto è proprio questo: non è quello che suona, ma come lo suona: quando la presenza del performer è
così totalizzante anche il materiale più semplice diviene lo strumento di ricerca ed esplorazione, quindi di
conoscenza e liberazione. Non solo sua, intendiamoci, ma di tutti i presenti. Questa parte sottolinea quanto
detto prima per raccontare le qualità universali e trasversali del performer Jarrett dove, a prescindere della
cultura di appartenenza (musicale e non), l'esperienza extramusicale del "rito" concerto nutre al di là della
comprensione -per così dire-idiomatica.
L'encore è strordinario: tre minuti di canto devozionale ad una voce, solo beneficiando delle risonanze delle
arpe del piano attraverso lo sfruttamento di suoi smorzatori, ottenendo il suono della preghiera in un tempio.
Questa è la degna conclusione di un concerto di rara potenza espressiva e formale. Molti non saranno d'ac-
cordo, ma la grandezza di Jarrett è proprio questa capacità di creare un momento universale a cui tutti pos-
sono "partecipare," senza sofisticazioni e pretese, eppure assai profondo e significante, dunque da un altro
punto di vista estremamente sofisticato, si potrebbe dire. Chiunque è in grado di suonare un brano del gene-
re, ma pochi lo fanno. E quasi tutti quelli che ci provano non escono bene dalla prova della verità: ritrovare,
riscoprire e proteggere l'incanto e l'innocenza nella musica, pur avendo nelle mani una montagna di cono-
scenza e consapevolezza. Questa innocenza pura, la stessa che aveva Miles -sia che percorresse le sue
giungle elettriche sia la canzoncina da hit parade-, e che ha ancora oggi ((Wayne Shorter}}. La loro, del
resto, è stata l'ultima generazione di possibile innocenza. Curioso, nel citare insieme Jarrett e Shorter come i
più appassionati e appassionanti improvvisatori viventi, constatare come entrambi provengano dal particola-
re asse Blakey-Davis, a proposito di angeli... Nella musica le cose vanno sempre come devono andare, ma
una parte di me, quella irrazionale del puro fan della musica, si domanda come diavolo sia potuto accadere
che i due non abbiano mai pensato di suonare insieme, anche solo una volta, magari a casa...
Il rapporto equilibrato tra conoscenza e purezza è il più sorprendente, ammirevole e convincente risultato
raggiunto da Jarrett nei suoi settant'anni di musica. Un obiettivo che io ritengo difficilmente raggiungibile per
le ragioni che ho spiegato legate all'impossibilità attuale per gli artisti di proteggersi dall'esterno e dalle tra-
dizioni.
Torino
Il concerto di Torino si apre con un adagio, come un ricercare, molto denso e travagliato armonicamente,
sembra uscire dritto dal clima tormentato della prima metà del secolo scorso, specie quello espresso dai
compositori russi e mittleuropei. Personalmente vado pazzo per questa cosa, confesso. Lo sviluppo è appas-
sionante e ricco di pathos, si sprigiona una tensione fortissima perchè l'armonia non si polarizza mai, il cont-
rappunto e le orchestrazioni dialogano in continuo divenire determinando un sentimento di vertigine e di
malinconica decadenza.
Dopo circa quindici minuti c'è una lunga transizione, dove Jarrett pazientemente attende l'idea senza forzare
nulla. Il difetto di queste transizioni è che l'attesa interiore del performer, in sé una scelta coerente e ammi-
revole, si traduce in più di cinque minuti di musica formalmente confusa, dove sembrano girare un po' di
idee contemporaneamente, talvolta a vuoto.
L'idea che vince è un pedale rock in la e lo shock narrativo, considerato il luogo dei primi quindici minuti è
piuttosto forte.
L'impressione è che nemmeno lui sia totalmente convinto e presto abbandona anche l'ostinato per creare
attorno al la una sezione molto lirica ed espressiva una ad una voce, sfruttando smorzatori e risonanze, co-
me avvenuto nell'encore di Ferrara.
Mi piace il dialogo col silenzio, dal quale Jarrett sembra riemergere dal buio e recuperare le energie per
costruire la cavalcata finale, mantenendo ancora la stessa gravità di la su un tempo lento che sembra una
processione. Bella la coda che riporta brevemente alla prima parte, che di questa prima improvvisazione
torinese è quella che rimane scolpita.
La seconda parte, come avvenuto a Modena e a Ferrara parte con una pulsazione rapida, propulsiva e una
totale astrazione armonica. Come se ad ogni concerto l'apertura della seconda "porta" avvenisse inesor-
abilmente con la chiave del ritmo, del ritmo astratto da ogni gravità e tradizione armonica. La concentrazio-
ne, la "pressione" ritmica è feroce, in questa sezione, e le due mani agiscono contrappuntisticamente in mo-
do assai percussivo.
Piano piano le inerzie armoniche aumentano e Jarrett sembra quasi giocare con un ragtime stravinskiano
politonale/pantonale mantenendo inesorabile il cuore ritmico, da rapidissimo balletto.
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Piano piano il ragtime scompare e rimane sempre più forte il richiamo a Stravinsky, alle sue sonate neoclas-
siche e alle sue danze ostinate. Di nuovo, specularmente alla prima parte, più di quindici minuti di grande
concentrazione e forza esecutiva.
Ecco che, anziché un finale, immancabile arriva la transizione, l'armonia compie un balzo temporale e trans-
culturale trasferendosi in America in un lampo e Jarrett trova una ballata che sembra un omaggio spontaneo
all'asse Ellington-Mingus (!) tanto l'armonia e la melodia riportano a quella stagione di sofisticazione del
blues e del gospel, come fosse una nuova Goodbye Porky Pie Hat.
Da lì nasce il finale con l'ostinato ritmico rock e l'armonia popolare e bluesy: una specie di Hey Jude jarretti-
ana e contagiosa.
Ma le due lunghe "soglie" di queste meditazioni torinesi, le due partenze, sono ciò che di importante rimane
impresso maggiormente del concerto torinese, al sottoscritto. Oltretutto anche molto idiomaticamente co-
erenti tra loro, entrambe appartenenti alla civiltà musicale europea del novecento.
Genova
A differenza dei precedenti concerti, Jarrett stavolta sfrutta all'apertura quel genere di improvvisazione rit-
micamente propulsiva, percussiva ed astratta che riservava al suo ritorno in sala dopo la pausa, quando il
ritmo e l'astrazione armonica erano le chiavi di apertura della seconda parte. Ancora una volta si lascia
trasportare da un cuore ritmico continuo che aggredisce in modo primitivo e assai efficace.
Dopo circa dieci minuti la pulsazione comincia a swingare e il fraseggio porta ad una lunga sezione piena-
mente jazzistica che diviene via via sempre più continua, densa ed articolata, ricordandoci i suoi legami con
la free music, molto presente nelle sue performance anni settanta.
L'uscita è sorprendente, degli arpeggi dissonanti che sfociano in una sezione timbrica e scura: in modo len-
tissimo e assai naturale il timbro tormentato si apre ad una dimensione armonica distesa e pacificata, sciog-
liendo l'infinita tensione accumulata nei consueti trenta minuti di invenzione musicale, con una sorta di
struggente andante spianato.
La seconda parte inizia con un nuovo ricercare armonico di tradizione tonale, come se Jarrett cercasse
nuovamente la canzone, della quale evidentemente ad un certo punto di ogni concerto sente il bisogno, spe-
cie dagli anni ottanta in poi, quando molte delle sue energie creative si sono focalizzate proprio sull'inter-
pretazione del repertorio canzone. Evidentemente quella sostanza si è inevitabilmente riversata anche nelle
sue improvvisazioni libere. In questo caso specifico senza trovare forse soluzioni entusiasmanti.
La sezione si stabilizza in una lunga meditazione modale, lenta e ferma, con un canto molto espressivo che
sembra servire a far riottenere energia e concentrazione. Infatti emerge una danza processionale lenta e
primitiva sulla nota di re, l'effetto mantra dell'ostinato sembra far andare il pianista nella sua dimensione
preferita di unità tra corpo, psiche e spirito, acquietati e pacificati dal suono e dal ritmo. Lo stato meditativo
è sin troppo evidente, c'è totale concentrazione al momento presente e uno stato di coscienza consapevole
dato dalla assenza di pensieri e l'indirizzamento volontario dell'attenzione-visualizzazione verso un determi-
nato oggetto, che in questo caso sembra essere il ritmo e la sua qualità narrativa, attraverso la semplice
iterazione (nella pratica affatto semplice).
Uscito da quella dimensione contemplativa, alla richiesta di encore, il nostro sceglie di far girare otto battute
di boogie su di un tempo medio e swingarci sopra gioiosamente.
Naturalmente questo accende l'ulteriore desiderio di musica del pubblico genovese e allora Jarrett, eviden-
temente in una serata generosa, suona loro la canzone americana per eccellenza: quella "Over the Raim-
bow" di Harold Arlen, votata canzone del XX secolo e vincitrice di un Grammy Hall of Fame ma che, per chi
non lo sapesse, arriva dritta dritta dall'intermezzo noto come "Sogno di Ratcliff" dal Guglielmo Ratcliff di
Mascagni.
Quindi, come per Danny Boy, una di quelle melodie che risuonano nei secoli, cambiando vestito, nome, ma
non identità. E la scelta di suonare -e risuonare-queste "song of songs" del mondo è prassi virtuosa, specie
se c'è un tale rispetto per il contenuto della canzone stessa. E Jarrett ci ha insegnato in questi ultimi
trent'anni di attività col Trio di essere tra quelli che sa suonare una canzone, senza appoggiarci sopra il
proprio carico da novanta. La suona pura e semplice, il suono, i colori sono belli, le orchestrazioni sono mag-
nificamente trasparenti. Tutto funziona. Io preferirò sempre Jarrett che esplora e scopre, rischia, si perde e
si ritrova inventando ore ed ore di nuova musica, navigando, percorrendo il mistero della musica! Detto ciò,
non sono esente dal fascino della canzone, anzi: quando si sente una bella canzone suonata bene, inevi-
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tabilmente siamo tutti d'accordo, felici e "toccati," è una specie di grande comune denominatore delle civiltà,
un inno del mondo.
Quasi tutti i musicisti del pianeta suonano queste cose prima o poi, almeno una volta nella vita. Molti le
suonano tutta la vita, sempre. Spesso accadono due cose: o l'effetto intrattenimento, che cerca un consenso
dato dalla mera complicità, diciamo da cover più o meno sofisticata. L'altra è il suo opposto, e al contrario il
performer ha bisogno di un pretesto (pre-testo!) per illuminare il sé, ponendosi egoticamente al centro del-
lanarrazione, e raccontando di sé anziché della canzone. Jarrett riesce quasi sempre a sottrarsi a queste due
facili derive e, a parer mio, dimostra di saperle suonare veramente, che non dipende esclusivamente da una
conoscenza e da una volontà, ma dall'amore e il rispetto, la sacralità (dunque ancora la devozione!) nei con-
fronti di questo materiale. Presuppone la capacità di celebrare queste melodie sottraendosi ad esse, dunque
mettere loro al centro in piena luce, compiendo l'esercizio assai difficile di rinunciare al sé egotico, spesso
irrinunciabile per ogni performer.
Jarrett ci ha dimostrato con più di trentanni di rapporto esclusivo di amare questo repertorio ed essere real-
mente devoto ad esso, tanto da rinunciare dolorosamente alla composizione (per me e molti altri che amano
i suoi brani certamente, immagino anche lo sia stato anche per lui), che sino al momento in cui è cominciato
il suo rapporto profondo con l'interpretazione delle songs, era una parte significativa del suo bagaglio es-
pressivo.
Considerazioni finali
Concludo aggiungendo che tutto questo mio fiume di parole se le porta via il vento.
Sono un musicista, e un pianista, e mi occupo di improvvisazione da sempre, per questo ne parlo in modo
tanto appassionato.
Per questo so che poi bisogna sedersi davanti uno strumento e essere attraverso il fare, perchè senza con-
cretizzare idee ed emozioni, concetti e sentimenti, l'artista non è. E dunque qualsiasi tipo di riflessione e
consapevolezza ha bisogno poi del confronto con l'oggetto in questione, e che non esiste creazione senza il
frutto, senza un frutto. La musica bisogna farla.
Tutte le cose, intelligenti o meno, che lucidamente si possono dire col senno di poi, stando seduti in poltrona
ad ascoltare, sono qualcosa che forse può descrivere l'esperienza in sé della creazione, ma, come per tutti i
tipi di creazione, mai e poi mai ne potranno cogliere il nucleo universale e misterioso, e dunque sostanza e
fascino.
Per un pianista parlare di un altro pianista è sempre spinoso. Specie se il pianista in questione è un mito e,
ancor peggio, un mito vivente.
Quando parlo di mito intendo indicare quel tipo di figura che, avendo raggiunto in ciò che fa livelli sublimi tali
da essere ampiamente riconosciuto, studiato, e giudicato per ciò che è, attraverso cioè gli oggetti che lascia
sul pianeta, oltre ad essere straordinariamente celebrato e straordinariamente criticato viene accompagnato,
circondato mi vien da dire, da una quantità (di nuovo) extra-ordinaria di considerazioni al di là dell'oggetto
musicale: storie, supposizioni, verità nascoste e/o inventate, (leggende, appunto), tavole rotonde, fans club,
ecc ecc.
Mi era già capitato in passato quando mi avevano chiesto di parlare di un altro mito del pianoforte, collabo-
rando ad un'ampia riflessione su Glenn Gould, ma certamente quando si ha a che fare solo con il passato
sembra tutto più dimensionato, fermo. L'oggetto che si guarda non si muove e la psicologia che sta dietro
alle parole sembra a sua volta più forte e cristallizzata in analisi più ponderate, confortate dalle certezze
della storicizzazione.
Curiosamente Gould alimentò il suo mito ritirandosi dalle scene e concentrandosi sul lavoro in sala d'incisio-
ne, Jarrett al contrario ha scelto di documentare la sua vita di improvvisatore esclusivamente attraverso la
performance live ed escludendo lo studio, sia in solo che in Trio.
Sottraendosi dunque al classico percorso produttivo discografico, che vede al centro lo studio di registrazio-
ne, con i suoi tempi e tutte le sue possibilità di protezione, equalizzazione e potenziale manipolazione del
suono e della creazione, anche nelle forme.
Che io sappia solo le sue incursioni nell'interpretazione classica (Bach, Scarlatti, Shostakovich, ecc) sono il
frutto di sedute in studio. E la cosa naturalmente ha un senso, essendo l'improvvisazione legata al qui ed
ora, mentre l'interpretazione, almeno da quando esiste il disco, ha segnato la vita degli interpreti pilotando
la qualità della concentrazione su di un piano di rappresentazione ed imprescindibile precisione esecutiva.
Inoltre ci si trova di fronte ad un'opera ampia e ambiziosa: ancora una volta, mi vien da dire, dato che non è
la prima volta che il sodalizio Jarrett-Eicher fissa su disco un percorso musicale così esaustivo ed articolato,
proponendo un tipo di ascolto di tipo meditativo e rituale, totalmente controtendenza rispetto allo svilimento
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delle nuove piattaforme digitali.
E così mi è tornato in mente con quanto bramoso desiderio e quanta soddisfazione per aver raggiunto fati-
cosamente la somma dovuta, mi presentai tredicenne da Buscemi dischi a Milano per acquistare il leggenda-
rio cofanetto di 10 LP Sun Bear Concerts.
Era il 1978 e l'album conteneva l'integrale di cinque concerti di Jarrett in Giappone. Possedevo già Facing
You, che era stato il primo album in piano solo di musica altra che avevo ascoltato al di fuori dei recital di
musica classica. Con quelle meditazioni, che allora non ero in grado di cogliere come tali, e i lunghi pomerig-
gi spesi insieme alla musica di Jarrett, quasi fosse un viaggio, la mia percezione della musica cambiò.
Ho la certezza, e comunque nutro la speranza, che questo nuovo album nei prossimi mesi compirà lo stesso
incantesimo nel cuore, nella mente e nello spirito di qualche ragazzo o ragazza, in qualche parte del mondo.
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1998
[DISC 1]
1. The Masquerade Is Over (A. Wrubel – H. Magidson) 15:49
2. Scrapple From The Apple (Charlie Parker) 8:46
3. Old Folks (W. Robinson – D.L. Hill) 9:23
4. Autumn Leaves (Kosma) 13:17
[DISC 2]
1. Bouncin’ With Bud(Powell-Fuller) 10:01
2. Doxy (Rollins) 8:47
3. I’ll See You Again (Noel Coward) 7:48
4. Late Lament (Paul Desmond) 4:58
5. One For Majid(Pete La Roca Sims) 6:47
6. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Gillespie – Coots ) 7:47
7. Moment’s Notice (Coltrane) 6:41
8. When I Fall In Love ((V. Young – E. Heyman ) 5:35
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Keith Jarrett: After the Fall
March 3, 2018
If, after thirty five years and dozens of standard bearing recordings you're not spoiled rotten, or deci-
sively worse, indifferent to the mythic elegance and boundless creativity of the Standards Trio, then
welcome gratefully the latest two-disc chronicle, After The Fall. Recorded on November 14, 1998 at
the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, this was Keith Jarrett's first live performance after his near
career-ending bout with chronic fatigue syndrome. Recorded on a DAT (like the monumental pre-CFS
box set Multitude of Angels released in 2016 on ECM Records) we witness once again the resilience
and respect for both the players (Jarrett, ever buoyant bassist Gary Peacock and tireless drummer Jack
DeJohnette and the ageless music they re-interpret, construct, and renew.
Starting with a breezy, be-boppy "The Masquerade Is Over," the trio moves into the easy swing of
Bird's signature "Scrapple From The Apple." The audience then generously acknowledges each co-
hort's turn on the plaintive , mid-tempo "Old Folks." It's no big secret that these guys have covered
Johnny Mercer's "Autumn Leaves" more times than any of us can count, and here they are still discov-
ering, and translating, all the tension and freedom the tune has to offer. Peacock is especially forward
here, holding the center while Jarrett and Jack accentuate and nuance. As focused as Jarrett is,
DeJohnette is just a marvel of movement.
Disc Two opens with a jaunty "Bouncin' With Bud," yet another standard the trio makes its own time
after time after time. You can hear the joy they're experiencing playing together, and like any great
performance you are swept up in the triumph. And triumph is what we're talking about here. Be it the
swaying "Doxy;" the Bill Evans-like tenderness of Noel Coward's "I'll See You Again;" the brooding
reflectiveness of Paul Desmond's "Late Lament;" the grin-inducing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town;"
or the expansive nod and unparalleled glee of John Coltrane's instantly recognizable "Moment's No-
tice," the trio, after a long two years of questioning and recollection, find themselves back where they
started, onstage, without peer.
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19980000 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
1998, Cavelight Studio, NJ
1 I Loves You, Porgy (I. Gershwin – Du Bose Heyward) 5.44
2 I Got It Band And That Ain't Good (Webster – Ellington) 7.05
3 Don't Ever Leave Me (O. Hammerstein – J. Kern) 2.42
4 Someone To Watch Over Me (I. & G. Gershwin) 4.59
5 My Wild Irish Rose (traditional) 5.15
6 Blame It On My Youth (E. Heyman – O. Levant) 3.32
7 Meditation (Keith Jarrett) 3.41
8 Something To Remember You By (Dietz – Schwartz) 7.11
9 Be My Love (S. Cahn – N. Brodsky) 5.33
10 Shenandoah (traditional) 5.46
11 I'm Through With Love (Kahn – Livingston – Malneck) 2.56
1-11: Keith Jarrett - The Melody At Night, With You (ECM (G) 1675)
This is a strangely moving and disturbing document in the long discography of Keith Jarrett: a solo piano album recorded in his rural New Jersey
home studio in late 1997 at a time when he was reportedly suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. In stark contrast to his other solo albums, this
one consists of short, simple, straightforward interpretations of ballads, songs in the public domain, and one very pretty original ("Meditation"), all
taken at funereal tempi with hardly any virtuoso flourishes. Scattered amidst the assortment of standards like "Someone to Watch Over Me," "I Got It
Bad and That Ain't Good," and "I Loves You Porgy" are nostalgic throwbacks like the hoary old "My Wild Irish Rose" (he plays the tune absolutely
straight) and even the Mario Lanza hit "Be My Love." Sad as it is to say under the circumstances, these performances lack color, contrast and life;
and while you pull for Jarrett to summon the energy to make music again, the results are touching for awhile but soon pall. Also in contrast to Manfred
Eicher's usual sonic standard at ECM, the sound is dull and lacking in luster, though some listeners might find that it gives the album a certain homey
charm.
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1999
19990225 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) (fl+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
February 25th 1999, Royce Hall, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Disc II
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19990628 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
June 28th 1999, Arena, Verona, Italy
Total: 97:02
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19990705 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 5th 1999, Palais des Congrès, Paris, France
1 Bouncin' With Bud (Bud Powell) 7.33
2 Whisper Not (Benny Golson) 8.06
3 Groovin' High (Billy Strayhorn) 8.31
4 Chelsea Bridge (Billy Strayhorn) 9.47
5 Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
(B. Moll – T. Koehler – H. Barris) 5.48
6 'Round Midnight (Monk -Williams - Hanighen) 6.45
7 Sandu (Clifford Brown) 7.26
8 What Is This Thing Called Love? (C. Porter) 12.23
9 Conception (G. Shearing) 8.08
10 Prelude To A Kiss (I. Mills – D. Ellington) 8.16
11 Hallucinations (Bud Powell) 6.36
12 All My Tomorrows (S. Cahn – J. van Heusen) 6.23
13 Poinciana (B. Bernier – N. Simon) 9.11
14 When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman) 8.06
1-14: Keith Jarrett - Whisper Not (ECM (G) 1724/25)
For Keith Jarrett, this extremely satisfying concert with the Standards Trio on two CDs is a personal landmark, the first for-the-record sign that he had
recovered from the chronic fatigue syndrome that laid him low for three years in the late 1990s. Indeed, by the time this Paris gig took place, he had
come all the way back -- his technical facilities intact (a handful of smeared notes aside), his inventiveness bubbling over. Old cohorts Gary Peacock
(bass) and Jack DeJohnette (drums) are back, too, regenerating their propulsive, swinging, collective E.S.P. at will. Not too much has changed from
the pre-illness days, though the focus is very much on classic bebop now -- with Bud Powell getting a good deal of attention with an outstanding
"Bouncing With Bud" and a terrific "Hallucinations" that has an atypically funny false ending. Jarrett's bebop runs on "Groovin' High" are astonishing,
"Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" is appealingly jaunty and carefree, and ballads like "'Round Midnight" and "Prelude to a Kiss" revert to the melodic
simplicity that was cultivated during Jarrett's down time. Even though the Standards Trio has been one of the most prolifically recorded groups of its
era, only the final encore, "When I Fall in Love," had been recorded before by this group. So even those who think they have enough material by this
group will be rightly tempted to invest in this document of Jarrett's resurrection.
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19990927 Keith Jarrett Solo +++
Keith Jarrett (p), September 27th 1999, Tokyo, Japan,Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Disc I
1. Applause (00:33)
2. Part I (27:12)
3. Part II (05:57)
4. Part III (07:19)
5. Part IV (07:14)
Disc II
Audience recording
1. Conception (Shearing)(8:57)
2. Whisper Not (Golson)(9:23)
3. Prelude To A Kiss (I. Mills – D. Ellington) (9:47)
4. Four Brothers (Giuffre) (7:08)
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2000
20000506 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) (DI) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
May 6th 2000, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
1. Applause (1:03)
2. Speech (2:24)
3. Joy Spring (Clifford Brown) (8:38)
4. Here’s That Rainy Day (Van Heusen - Burke)(10:16)
5. Four Brothers (Giuffre) (7:55)
6. I'll See You Again (Noel Coward)(7:53)
7. Round midnight (Monk -Williams - Hanighen)(11:21)
8. Applause (1:14)
9. Night And Day (Cole Porter)(14:19)
10. Stars fell on Alabama (Perkins-Parish) (10:17)
11. One For Majid (Pete La Roca Sims)(8:04)
12. So Tender (Love Should Be) (Keith jarrett)(8:18)
13. Only The Lonely(S. Cahn – J. Van Heusen) (8:22)
14. Woody’n You (Dizzy Gillespie) (6:20)
15. Applause (0:23)
16. Track 16 (9:00)
17. When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)(7:00)
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January 2002 / By James Hale
ECM 1780
After 18 years together and 13 recordings, several of them multiple-disc sets, it might seem difficult to
pinpoint a career highlight, but for Keith Jarrett’s Standards Trio, this could be it. Recorded at London’s
Royal Festival Hall over two nights in July 2000, Inside Out captures the trio departing from its regular
format to improvise freely without the framework of the American popular songbook or bop standards for
all but seven minutes. The result is spell-inducing, covering the gamut from minimalist elegance of “When
I Fall In Love” to the blazing clatter of “Riot.”
Harkening back to the years when he walked the improvisational tightrope alone, Jarrett relies heavily on
short rhythmic and melodic motifs as building blocks, and his partners respond in kind. The opening “From
The Body” is a perfect model of how the trio shapes a dynamic 23 min utes of music from the smallest
gestures. Jarrett begins by toying with a probing melodic fragment, like a boxer moving in and out, fei g-
ning and jabbing. As Peacock and DeJohnette listen and respond, Jarrett mixes things up even more, his
attack at turns urgent and languorous. The drummer and bassist step in for brief solos, then Jarrett r e-
turns in a much more retrospective mood. But Peacock has an alternate plan. Slowly, he insinuates a hyp-
notic, tautly plucked riff, enticing Jarrett to respond as DeJohnette shifts to mallets for a dark -hued
backdrop. After about four minutes of this, Peacock assumes control reintroducing his initial riff to Ja r-
rett’s audible pleasure. This is masterful give and take, and it happens time and again.
The only exception is “Riot,” a seven-minute slice of a 30-minute improvisation, which opens intensely
and never lets up. DeJohnette sizzles and snaps, reminiscent of the insistent percussion that dominated
Miles Davis’ raucous On The Corner.
As Jarrett points out in his liner notes, the blues is the lingua franca of these improvisations, nowhere
more so than on the title track, which sounds like one of the pianist’s early ’70s solo excursions with
rhythmic accompaniment.
If last year’s bop-drenched live set Whisper Not signaled that Jarrett was back at full force, Inside Out
gives notice that the band has stepped it up another notch. At this point in its existence, the name the
Standards Trio has ceased to signify the band’s repertoire; rather, it stands for the level they set for
other improvisers.
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20000920 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
September 20th 2000, Symphony Hall, Boston, MA
302
2001
20010310 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
March 10th 2001, McCarter Theater, Princeton, NJ
1. Applause (0:38)
2. Autumn Leaves ([Link] – [Link] – [Link])(10:02)
3. I Love You (Cole Porter) (8:29)
4. Track 4 (8:17)
5. Track 5 (11:16)
6. Scrapple From The Apple (Charlie Parker)(9:20)
Second Set . I don't know if it really comes from a different source than the first set, but the sound quality is much
worse (there probably was a problem with the microphones or the recorder).
1. Applause (0:36)
2. Last Night When We Were Young (Arlen – Harburg) (12:32)
3. Track 3 (7:09)
4. Track 4 (6:23)
5. Track 5 (17:55)
6. Ballad Of The Sad Young Men (Wolf – Landesman)(11:40)
7. Sandu (Clifford Brown) (6:29)
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20010428 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
April 28th 2001, Aichi Geijyutu Gekijyo, Nagoya, Japan
Yesterdays is the third title ECM has released by Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette (dubbed "the standards trio"). The first two -- The
Out-of-Towners released in 2004 and My Foolish Heart issued in 2007 -- were actually recorded later than this live date recorded in Tokyo in April of
2001. This also marks a first in the pianist's career: the George Gershwin tune "You Took Advantage of Me" appeared on My Foolish Heart in a very
different arrangement, making this the first time Jarrett has ever employed a single track on two consecutive albums. On My Foolish Heart Jarrett
used a full-on ragtime intro to the tune. Here, he employs a denser harmonic construction based on its changes and melodic frame. When the band
enters, the pop and swing in the tune become pronounced, standing in the same universe as ragtime (which is more than likely the reason Jarrett
employed it before) but also much more sophisticated and harmonically complex. Other standouts on this fine set include the bop burners "Scrapple
from the Apple" and "Shaw'nuff," the glorious ballads "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "You've Changed," and a deeply moving rendition of "Stella by
Starlight." What is most remarkable about this band is its sense of balance between eloquence, interplay, improvisational communication, and swing.
This group is not only a solid link to the tradition Jarrett, Peacock, and DeJohnette all came up with, but it is a solid teaching pointer as to how to
employ standards for the music in the future.
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20010400 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
April 2001, Orchard Hall and Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo, Japan
1 Hearts In Space (Keith Jarrett) 32.12
2 The River (Keith Jarrett) 3.34
3 Tributaries (K. Jarrett – G. Peacock – J. DeJohnette) 16.18
4 Paradox (Keith Jarrett) 9.01
5 Waves (Keith Jarrett) 34.25
6 Facing East (K. Jarrett – G. Peacock – J. DeJohnette) 14.04
7 Tsunami (Keith Jarrett) 14.51
8 Relay (Keith Jarrett) 13.00
1-8: Keith Jarrett - Always Let Me Go (ECM (G) 1800/01)
ECM 1800/01
Listening to improvised music is no a passive act; it’s a creative process. This principle is especially true of the totally
improvised work of Keith Jarrett, such as his 30-year series of solo concerts and his two most recent trio recordings, Inside
Out and Always Let Me Go. Jarrett’s inventive impulses are of a kind that allow us to follow. He places us on the leading
edge of the moment in which choices are made, inviting our participation in decisions taken from infinite options.
For example, his new double CD, Always Let Me Go, opens with 32 minutes called “Hearts In Space,” a wildly asymmetri-
cal, spontaneous suite. It starts with exploratory gestures from all three players as they grasp for connections and begin-
nings. It is not until 8 1/2 minutes in that three separate but equal strands of intelligence arrive at edges of a single coale-
scing pattern, suggested by Jarrett’s insistent circular figure, but Peacock takes over at 11:30 and alters it. Jarrett and Pea-
cock dance in a loose, rarefied call-and-response, sometimes touching Jarrett’s circular theme. Then around 15:30, De-
Johnette pushes to the forefront and rains new accents that cause Jarrett to veer and find a poignant ballad in this complex
progress. By the 23rd minute, the velocity has subtly escalated and soon we are sweeping forward in an effortless momen-
tum that might stream forever but Jarrett allows it to disassemble into the disparate energies with which the piece began and
the song subsides back to silence.
Music this free requires faith and inspiration from the listener, and it also makes value judgments even more than customa-
rily subjective. Inside Out (ECM, recorded in concert in London in July 2000) was the first totally improvised album in
many years by Jarrett’s standards trio. A single CD, it didn’t contain space for complete performances, and its huge evol-
ving trio structures are sometimes aborted by fades.
But on Always Let Me Go, recorded mostly live in Tokyo in April 2001, and one of Jarrett’s major achievements on record,
we’re able to hear pieces like “Hearts In Space” and the 34 1/2 minute “Waves” round into form as whole long arcs. The
fact that this wholeness is always in jeopardy—that it abides by no rules but its own, and that we feel like we discover it in
the same moment as the trio—is what makes it exciting and fulfilling.
Always Let Me Go sustains a heightened sense of imaginative focus through its sudden shifts, peaks and valleys, the exqui-
sitely realized songs within songs that the trio comes upon—a crystalline 3 1/2 minute miniature emergence from silence of
“Tributaries,” the melodic grace of “Waves”—and the dramatic swings of its dynamic scope. In its 20th year, this trio
keeps growing in its ability to challenge the creativity of its listeners.
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20010626 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
June 26th 2001, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
1. Applause (0:57)
2. Ken Burns and Miles Davis (3:08)
3. On Green Dolphin Street (B. Kaper – N. Washington)(9:33)
4. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You(Bassman – Washington) (10:34)
5. ???I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life (cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy)??? (11:36)
6. ???Yesterdays??? (9:23)
7. Applause (0:50)
8. Honeysuckle Rose (Razaf – Waller) (7:57)
9. What's New(Haggard – Burke) (7:11)
10. Lover(Rodgers- Hart) (8:42)
11. One For Majid (Pete La Roca Sims)(10:25)
12. Track 12 (6:55)
13. Speech about cameras (0:45)
14. Straight no chaser (Thelonius Monk)(10:45)
15. Track 15 (0:18)
16. Last Night When We Were Young (Arlen – Harburg) (11:07)
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20010718 Keith Jarrett Trio (DI)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 18th 2001, Palais des Congrès, Paris, France
Disc I
1. [Applause] (01:41)
2. I Love You (Cole Porter) (15:22)
3. Yesterdays (Kern – Harbach)(08:37)
4. Out of Nowhere (Green – Heyman) (10:19)
5. Little Man, You've Had a Busy Day (Wayne - Sigler - Hoffmann)(10:46)
Disc II
1. [Applause] (01:16)
2. Five Brothers (Gerry Mulligan)(11:48)
3. You’ve Changed (Fischer – Carey)(06:07)
4. The Song Is You (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein) (09:59)
5. I'm Going to Laugh You Right Out of My Life (06:52)
6. There Will Be Never Another You (09:30)
7. [Unknown title] (10:13)
8. Encore: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (11:19)
9. Encore: Skylark (H. Carmichael – J. Mercer)(09:59)
1. Applause (1:18)
2. Like someone in love (Van Heusen - Burke) (10:50)
3. Track 3 (11:00)
4. There will never be another you (Warren – Gordon) (7:38)
5. Now’s The Time (Charlie Parker) (7:25)
6. Track 6 (8:52)
7. Speech (0:44)
8. Out of Nowhere (Green – Heyman) (14:59)
9. Free improvisation (6:05)
10. Blues (15:16) [cut at 0:25]
11. Track 11 Encore (9:53)
12. Track 12 (6:31)
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20010722 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 22nd 2001, Stravinsky Auditorium, Montreux, Switzerland
1 Four (Miles Davis) 9.09
2 My Foolish Heart (N. Washington – V. Young) 12.25
3 Oleo (Sonny Rollins) 6.37
4 What’s New (J. Burke – R. Haggard) 7.54
5 The Song Is You (O. Hammerstein – J. Kern) 7.43
6 Ain’t Misbehavin (Razaf – Brooks – Waller) 6.40
7 Honeysuckle Rose (A. Razaf – T. Waller) 6.45
8 You Took Advantage Of Me (L. Hart – R. Rodgers) 8.54
9 Straight, No Chaser (Thelonious Monk) 10.05
10 Five Brothers (Gerry Mulligan) 6.36
11 Guess I’ll hang My Tears Out To Dry
(J. Styne – S. Cahn) 11.09
12 On Green Dolphin Street (B. Kaper – N. Washington) 8.18
13 Only The Lonely (S. Cahn – J. Van Heusen) 8.15
1-13: Keith Jarrett – My Foolish Heart (ECM 2021)
My Foolish Heart may just be, between Still Live and Somewhere, the missing piece of the Keith Jarrett Trio’s Triforce.
Recorded live in Montreux in July of 2001, it shows the trio—both in general and this specific—in brightest light. The
bounce of “Four” kicks things off with so much panache that anyone even thinking of laying fingers to keyboard might just
want to crawl into a hovel and listen in awe. The tune is, of course, by Miles Davis and draws lines of history back to Jar-
rett’s association with the Prince of Darkness, flipping that nickname into an exercise in luminescence. The feeling of to-
getherness practically shouts its decades of experience from the rooftops and calls any who will listen in ecstatic gathering.
Peacock almost flies off the handle from all the excitation, but reins in his enthusiasm just enough to build his first solo of
the night with architectural integrity. DeJohnette, too, revs the engine a few times without losing traction.
This formula works wonders in subsequent takes on Sonny Rollins’s “Oleo” and two Fats Waller tunes (“Ain’t Misbehav-
in’” and “Honeysuckle Rose”), imbuing the stage, respectively, with flow, flourish, and ragtime charm. At once progressive
and nostalgic, these fast-fingered excursions attract wonder like magnets. The emotive genius of Jarrett’s sidemen is ex-
traordinary throughout. “The Song Is You” is another instance of revelry that unpacks entire fields’ worth of implications
in single sweeps, in which DeJohnette’s skills blossom most blissfully.
“You Took Advantage Of Me,” a Rogers and Hart show tune, finds a holistic place in the Jarrett set list and obscures none
of the whimsy of its absent lyrics. From the florid we move to the tough love of Thelonious Monk’s “Straight, No Chaser,”
which pours a stiff drink indeed. Jarrett spins like a top, inspiring gorgeous circling from DeJohnette and a pin-cushioned
solo from Peacock. It sits comfortably alongside “Five Brothers,” an earlier Gerry Mulligan tune that oozes 1950s charis-
ma: monochromatic, debonair, and veiled by cigarette smoke. The trio ends somberly with a quietly spirited “Guess I’ll
308
Hang My Tears Out To Dry.” More than any other portion of the concert, Jarrett’s infallible respect for melody comes to
the fore and paints for us a picture so realistic, it might as well be a photograph, a moment in time, a memory to cherish.
Two encores further express the trio’s balance of wind and water. “On Green Dolphin Street” whisks on by with such ebul-
lience that it hardly leaves a trace of its passing, while “Only The Lonely(S. Cahn – J. Van Heusen)” tears the heart in two
and mends it in just over six minutes. Yet nowhere is the telepathy of this trio so nakedly conveyed than in the title tune,
which sways, full-figured and proud, with all the rustle of a willow tree. The combination of singing pianism and melodic
rhythm support hides a perfect scar in its core. There’s a song to be sung here, and its name is: YOU.
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20010728 Keith Jarrett Trio (DI) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (d): Munich, Germany
1. Intro / I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me (Gaskill – McHugh) (12:00)
2. You’ve Changed (Fischer – Carey)(8:05)
3. I Love You (Porter) (10:00)
4. The Out-of-Towners (19:47)
2 Once Upon A Time (Lee Adams, Charles Strouse) (6:00)
2 Oleo (Sonny Rollins)(7:29)
7. Five Brothers (Gerry Mulligan)(10:31)
8. Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out To Dry(J. Styne – S. Cahn) (10:05)
9. There will never be another you, (5:50)
10. The bitter end (3:18), end missing
11. Improvisation (2:14), end missing
12. Little Man You’ve Had A Busy Day (Wayne - Sigler - Hoffmann) (1:49,) Cut at 0:42
13. It´s All In The Game (6:47)
Recorded in Munich, ECM's hometown, in 2001, "The Out-of-Towners " finds jazz's most consistently creative piano trio at the peak of its
game. Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette captivate the audience at the Munich State Opera.
Balancing standards and jazz tunes with Keith Jarrett originals, the trio keeps the music in tight focus. There is spirited blues-based group
improvisation in the title track, and shared joy as the musicians roar into "Five Brothers", the old Gerry Mulligan favourite, or negotiate the
blissful, enraptured melody of Cole Porter’s "I Love You (Cole Porter)." At the album's conclusion, Keith Jarrett returns to the stage alone –
a rare moment in the trio’s recordings - to play a heart dilating rendition of the ballad "It's All In The Game." -- so tender that it could
easily have fit onto his "The Melody At Night With You" solo disc.
310
20010801 Keith Jarrett Trio (+++)
Keith Jarrett trio La roque d'Antheron 2001 August 1
21ème Festival International de Piano
du 21 juillet au 21 août 2001
set II
311
20010803 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
August 3rd 2001, Marciac Jazz Festival, Marciac, France
312
2002
Set 2:
01. intro/crowd (1:01)
02. The Way You Look Tonight (D. Fields – J. Kern)(10:24)
03. Yesterdays (Kern – Harbach)(8:22)
04. One For Majid (Pete La Roca Sims)(8:58)
05. Guess I'm Gonna Hang My Tears Out To Dry (J. Styne – S. Cahn) (13:51)
06. Five Brothers (Gerry Mulligan)(7:41)
07. I'm Going Laugh You Right Out Of My Life (cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy) (9:03) TT 111:49
313
20020626 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR) (DI) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
June 26th 2002, JVC Jazz Festival, Isaac Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
Second set only
314
20020712 Keith Jarrett Trio (DI) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 12th 2002, L’Auditori, Barcelona, Spain
Disc 1: (5 tracks) [59:36]
1 Improvisation #3 [12:41]
2 Here's That Rainy Day [11:03]
3 Improvisation #4 [7:19]
4 Stars fell on Alabama (Perkins-Parish) [6:30]
315
20020716 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 16th 2002, La Pinède Gould, Festival de Jazz d’Antibes, Juan les-pins
1 If I Were A Bell (Frank Loesser) 11.45
2 Butch & Butch (Oliver Nelson) 7.25
3 My Funny Valentine (R. Rodgers – L. Hart) 11.11
4 Scrapple From The Apple (Charlie Parker) 9.41
5 Someday My Prince Will Come
(F. Churchill – L. Morey) 9.18
6 Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West (John Lewis) 6.48
7 Autumn Leaves (J. Prévert – J. Kosma – J. Mercer)
/ Up For It (Keith Jarrett) 16.58
1-7: Keith Jarrett - Up For It (ECM (G) 1860)
Celebrating 20 years of his trio’s life as a working band, Keith Jarrett issues a sparkling and trimphant performance from last year’s rains-
wept Antibes Festival, in which standards are re-investigated from a new perspective. Buoyant, exhilarating performances from all
three players, “swinging in the rain”, as Jarrett says in his liner notes.
For a trio that has been together this long (over 20 years), Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette still play with the enthusiasm of a group
of people discovering each other for the first time. That's no cliché. One listen to "If I Were a Bell," the opening track on this live set, reveals how
footloose, free, and excited these three can be when they encounter one another on the stand. Certainly, the near symbiotic relationship they have
built over time makes the freewheeling feeling come easy. But that's a bit misleading in a sense, because if the listener pays the slightest bit of at-
tention to how the rhythm section works with Jarrett, it becomes obvious just how much listening is going on in this conversation. Jarrett's timbral and
dynamic palettes can change on a dime, and Peacock and DeJohnette never miss. The other wonderfully breezy thing about this set is that all of the
tunes are from the jazz canon except for the title track, which closes the album and is a Jarrett original. From Frank Loesser's "If I Were a Bell," the
band literally charges into Oliver Nelson's "Butch & Butch" at a furious tempo. DeJohnette pushes Jarrett on the tempo, and Peacock walks through
the middle, balancing out not only time but harmonic equations in Jarrett's extrapolations on the melody. Nonetheless, despite the sprints -- "Scrapple
From the Apple" by Charlie Parker is another down the line -- they never cease to literally amaze on the ballads. Here, "My Funny Valentine," "Au-
tumn Leaves," and the just under mid-tempo "Someday My Prince Will Come" are given such impeccable lyrical treatment it's almost breathless. One
of the most exciting tracks here, especially since it begins the last third of the program, is the inclusion of John Lewis' "Two Degrees East, Three
Degrees West." The gorgeous stride Jarrett plays, which is all his, stands in amazing contrast to the original light-fingered version played by the
composer. Jarrett invokes Fats Waller and early Ramsey Lewis in the blues feel while keeping his own sense of tempered attack through the shim-
mering shades of blue and green in the minor keys. This is one tough track in feel and emotion. The rhythm section doesn't just walk it either; they
slip under and around Jarrett to fill out the edges, making this a beautiful dialogue piece. Up for It is a dynamite set, as refreshing, spirited, and inno-
vative as any Jarrett has ever released, but full of good vibes too.
316
20020718 Keith Jarrett Trio (+++) (pa)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 18th 2002, Centralino del Tennis, Rome, Italy
Sound Quality A
TT 32:19
Soundcheck
317
20021027 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 27th 2002, Osaka Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan
1 Part 1 (Keith Jarrett) 12.11
2 Part 2 (Keith Jarrett) 8.44
3 Part 3 (Keith Jarrett) 5.44
4 Part 4 (Keith Jarrett) 1.27
5 Part 5 (Keith Jarrett) 10.34
6 Part 6 (Keith Jarrett) 7.19
7 Part 7 (Keith Jarrett) 9.36
8 Part 8 (Keith Jarrett) 5.09
9 Part 9 (Keith Jarrett) 5.36
10 Part 10 (Keith Jarrett) 13.33
11 Part 11 (Keith Jarrett) 1.13
12 Part 12 (Keith Jarrett) 6.11
13 Part 13 (Keith Jarrett) 5.12
1-8: Keith Jarrett - Radiance (ECM (G) 1960)
Keith Jarrett returned to performing and recording solo concerts in 1995 with La Scala (released in 1997) after recovering from an illness. That fine
recording followed his manner of working that he had begun on Köln Concert in 1975: That is, completely improvised concerts from beginning to end
that had melodic and "motivic" centers. The double-disc set that is Radiance, recorded in Japan in 2002, is a new fork in the road. The work has no
conceptual center. Jarrett says he wanted to let some of the music "happen" to him while he sat at the piano, deep in thought. He states: "I wanted
my hands (particularly the left hand) to tell me things." And happen it does. Each piece, after the first one, comes out of the work that immediately
precedes it. There are 13 linked pieces that mark the Osaka concert spread over the first disc, and one-third of disc two. The effect is startling at first
because Jarrett is constantly working with what comes, whether dissonant or assonant; he uses the small essences, quick phrases, and themes that
come out of each piece to dig further, to extend wider his discovery. Whispers of many musics enter, from classical and jazz to pop to Latin to folk.
Nothing feels like a direct quote, but all of it gels together as elemental. Each piece is an aspect of a transformational construction. Most of the music
very is exciting; it walks, then runs on edges before turning and stopping, then dances, crawls and rolls, ever-somewhere just past the reach of what
preceded it. Some of Radiance is quiet and lyrical (part three, for instance), because it has been suggested by the intensity of the chaotic and forceful
harmonic and rhythmic notions preceding it. Jarrett admits in his liner notes "The listener has to bear with me here. The whole thing is risky, but I've
taken you places before and I'm not aiming to disappoint." This is born out in the way the audience responds. Some sections get no applause becau-
se of the quick, shape-shifting manner in which Jarrett seemingly careens from one place to the next. But intent listening reveals the sometimes very
subtle links between themes, spaces, and harmonic and rhythmic invention. Two-thirds of disc two come from a concert in Tokyo conducted in much
the same way, though he includes the first two pieces -- a cut from the second-half of the concert and the final track -- as the performance's closer.
These do not distract from the Osaka gig. In fact they contain a beautiful, if momentarily disjointed flow. This is Jarrett the artist taking chances, lots of
them. His process is immediate, poignant, and utterly engaging throughout and marks a new phase in his solo recordings that will spur great interest
in any open-minded listener interested in improvisational music. There is a DVD of the Tokyo performance being prepared by ECM for release.
318
20021030 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 30th 2002, Metropolitan Festival Hall, Tokyo, Japan
1 Part 1 (a-c) (Keith Jarrett) 45.00
2 Part 2 (a-c) (Keith Jarrett) 44.02
3 Danny Boy (Traditional) 6.51
4 Old Man River(Kern – Hammerstein II) 7.43
4 Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me (Bloom – Koehler) 5.38
1-4: Keith Jarrett – Tokyo Solo (DVD ECM (G) 5501)
(PA)
1. Part I (24:10)
2. Part II (21:22)
3. Applause (0:25)
4. Part III (8:27)
5. Part IV (11:50)
6. Part V (8:39)
7. Part VI (13:56)
8. Applause (2:57)
9. Danny Boy (Traditional) (5:50)
10. Applause (2:08)
11. Old Man River(Kern – Hammerstein II) (6:49)
319
20021031 Keith Jarrett Solo (DI) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 31st 2002, Geijyutu Gekijyou, Tokyo, Japan
Disc one
d1t01 applause 00:22
d1t02 17:01
d1t03 Every Time We Say Goodbye (Porter) 13:08
d1t04 [Link].08] 09:28
Total time: 40:02
Disc two
d2t01 <applause> 00:17
d2t02 Come Rain Or Come Shine (H. Arlen – J. Mercer) 06:50
d2t03 Isn't It Romantic (Rodgers-Hart) 06:31
d2t04 Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered (Rodgers – Hart) 06:10
d2t05 With A Song In My Heart (Rodgers-Hart) 04:52
d2t06 Angel Eyes (Dennis - Brent) 11:11
d2t07 As Time Goes By (Herman Hupfeld) 08:18
d2t08 Time on My Hands (Youmans - Adamson - Gordon) 09:40
d2t09 Never Never Land (Styne -Comden - Green) 04:55
d2t08 improvisation 08:15
d2t09 If I Should Lose You (R. Rainger – L. Robin) 04:35
Total time: [Link]
320
2003
1. Speech 01:56
2. The Old Country (Nat Adderley, Curtis Lewis) 08:13
3. All The Things You Are (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein) 09:56
4. When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young) 08:42
5. Sandu (Clifford Brown) 06:05
6. Encore: Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry (J. Styne – S. Cahn) 06:07
TT 41:03
1. Track 1 (10.50)
2. Sleeping Bee (Arlen - Capote) (8.12)
3, Track 3 (7.02)
4. Track 4 (8.38)
5. Track 5 (7.38)
6. Track 6 (7.30)
7. It might as well be spring (Rodgers – Hammerstein II) (11.00)
8. Track 8 (5.35)
1. Track 9 (7.14)
2. You go to my head (J Fred Coots - H Gillespie) (8.19)
3. I’m going to laugh you right out of my life(cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy) (14.00)
4. Out of Nowhere (Green – Heyman) (13.56)
5. When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)(10.40)
6. Track 14 (6.15)
321
20030430 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP) (DI) +++
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
April 30th 2003, Congress Hall, Palace Of Culture And Science, Warsaw, Poland
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: 2 CD-R
Sound quality: sound level low
322
20030505 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
May 5th 2003, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Belgium
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: CD-R
1. Introduction (1:54)
2. Applause and bass tuning (1:19)
3. Night And Day (Cole Porter) (15:21)
4. Speech (0:25)
5. A Sleeping Bee (Arlen - Capote) (7:59)
6. Only The Lonely(S. Cahn – J. Van Heusen) (11:23)
7. Because Of You(Clarkson) (6:34)
8. One For Majid (Pete La Roca Sims)(7:31)
9. Applause (1:22)
10. Django (john Lewis) (10:05)
11. Solar(Chuck Wayne) (11:28)
12. You go to my head (J Fred Coots - H Gillespie) (8:18)
13. Once Upon A Time (Lee Adams, Charles Strouse) (11:15)
14. All The Things You Are (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein) (12:12)
15. When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)(10:53)
323
20030509 Keith Jarrett Trio (BR)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
May 9th 2003, Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: 2 CD-R
324
20030713 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 13th 2003,Milanesiana, Teatro dal Verme, Milan, Italy
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: 2 CD-R
325
20030722 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (d): same personnel
July 22nd 2003, Parco Musica Auditororium, Rome, Italy
1 All Of You (Porter) 9.21
2 I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life(cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy) 10.46
3 Hallucinations (Powell) 6.27
4 I Didn’t Know What Time It Was(Rodgers -Hart) 6.35
5 You’ve Changed (Fischer – Carey) 7.36
6 God Bless The Child(Holiday - Herzog) 15.33
7 Straight, No Chaser (Monk) 12.03
8 Come Rain Or Come Shine (H. Arlen – J. Mercer 8.46
9 When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young) 8.07
10 St. Thomas (Trad) 4.14
1-10: [2CD] Keith Jarrett – Live Parco Musica Auditorium Rome 2003
Set I
On Green Dolphin Street (B. Kaper – N. Washington)
Yesterdays (Kern – Harbach)
When Will The Blues Leave (Ornette Coleman)
The Meaning Of The Blues (B. Troup – L. Worth)
Unknown
Set II
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: 2 CD-R
Duration:
Sound quality:
Source
326
20030919 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
September 19th 2003, JVC Festival, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: CD-R
Sound quality: A
Source: audience recording
1. KJ talking (5.00)
2. Come Rain Or Come Shine (H. Arlen – J. Mercer)(10.52)
3, Autumn Leaves ([Link] – [Link] – [Link])(12.18)
4. One For Majid (Pete La Roca Sims)? (7.14)
5. Track 5 (9. 48)
6. On Green Dolphin Street (B. Kaper – N. Washington)(5.48)
7. KJ speaking (1.00)
8. The Cure (Keith Jarrett)(5.49)
1. I’m going to laugh you right out of my life(cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy) (10.42)
2. When will the blues leave (ornette Coleman) ? (8.40)
3. It Could Happen To You (Van Heusen -Burke) (13. 56)
4. Track 12 (4.39)
5. God Bless’ The Child (A. Herzog – B. Holiday)(10.38)
6. When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)(1.07)
327
2004
328
20040430 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP) (DI) +++
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
April 30th 2004, Prefectural Art Theater, Aichi, Japan
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: CD-R
Source: audience recording
1. Track 1 (13.12)
2. Track 2 (11.45)
3. Bouncing With Bud (AKA Bebop in Pastel) (Powell-Fuller)(6.48)
4. Django (john Lewis) (11.35)
5. I didn’t know what time it was (Rodgers -Hart) (11.03)
6. I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer) (16.04)
7. Blue Monk (Thelonius Monk) (10.52)
8. All The Things You Are (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein) (10.52)
9. When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)(9.14)
Set I / Disc I
Set II / Disc II
1. [Applause]
2. I Didn't Know What Time It Was (Rodgers -Hart)
3. I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer)
4. Blue Monk (Thelonius Monk)
5. Encore I: All The Things You Are (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein)
6. Encore II: When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)
329
20040505 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP) DI +++
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
May 5th 2004, Kenmin Hall, Kanagawa, Japan
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: CD-R
Duration:
Sound quality:
Source: audience recording
330
20040701 Keith Jarrett Trio (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 1st 2004, Places des Arts, Montréal, QC, Canada
CD1
1. Intro (Keith speaks about Miles) 2:33
2. Tennesse Waltz (Pee Wee King - Redd Stewart) 8:16
3. Green Dolphin Street (B. Kaper – N. Washington) 9:34
4. I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer) 9:17
5. Autumn Leaves ([Link] – J. Cosma – J. Mercer) 11:08
6. You Won'tForget Me (K. Goell – F. Spielman) 14:36
CD2
1. Introductions
2. KJ speaks
3, Track 3/ All Of You (Porter) (Cole Porter)(16.25)
4. TennesseeWaltz (Pee Wee King - Redd Stewart) (7.23)
5. You Belong To Me (Pee Wee King, Chilton Price, Redd Stewart) (10.49)
6. Straight no chaser (Thelonius Monk)(5.29)
1. Django (john Lewis) (9.20)
2. Round midnight (Monk -Williams - Hanighen)(12.19)
3. John’s Abbey (Bud Powell)(6. 36)
10. I’m going to laugh you right out of my life(cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy) (10.40)
1. God Bless’ The Child (A. Herzog – B. Holiday)(14.25)
2. When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)(11.22)
331
20040711 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 11th 2004, Arena Santa Giuliana, Perugia, Italy
Jarrett K. Trio
Duration:
Sound quality: A Source: audience recording
1. You Belong To Me (Pee Wee King, Chilton Price, Redd Stewart) (10.34)
2. Four (Davis) (7.28)
3. Summer Night (A. Dubin – H. Warren) (13.32)
4. One For Majid (Pete La Roca Sims)(7.08)
5. I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer) (12.03)
6. Moment’s notice (Coltrane) (6.27)
7. Doxy (Rollins) (8.14)
8. I’m going to laugh you right out of my life(cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy) (8.57)
9. John’s Abbey (Bud Powell)(5.04)
10. Poinciana (Bernier - Simon) (9.57)
11. When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)(10.28)
332
20040719 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 19th 2004, Arena, Verona, Italy
Jarrett K. Trio
Duration:
Sound quality: A Source: audience recording
333
20041114 Keith Jarrett Solo (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
November 14th 2004, Musikverein, Vienna, Austria
CD1
1. Track01 18:32
2. Track02 05:22
3. track03 04:30
4. track04 04:59
5. track05 06:23
CD2
1. Speech 00:38
2. track02 14:27
3. Speech 01:04
4. Speech 01:08
5. track05 03:30
6. track06 06:43
7 track07 05:15
8 But Beautiful (Van Heusen- Burke) 07:04
9 Time on My Hands (Youmans - Adamson - Gordon) 08:18
10 Track10 02:05
334
2005
20050309 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
March 9th 2005, Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
335
20050709 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP) +++
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 9th 2005, Arena Sferisterio, Macerata, Italy
1. Introduction
2. Joy Spring (Clifford Brown)
3. You Belong To Me (Pee Wee King, Chilton Price, Redd Stewart) (9.53)
4. Hallucinations(Powell)
5. Blues
6. Yesterdays(Kern – Harbach)
7. Tennessee Waltz (Pee Wee King - Redd Stewart)
8. I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer)
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: 2 CD-R
Duration:
Sound quality: VG
Source: audience recording
336
20050712 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 12th 2005, Arena Flegrea, Naples, Italy
Jarrett K. Trio
Duration:
Sound quality: VG
Source: audience recording
337
20050719 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 19th 2005, Les Nuits de Fourvière, Grand Théâtre de Fourvière, Lyon, France
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: 2 CD-R
Sound quality: VG
Source: audience recording
338
20050724 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 24th 2005, San Sebastian Jazz Festival, Kursaal, San Sebastian, Spain
Jarrett K. solo
Media: 2 CD-R
Duration:
Sound quality: G
Source: audience recording
1. Track 1 (18.47)
2. Track 2 (5.49)
3. Track 3 (4.50)
4. Track 4 (5.17)
5. Track 5 (6.48)
6. Track 6 (15.15)
7. Let it be (Lennon – McCartney)(6.05)
8. Track 8 (6.56)
9. Track 9 (5.26)
10. Track 10 (7.20)
11. My Song (Keith Jarrett)
[Link]
[Link] Beautiful (Van Heusen- Burke) (8.29)
339
20050926 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
September 26th 2005, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
1 Part 1 (Keith Jarrett) 9.18
2 Part 2 (Keith Jarrett) 3.03
3 Part 3 (Keith Jarrett) 4.15
4 Part 4 (Keith Jarrett) 5.05
5 Part 5 (Keith Jarrett) 8.50
6 Part 6 (Keith Jarrett) 6.27
7 Part 7 (Keith Jarrett) 7.31
8 Part 8 (Keith Jarrett) 4.43
9 Part 9 (Keith Jarrett) 7.41
10 Part 10 (Keith Jarrett) 6.49
11 The Good America(Keith Jarrett) 4.41
12 Paint My Heart Red (Keith Jarrett) 5.59
13 My Song (Keith Jarrett) 5.07
14 True Blues (Keith Jarrett) 4.16
15 Time on My Hands (Youmans - Adamson - Gordon)6.07
1-15: Keith Jarrett – The Carnegie Hall Concert (ECM 1989)
With the release of Radiance (ECM, 2005), Keith Jarrett made a triumphant return to improvised solo piano performance. The 2002
recording was the first live solo piano performance to be released sinceLa Scala (ECM, 1997), and it reflected a change in Jarrett's
approach to solo improvisation. That change continues on The Carnegie Hall Concert, a complete show from the fall of 2005 that's
less radical in some ways, but still has a few surprises.
With Radiance, Jarrett moved away from the longer stream-of-consciousness improvisations that characterized his earlier solo records.
Instead, he now performs a discrete series of shorter improvisations, where each part is meant to suggest where the next one will go. The
improvisations on Radiance did appear to have an inexorable, logical flow from one to the next. However, the ten improvisations that
make up the main body of The Carnegie Hall Concert seem less directly connected.
That doesn't mean they aren't broadly evocative. Jarrett brings together diverse musical references, from the angular classicism of "Part
1" to the darker impressionistic beauty of "Part 3." The two-chord left-hand vamp of "Part 2" allows him to build more easily discernable
improvisations with his right; his by now legendary vocalization of melodic ideas provides a clear window into the translation of concept
to execution.
The performance feels darker and more abstract than Radiance, but there are still rays of light. "Part 7" is a gospel-tinged piece that
separates and contrasts the jagged "Part 6" and hauntingly melancholic "Part 8." The more complex ideas of "Part 9" show just how big a
picture Jarrett can conceive on the fly, while "Part 10" ends the main concert on an ambiguous note, around a minor-keyed pedal tone
that gradually slows to a stop.
The surprise of the release is the encore. While the main show improvisations are untitled, Jarrett performs two new titled originals here:
a romantic Americana piece appropriately called "The Good America" and a barrelhouse blues, "True Blues. Jarrett ends the encores with
a calming look at the standard "Time on My Hands."
But the biggest surprise is hearing Jarrett perform his classic "My Song," the title track from his 1978 ECM album, and "Paint My Heart
Red," a reworking of "Mon Coeur Est Rouge" fromConcerts (ECM, 1982). This is the first time he's dug back into his own repertoire,
and it's something he should do more often. Jarrett is a masterful improviser, but he's also a fine composer. While he's been less inte-
rested in overt composition for many years, he may be changing his mind, or at least so the encore suggests.
Curious, however, is the applause between tracks—in some cases nearly three minutes long, adding up to nearly nineteen minutes in
total. Exciting as it may have been to be there, the lengthy audience noise does nothing but defeat the recorded program's continuity.
As strong as the main concert is, the encores of The Carnegie Hall Concert are what differentiate it from previous Jarrett solo record-
ings. Hopefully it signifies a new direction that combines pure, unfettered improvisation, reference to past works and more clearly form-
based composition.
Track Listing: CD1: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5. CD2: Part 6; Part 7; Part 8; Part 9; Part 10. Encores: The Good America; Paint
My Heart Red; My Song; True Blues; Time on My Hands.
Personnel: Keith Jarrett: piano.
340
20051014 Keith Jarrett Solo (pa)
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 14th 2005, Metropolitan Art Hall, Tokyo, Japan
1. Applause (0:36)
2. Part I (13:26)
3. Part II (3:24)
4. Part III (4:20)
5. Part IV (6:24)
6. Part V (5:13)
7. Part VI (9:28)
8. Applause (0:28)
9. Part VII (8:02)
10. Part VIII (7:01)
11. Part IX [interrupted + speech about coughing] (3:17)
12. Part X (5:19)
13. Part XI (6:26)
14. Part XII (1:54)
15. Part XIII (9:45)
16. Applause (2:03)
17. Speech (1:57)
18. Part XIV (5:53)
19. Applause (1:38)
20. Blues (4:34)
21. Applause (1:49)
22. Encore II (3:23)
23. Applause (1:48)
24. Encore III (6:08)
25. Applause (1:26)
341
20051017 Keith Jarrett Solo (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 17th 2005, Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan
Jarrett K. solo
Media: 2 CD-R
Sound quality: G
Source: audience recording
1. Track 1 (18.47)
2. Track 2 (5.49)
3. Track 3 (4.50)
4. Track 4 (5.17)
5. Track 5 (6.48)
6. Track 6 (15.15)
7. Track 7 (6.05)
8. Track 8 (6.56)
9. Track 9 (5.26)
10. Track 10 (7.20)
11. Track 11 (8.29)
12. Track 12 ( )
13. Track 13 (…)
342
20051021 Keith Jarrett Solo (pa)
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 21st 2005, Metropolitan Art Hall (?), Tokyo, Japan
1. Part 1 (09:57)
2. Part 2 (5:55)
3. Part 3 (6:31)
4. Part 4 (4:59)
5. Part 5 (5:55)
6. Part 6 (1:25)
7. Part 7 (8:10)
Set 2
8. Part 8 (11:20)
9. Part 9 (8:23)
10. Part 10 (7:13)
11. Part 11 (5:24)
12. Part 12 (4:28)
13. When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman) (4:28)
14. encore 3 (2:26)
15 Time on My Hands (Youmans - Adamson - Gordon)7:12)
343
2006
20060313 Keith Jarrett Solo (PA)
Keith Jarrett (p)
March 13th 2006, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, CA
1. Speech (2:20)
2. Part I(6:51)
3. Part II (7:32)
4. Part III (5:41)
5. Part IV (6:01)
6. Part V (5:57)
7. Part VI (10:14)
8. Part VII (20:42)
9. Part VIII (6:05)
10. Speech (0:36)
11. Blues (4:11)
12. Speech (0:56)
13. unidentified standard (7:46)
14. unidentified standard (6:30)
1. Part I (19:13)
2. Part II (4:31)
3. Part III (2:14)
4. Part IV (4:06)
5. Part V (7:37)
6. Part VI (5:22)
7. Speech (1:05)
8. Part VII (13:18)
9. Part VIII (6:36)
10. Part IX (6:05)
11. Speech (0:51)
12. Part X (3:45)
13. Part XI (6:14)
14. Speech (1:45)
15. unidentified standard (7:02)
16. unidentified standard (7:07)
344
20060716 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
July 16th 2006, Konzertsaal, KKL Luzern, Lucerne, Switzerland
Kulturund Kongresszentrum,
Disc I / Set I
1. Part I 17:29
2. Part II 03:55
3. Part III 05:23
4. Part IV 08:49
tt 35:46
Disc II / Set II
1. Part 5 18:22
2. Part 6 04:45
3. Part 7 07:14
4. Encore 1: Easy Living (Rainger – Robin) 07:59
5. Encore 2 : Blossom (Jarrett) 06:44
6. Encore 3 : solstice (Jarrett) 11:31 (from Belonging album)
tt 56:51
Sound quality: G
Source: audience recording-> Cd-R from trade -> wav -> flac 6
(I received this concert from my friend Davide)
First Set
1. Track 1, plus KJ speaking (21.47) 21:51
2. Track 2 (9.49)
3. Track 3 (7.22) 7:15
4. Track 4 (6.22) 6:18
Second Set
345
5. Track 5 (13.48) 13:53
6. Track 6 (1:34)
6b Track 6b KJ speaking (2:29)
7. The Sun Whose Rays (4.25)
8. Track 8 (5.36) 5:30
9. Blues(9.16) 7:09
Encores
10. My Wild Irish Rose (Trad)ndu (8.36) 6:43
11. Stella by starlight (Washington – Young) (7.59) 6:23
12. Blossom (Jarrett) (9.13)
TT 102:52
346
20060722 Keith Jarrett Trio (DI)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 22nd 2006, Jazz à Juan, Pinède Gould, Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, France
Saturday 22 july 2006
Sound quality: E
Source: audience recording
1. Track 1 (9.08)
2. I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer) (12.2o)
3, Tennessee Waltz (Pee Wee King - Redd Stewart) (5.10)
4. I am a fool toWant You (Wolf – Herron - Sinatra)(8.43)
5. Chandra (Jaki Byard) (9.12)
[Link] night when we Were Young (Arlen – Harburg) (14 24)
7. Track 7 (11.43)
8. Sandu (Brown) (8.53)
[Link](Bernstein-Sondheim) (8.52)
10. Poinciana (Bernier - Simon) (8.53)
347
20060728 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 28th 2006, Les Nuits de Fourvière, Grand Théâtre de Fourvière, Lyon, France
Jarrett K. Trio
Sound quality: G (the second set is very low)
Source: audience recording
348
20061031 Keith Jarrett Solo (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 31st 2006, Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
Jarrett K. solo
Media: 2 CD-R
Sound quality: A (very low)
Source: audience recording
1. Track 1 (15.40)
2. Track 2 (9.06)
3. Blues (4.59)
4. Track 4 (4.43)
5. Track 5 (9.57)
[Link] 6 ( 3.30)
7. KJ speaking (3.53)
8. Track 8 (6.56)
9. Track 9 (12.07)
10. KJ speaking (3.24)
11. My Song (Keith Jarrett) (6.32)
12. As Time Goes By (Herman Hupfeld)(8.02)
13. When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young)
349
20061106 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
November 6th 2006, Sevilla, Spain
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: 2 CD-R
Duration:
Sound quality: G (the second set is very low)
Source: audience recording
350
20061112 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
November 12th 2006, Centro Cultural de Belém, Lisbon, Portugal
Jarrett K. Trio
Sound quality: VG
Source: audience recording
351
2007
20070217 Keith Jarrett Solo (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
February 17th 2007, Orchestra Hall, Symphony Center, Chicago, IL
Disc 1
Disc 2
1. 1. Part VI 08:28
2. 2. Part VII 04:18
3. 3. Part VIII 07:17
4. 4. Part IX 08:02
5. 5. Encore 1: Miss Otis Regrets (Porter) 07:17
6. 6. Encore 2: You Took Advantage Of Me (Rodgers – Hart) 07.33
7. 7. Encore 3: Easy Living (Rainger – Robin) 04:29
8. 8. Encore 4: Unknown 07:31
9. 9. Encore 5: When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young) 06:29
TT 61:46
Quality B+
352
20070300 Keith Jarrett / Charlie Haden
Keith Jarrett (p) Charlie Haden (bass)
March 2007, Keith Jarrett’s home studio, New Jersey
1 For All We Know (Coots – Lewis) 9.49
2 Where Can I Go Without You (Peggy Lee – Victor Young) 9.24
3 No Moon At All (Mann –Evans) 4.42
4 One Day I'll Fly Away (Jennings – Sample) 4.18
5 Intro - I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life (cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy) 12.11
6 Body And Soul (Green – Heyman – Sour – Eyton) 11.12
7 Goodbye(Gordon Jenkins) 8.03
8 Don´t Ever Leave Me (Hammerstein – Kern) 3.11
1-8: Keith Jarrett / Charlie Haden – Jasmine (ECM 2165)
The reason to mention the "particulars" of this document of informal sessions is because Keith Jarrett went to the trouble of doing so in his liner
notes: they came about in the aftermath of he and Charlie Haden playing together during Ramblin' Boy, a documentary film about Haden. The duo,
who hadn't played together in over 30 years, got along famously and decided to do some further recording in Jarrett's Cavelight home studio without
an end result in mind. The tapes sat -- though were discussed often -- for three years before a decision was made to release some of them. Jasmine
is a collection of love songs; most are standards played by two stellar improvisers. Picking out highlights on this eight-song, hour-long set is difficult
because the dry warmth of these performances is multiplied by deeply intuitive listening and the near symbiotic, telepathic nature of the playing. The
entire proceeding flows seamlessly. The depth of emotion in Peggy Lee's and Victor Young's "Where Can I Go Without You" opens the world of the
bereft lover -- and Haden's solo seems to make her/him speak. Jarrett's intro to "I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life," by Cy Coleman and
Joseph McCarthy, reveals in its lyric just how woefully ironic this tune is. The loss and reverie steeped in false bravado are expressed in Jarrett's
arpeggios and underscored by Haden's emphasis on single notes during the changes and a deep woody tone he gets in the combination of skeletal
flourishes during Jarrett's solo. On the surface it might seem that the inclusion of Joe Sample's "One Day I'll Fly Away" is an odd inclusion; yet it acts
on some level as the hinge piece for the set. Its simplicity and sparseness are offset by the profound lyricism Jarrett imbues it with. Haden asserts,
quietly of course, that the complex emotions in the tune go beyond any language -- other than music's -- to express. After a devastatingly sad reading
Gordon Jenkins' "Goodbye" with Jarrett at his most poignant and clean, a brief reading of Jerome Kern's and Oscar Hammerstein's "Don't Ever Leave
Me" closes the set. The way it's played, this tune is not a plea, but a poetically uttered assertion between lovers. Jasmine is, ultimately, jazz distilled
to its most essential; it not only expresses emotion and beauty, but discovers them in every moment of its performance.
353
20070503 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
May 3rd 2007, Osaka Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan
354
20070707 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP) (PA)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 7th 2007, Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: 2 CD-R
Duration:
Sound quality: A
Source: audience recording
355
20070710 Keith Jarrett Trio (PA)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 10th 2007, Umbria Jazz Festival, Arena Santa Guiliana, Perugia, Italy
1. KJ speaking (1.30)
2. Green Dolphin Street (B. Kaper – N. Washington)(9.48)
3. Last night when we Were Young (Arlen – Harburg) (8.29)
4. Track 4 (11.01)
5. One For Majid (Pete La Roca Sims)(7.52)
6. I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life (cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy) (14.07)
7. Blue rondo a la turk (Brubeck)(6.36)
8. Django (John Lewis) (11.52)
9. Joy Spring (Clifford Brown) (10.20)
356
20070719 Keith Jarrett Trio (SP)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 19th 2007, Jazz à Juan, Pinède Gould, Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, France
Jarrett K. Trio
Media: 2 CD-R
Duration:
Sound quality: E
Source: audience recording
357
20071014 Keith Jarrett Solo (DI)
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 14th 2007, Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy
Milano, La scala, 14.10.2007
Track 1 (7.10)
Track 2 (11.25)
Track 3 (4.59)
Track 4 (8.20)
Track 5 (6.44)
Track 6 (4.59)
Track 7 (7.30)
KJ speaking (2.03)
Track 9 (3.29)
Track 10 (11.40)
Track 11 (10.40)
My wild irish rose (Trad) (8.40)
Blues (6.48)
Track 14 (10.41)
Track 15 (6.19)
358
20071018 Keith Jarrett Solo (DI) (FL+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 18th 2007, Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Budapest, Hungary
Sound quality: B
Source: audience recording-> CD-R From trade -> Wav -> Flac 6
1. Track 1 (10.58)
2. Track 2 (8.55)
3. Track 3 (5.09)
4. Track 4 (7.50)
5. Track 5 (5.57)
6. KJ speaking (0.24)
7. For Heaven's Sake ([Link]) (7.33)
8. Blues (3.50)
9. KJ speaking (0.43)
10. Track 10 (5.16)
11. Track 11 (10.02)
12. Track 12 (5.33)
13. Track 13 (6.23)
14. Track 14 (5.50)
15. Track 15 (4.04)
16. Track 16 (3.45)
17. Track 17 (6.25)
First Set
00. Announcement (3:58)
01. Part 1 (9:37)
02. Part 2 (5:06)
03. Part 3 (5:32)
04. Part 4 (5:44)
05. Part 5 (3:36)
06. Part 6 (3:16)
07. Part 7 (6:01)
TT 53:55
Second set
08. Part 8 (10:58)
09. Part 9 (8:52)
10. Part 10 (5:07)
11. Part 11 (7:45)
12. Encore 1 (5:51)
12a. KJ speaking (0.30)
13. For Heaven's Sake (6:56 + applause) (9:04)
14. Blues (3:42)
14a. KJ speaking (0.35)
15. Unidentified standard (6:12)
TT 101:37
359
20071021 Keith Jarrett Solo (SP) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
October 21st 2007, Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Germany
Jarrett K. solo
Media: 2 CD-R
Sound quality: E
Source: audience recording
1. Track 1(9.07)
2. KJ speaking (2.35)
3. Track 3 (4.25)
4. Track 4 (2.45)
5. Track 5 (1.20)
6. Track 6 (5.49)
7. KJ speaking (1.26)
8. Track 8 (8.22)
9. Track 9 (3.02)
10. Track 10 (2.02)
11. Track 11(10.16)
12. Track 12 (6.21)
13. Track 13 (5.43)
14. Track 14 (6.28)
15. Track 15 (8.25)
16. Blues (4.55)
17. Easy living (Rainger – Robin) (8.29)
18. My Song (Keith Jarrett) (6.16)
19. Track 19 (4.36)
360
2008
20080202 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (d)
February 2nd 2008, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, NJ
1 Last Night When I Was Young (Arlen – Harburg) 18.30
2 Smoke Gets In Your Eyes(Kern – Harbach) 6.37
3 Sandu (Brown) 6.16
4 Someday My Prince Will Come(Churchill – Morey) 7.31
5 Solar(Chuck Wayne) 9.46
6 When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young) 8.31
1-6: [CD] Keith Jarrett – New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Also played 7 God Bless The Child(Holiday - Herzog) 14:03
361
20080514 Keith Jarrett Solo (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
May 14th 2008, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama, Japan
1 Yokohama – Part 1
2 Yokohama – Part 2
3 Encore 1
4 Encore 2
5 Encore 3
6 Encore 4
1-6: [2 CD] Keith Jarrett Solo – Yokohama 2008
1. Set I (38:58)
2. Set II Track01 (15:42)
3. Set II Track02 (21:41)
4. Encore I (4.42)
5. Encore II (4.36)
6. Encore III (3.19)
7. Encore IV (4:42)
1. Title (13:59)
2. Title (26.41)
CD 2
3. Title (5.49)
4. Title (21.05)
5. Title (5.19)
6. Title (5:53)
7. Standard (6:26)
8. Title (6:46)
9. False start/KJ talking/Standard (5.41)
CD1
1. Track 1 (17.16)
2. Track 2 (4.34)
3. Track 3 (6.52)
4. Track 4 (4.04)
5. Track 5 (8.13)
tt 41:04
CD2
6. Track 6 (10.25)
7. Track 7 (6.20)
8a. Beginning of track truncated /KJ speaking (02.00)
8b Track 8 7:32
9. Track 9 (10.34)
10. Track10 (5.42)
11. Track 11 (4.06)
12. Somewhere Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (6.44)
tt 53:27
362
20080523 Keith Jarrett Solo (DI) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
May 23rd 2008, Metropolitan Art Space, Tokyo, Japan
CD1
1. Title (34:57)
2. Title (7.37)
CD2
3. Title (12.40)
4. Title (8.19)
5. Title (9.33)
6. Title (4.44)
7. My wild irish rose/KJ talking/My wild irish rose (Trad) (7.54)
8. Easy living (Rainger – Robin) (6.34)
1. Introduction (2:26)
2. On Green Dolphin Street (B. Kaper – N. Washington)(9:56)
3. Speech (0:34)
4. Skylark (H. Carmichael – J. Mercer)(10:57)
5. Now´s The Time (Charlie Parker)(7:58)
6. I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer) (7:14)
7. Solar(Chuck Wayne) (6:02)
8. Moment´s Notice (Coltrane) (5:07)
9. Django (John Lewis) (12:29)
10. Somewhere(Bernstein-Sondheim) (12:22)
11. Round Midnight (Monk -Williams - Hanighen) (10:09)
12. Piano solo (2:34)
13. Free improvisation (7:46)
14. Is it really the same (Keith Jarrett)? (8:04)
15. When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)(10:11)
363
20080712 Keith Jarrett Trio (mu)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 12th 2008, Roma,Auditorium parco della Musica , 12 luglio 2008
Media: CD-R
Sound quality: B+
Source: audience recording
Notes: only 1st set
364
20080718 Keith Jarrett Trio (mu)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 18th 2008, Jazz à Juan, Pinède Gould, Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins, France
Media: 2 CD-R
Sound quality:A-
2° set
1. Sunshine Song (Keith Jarrett)
2. The bitter end
3. Straight, No Chaser (Monk)
4. Is it really the same (Keith Jarrett)?
5. I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer)
Encores
1. Solar(Chuck Wayne)
2. When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)
365
20080725 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 25th 2008, Les Nuits de Fourvière, Grand Théâtre de Fourvière, Lyon, France
First Set
1. ?
2. The bitter end
3. One For Majid (Pete La Roca Sims)
4. Somewhere(Bernstein-Sondheim)
2° set
1. God Bless’ The Child (A. Herzog – B. Holiday)
2. You Belong To Me (Pee Wee King, Chilton Price, Redd Stewart)
Encores
1. The Theme
2. When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young) .
Set 1:
All Of You (Porter) (Porter)
Woody n you (Dizzie Gillespie)
Never let me go (Evans – Livingston)
One for Majid (Pete La Roca Sims)
Set 2:
Somewhere(Bernstein-Sondheim)
Bye Bye Blackbird (R. Henderson)
Straight no chaser (Monk)
You belong to me (Pee Wee King, Chilton Price, Redd Stewart)
Encores:
Is it really the same (Keith Jarrett)
Poinciana (Bernier - Simon)
When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young)
Keith Jarrett - p
Gary Peacock - b
Jack DeJohnette - d
367
20081126 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
November 26th 2008, Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Keith Jarrett - Testament - Paris / London (ECM [3CD])
1. Encore 1 (5:31)
2. Speech/Blues (4:45)
3. Encore 3 (4:43)
368
2009
20090129 Keith Jarrett Solo (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
January 29th 2009, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
1st set
1 Improvisation 1 9.32
2 Improvisation 2 4.23
3 Improvisation 3 5.00
4 Improvisation 4 5.11
5 Improvisation 5 4.48
6 Improvisation 6 1.51
7 Improvisation 7 7.17
8 Improvisation 8 7.45
9 Improvisation 9 1.31
2nd set
1 Improvisation 10 8.47
2 Improvisation 11 7.29
3 Improvisation 12 7.45
4 Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) 5.59
5 Miss Otis Regrets (Porter) 4.41
6 Carolina Shout (James P. Johnson) 3.03
7 Jarrett talking 2.29
8 Where Are You (McHugh – Adamson) 4.33
9 Angel Eyes (Dennis - Brent) 4.50
10 Blues 3.44
1-19: [2CD] Keith Jarrett – Carnegie Hall January 2009
369
20090518 Keith Jarrett Solo (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
May 18th 2009, Angeli Musicanti Festival, Teatro San Carlo, Napoli, Italy
1st set:
1 Part IA 21.34
2 Part IB 26.15
2nd set
3 Part II 28.21
encores
4 Danny Boy (Traditional) 5.47
5 Ballad 6.13
6 Blues 2.55
7 Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) 4.17
1-7: [2 CD] Keith Jarrett Solo – Napoli 2009
Set I
1. 1. Track01 12:33
2. 2 Track02 11:20
3. 3 Track03 06:08
4. 4 Track04 08:15
Set II
1. 1. track01 20:00
2. 2. Track02 06:40
3. 3. Track03 1:59
encores
1. 4 Blues 05:34
2. 5 I’m A Fool To Want You (Wolf – Herron - Sinatra) 06:00 with false start !! (KJ says 'Take 2')
3. 6 But Beautiful (Van Heusen- Burke) 06;35
4. 7 Lonesome Old Town (Kisco – Tobias) 05:24
5. 8 Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) 05:45
370
20090708 Keith Jarrett Trio (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
July 8th 2009, Strasbourg ,France
Location: Strasbourg Jazz Festival - Palais de la Musique et des Congrès, Salle Erasme, Strasbourg, France
Sound Quality A
Set 1
Set 2
371
20090711 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
KKl,Lucerne,Switzerland
SOMEWHERE
This release by Keith Jarrett's celebrated Standards Trio in the group's 30th year was recorded live four years
ago – so it's safe to say that the fastidious leader must now be happy with this set of improvisations on classics,
including the West Side Story title track, Miles Davis's Solar(Chuck Wayne), and two originals. The trio has de-
monstrated the ambiguities in its name by exploring standards as well as free improv over the years, but song-
forms are dominant here – often developed with almost venomous relish by Jarrett and imaginative (if occasio-
nally loosely pitched) regular rejoinders from bassist Gary Peacock, underpinned by drummer Jack De-
Johnette's mix of stinging power and subtle support. Deep Space makes a seductively glimmering overture,
before Solar comes in almost sleepwalkingly off the pulse – the trio constantly suggesting swing but subverting
it, before Jarrett hurtles off into a blistering groove. He arrhythmically juggles the melody of Between the Devil
and the Deep Blue Sea, before DeJohnette drives up the tempo; Somewhere segues into Jarrett's own Every-
where (on which he eventually gets funky over a rocking, Mehldau-like vamp); West Side Story's Tonight is
played fast, and I Thought About You makes a sumptuously tender finale. It's not quite as varied as its prede-
cessor Yesterdays, and Jarrett's groaning is alarmingly louder than ever, but it's still improvised piano-trio music
of a standard few can touch.
It's been four years since a recorded peep has been heard from pianist Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio, despite continuing to
perform a few select dates each year. But even its last few ECM releases—2009's Yesterdays, 2007's My Foolish He-
art and 2004's The Out-of-Towners—were all culled from a clearly fruitful 2001, making it well over a decade since a
new recorded note has been heard from Jarrett's longest-lasting group. Fine albums all, the dearth of anything since that
372
time has nevertheless begged the question, even amongst some of his most ardent fans, as to whether this undeniably fine
trio had anything new to say.
From Jarrett's a cappella opening to Somewhere's wonderfully coalescing take of trumpeter Miles Davis' "Solar," all
doubts are laid to rest as the pianist delivers a performance to rival his classic introduction to "My Funny Valentine"
on Still Live (ECM, 1988), one of the Standards Trio's strongest records. It's a terrific start to an album that, recorded in
Switzerland during the summer of 2009, celebrates 30 years since Jarrett, bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack De-
Johnettefirst entered New York's Power Station studio for the fruitful sessions that yielded three recordings collected
on Setting Standards: New York Sessions (ECM, 2008): Standards, Vol. 1 (1983),Changes (1984) and Standards,
Vol. 2 (1985).
It's been a long time since the trio has stepped into a studio, and the easiest explanation is that this really is a group best
heard live—a point driven home by this 65-minute, six-song set. In addition to Davis, the trio works its way through a list
of equally classic songwriters. A particularly lovely take of Frank Perkins and Mitchell Parish's "Stars Fell on Alabama,"
finds Peacock, combining pure taste and tone, remaining at the top of his game. A quirky rendition of Harold Arlen and
Ted Koehler "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" is largely constructed around this trio's remarkable ability to sug-
gest swing without actually playing it—the entire structure ready to collapse at any moment like a house of cards—but
never actually doing so—even as DeJohnette takes his only real solo of the set, while Jimmy van Heusen and Johnny Mer-
cer's balladic "I Thought About You" closes the set on an irrepressibly romantic note predicated on the trio's egalitarian
nature.
But it's Leonard Bernstein's two classics from the 1957 musical West Side Story that formSomewhere's centerpiece. A
profoundly beautiful take on "Somewhere" leads to Jarrett's lengthy coda, "Everywhere," building this nearly 20-minute
workout to a powerful climax, ultimately winding down to a gospel-tinged conclusion, while "Tonight" is taken at an unex-
pectedly bright clip. Peacock and DeJohnette swing more directly this time, with Jarrett's effortless motivic invention kee-
ping secure his position in the upper echelon of improvising pianists.
Despite the 12-year gap since its last recorded work, Somewhere leaves no doubt that the special spark Jarrett, Peacock
and DeJohnette first demonstrated on the bassist's Tales of Another (ECM, 1977) remains intact. If any-
thing, Somewhere creates hope that another four years won't have to pass before this inimitable trio is heard from again.
Track Listing: Deep Space/Solar; Stars Fell on Alabama; Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea; Somewhe-
re/Everywhere; Tonight; I Thought About You.
Mostly, Jarrett says the hardest part was convincing Peacock that the recording
was good. You wouldn't know it listening to Somewhere, but "he was in hell that
night, as far as the sound was concerned.
"Players are very protective of their turf," Jarrett says. "Over and over in the past,
I've had the experience of knowing we just played the best version; we will not
need to do another take. If it's a band, it's a band. If what we do when we're
playing together is good enough, even the solos don't matter that much. What mat-
ters is the spirit kept."
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20090713 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock (b) Jack DeJohnette (dr)
Italia,Firenze,teatro comunale,Festival live on’
NB: tk 02-03 = after walking to the stage mixing desk to ask for a lower level of his monitor, KJ started Im a fool.., but
promptly interrupted to ask for an even lower level (you can hear him scream ╘ ╘down╒ ╘
before tk 03), thus a ╘false start╒
Set 1:
Set 2:
374
20090721 Keith Jarrett trio (+++)
first set
375
20090725 Keith Jarrett trio (+++)
1. Conversation (4:22)
2. Improvisation [Jarrett (p)] (4:26)
3. Conversation (5:58)
4. Blackberry Winter [McPartland (p)] (3:25)
5. Conversation (4:32)
6. Free piece [Jarrett (p) & McPartland (p)] (8:29)
7. Conversation (5:33)
8. Portrait of Keith Jarrett [McPartland (p)] (4:11)
9. Conversation (1:25)
10. Country [Jarrett (p)] (4:47)
11. Conversation (1:49)
12. Indian Summer [Jarrett (p) and McPartland (p)] (7:08)
13. End credits (1:36)
376
20091009 Keith Jarrett Solo (PA)
Keith Jarrett (p)
Palais des beaux arts ,Bruxelles,Belgique
Audience recording. KJ chosing between 3 pianos. Played Bach's Invention in F major and some variations from
the Goldberg Variations.
1. Part I (12:20)
2. Part II (10:21)
3. Part III (6:39)
4. Part IV (3:03)
5. Part V (3:05)
6. Part VI (5:58)
7. Part VII (6:58)
8. Part VIII (6:47)
9. Part IX (17:30)
10. Encore I (5:50)
11. Old Man River(Kern – Hammerstein II) (9:15)
12. Speech (1:08)
13. I’m A Fool To Want You (Wolf – Herron - Sinatra)(5:11)
14. Blues (3:06)
15. Time on My Hands (Youmans - Adamson - Gordon) (6:03)
377
20091012 Keith Jarrett Solo (PA) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
Philarmonie,Berlin,Deutschland
1. Part I (17:34)
2. Interruption and speech (2:24)
3. Part II (10:59)
4. Part III (8:13)
5. Self-interruption and speech (2:05)
6. Part IV (4:01)
7. Self-interruption (1:00)
8. Part V (9:07)
9. Part VI (14:37)
10. Part VII (7:30)
11. Part VIII (5:57)
12. Piano tuning and speech about camera (4:11)
13. My Song (Keith Jarrett) (7:07)
14. Sophisticated Lady (Ellington) (7:54)
15. Don’t Ever Leave Me (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein)(4:40)
16. Blues (4:39)
1. Part I (18:50)
2. Part II (4:37)
3. Part III (8:55)
4. Interruption and speech (1:30)
5. Part IV (8:24)
6. Part V (8:56)
7. Part VI (9:30)
8. Noise-irritation (0:51)
9. Part VII (5:41)
10. Part VIII (4:26)
11. Part IX (8:40)
12. Part X (8:46)
13. Part XI (5:53)
14. I’m A Fool To Want You (Wolf – Herron - Sinatra)(5:25)
15. Blossom (Jarrett) (7:47)
16. Speech about camera (4:29)
17. Blues (3:17)
18. Speech about camera again (1:06)
19. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (5:26)
Private concert. Venue unknown. It was probably a solo concert, not a trio concert, but this remains to be confirmed.
378
2010
First Set
0. Introducing and applause (2:16)
1. Part 1 (15:15)
1a. Kj speaks (00:40)
2. Part 2 (6:04)
3. Part 3 (4:46)
3a. Speech (1:23)
4. Part 4 (7:40)
4a. Speech (0:24)
5. Part 5 (5:19)
TT 43:52
Second set
6. Part 6 (6:59)
7. Part 7 (5:50)
7a. Speech (3:37)
7b. False start + speech (2:44)
8. Part 8 (7:27)
9. Answer Me My Love (“Mütterlein”)(Winkler - Rauch - Sigman) (6:24)
9a. Speech (00:38)
10. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (6:01)
11. Improvisation (5:23)
17. Speech (1:12)
Don´t Ever Leave Me (Hammerstein – Kern)”
I had seen KJ once before with the trio and it was of course incredible music.
And even after years of listening to his recorded solo concerts -- and watching
those that have been released on DVD -- I was not ready for such an overwhelming
concert experience. The first and most overarching impression was of a ballad /
melancholy / haunting quality of the concert as a whole. The tempos were
generally slower, (more "floating" if that makes any sense) than most of his
recent recordings. And when he did play the more modern / atonal / frenetic
pieces they actually seemed to take on shades of the blues. As was remarked on
previously, we were in Chicago after all.
1. Slow, minor key vamp. Incredible opening, what a way to open. How could this
be topped? Lasted over 15 minutes.
Sitting back down to the piano, KJ commented to the effect that "Between the
improvisations are... more improvisations".
2. Slow, ballad, "Americana" (if that makes any sense), more jazzy, beautiful
singing quality to it, about 6 minutes.
3. Classical, atonal, lots of bass. Choppy, but not too frenetic, spare, then
bluesy almost Monk- or Mal-Waldron-like. Nice, abrupt ending, about 5 minutes.
379
INTERMISSION
6. Soft, gorgeous ballad. I just can't believe my ears, the concert is cohering
into this beautiful suite of sorts...about 7 minutes.
7. Funky vampy groove, ala his intro to God Bless the Child, foot tapping,
rhythmic, bluesy. 6 minutes.
Sitting down again, KJ gestures to the Steinway, saying come on, "you" make some
music. Leads into, "I am addicted to coming out to a passive object." Also an
anti-technoogy, luddite commentary. Then graciously thanks the audience.
8. Begins playing the softest, most beautiful song you've ever heard, then after
about 30 seconds, stops to continue his earlier comments, referencing an
"iPiano". Then asks for requests. Everybody shouts stuff out. He says playing
the old stuff is easy, and they could reduce the ticket prices -- "just not
tonight..."
10. Hymnlike, gospel-y, slow and soulful. Heavy blues. Like some insane
reimagining of "Georgia". Deep stuff. 6 minutes.
Much hooting and hollering as KJ get ready to play again after several curtain
calls. He tells the audience, that all of those sounds "are legal in here. I own
this (the hall)..."
Encore 2. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg). No comment necessary. 6 minutes.
Encore 3. Rhythmic vamp. Eastern flavor (gotta love that). Lots of bass.
Hypnotic. Sudden ending. 6 minutes.
More crazy applause / curtain calls. He makes comment about preserving what we
know in "a heartless age."
Encore 4. Don't Ever Leave Me. Stunning. Heartbreakingly beautiful. Was this an
overt request / tip of the hat to his fans? I'd like to think so. And in the
context of such a mutually communicative evening (most of the audience was going
crazy most of the time), I don't think it's a stretch. About 5 minutes
As has also been commented on, KJ was very relaxed. He was self-effacing, witty,
and even with a few anti-technology rants in the mix, rather charming. He showed
great appreciation and respect for the audience. And the music, what goddamn
music...
Maybe it's because this is the first solo concert I've attended, but I could not
be more enthusiastic in calling for the release of this music. With all of the
solo releases in recent years, this concert is definitely something special: the
sheer haunting beauty of it as a kind of suite is remarkable. I would go so far
as to say that it surpasses Testament in many ways. I think this was on the
level of Carnegie Hall transcendence. That this music could be played one night,
for a few thousand people and then just vanish forever is mind-boggling to me.
Anyway, sorry for the long post. Remarkably, I haven't seen any press coverage
on the web and wanted to get some info out about a special night of music --
certainly one I will never forget...
Peace,
Tony
380
20100315 Keith Jarrett Solo
1. Part 1 (15:54)
2. Part 2 (4:39)
3. Part 3 (2:26)
4. Part 4 (7:30)
5. Speech (3:37)
6. Part 5 (6:09)
7. Audience noise / speech (0:49)
8. Part 6 (6:13)
9. Part 7 (10:01)
10. Part 8 (6:59)
11. (Part 9), interr., speech (3:51)
12. Part 10 (6:15)
13. Speech (1:19)
14. Part 11 (8:53)
15. Don´t Ever Leave Me (Hammerstein – Kern) (5:22)
16. Speech (2:13)
17. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (7:52)
18. Carolina Shout (James P. Johnson) (5:21)
19. Speech (1:01)
20. Someday My Prince Will Come (Churchill-Morey)(5:36)
381
20100319 Keith Jarrett Solo (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
Davies Simphony Hall,San Francisco,Ca,USA
382
20100617 Keith Jarrett Trio (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette
Carnegie Hall
Set 1/Disc 1:
1. It Could Happen To You (Van Heusen -Burke) (12:50)
2. My Funny Valentine (R. Rodgers – L. Hart)(10:50)
3. When Will The Blues Leave (Ornette Coleman) (7:00)
4. Answer Me, My Love (Winkler - Rauch - Sigman) (8:00)
5. Sandu (Clifford Brown) (5:40)
TT: 44:20
Set 2/Disc 2:
1. Someday My Prince Will Come (Churchill-Morey)(8:15)
2. Autumn Leaves ([Link] – [Link] – [Link])(8:35)
3. Ballad Of The Sad Young Men" (Fran Landesman, Thomas J. Wolf, Jr.)(8:40)
4. Last Night, When We Were Young (Arlen – Harburg) (6:35)
Encores:
5. Once Upon A Time" (Lee Adams, Charles Strouse) (9:25)
6. God Bless’ The Child (A. Herzog – B. Holiday)(15:35)
7. I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer) (8:50)
TT: 65:55
Lineage: SanDisk Sansa 4GB -> Audacity (Fade in-out, click removal, volume, dynamic range decompressor) -> TLH
(Flac, torrent) -> DIME
383
20100630 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette
Four seasons Centre for the Perfoming arts, Toronto,ON, Canada
Intermission
Set 2
1. Answer me my love - Mutterlein (Winkler - Rauch - Sigman) 07:23
2. When Will The Blues Leave (Ornette Coleman)? 09:45
3. Old Folks (W. Robinson – D.L. Hill) 09:08
4. Tonight (Bernstein – Sondheim) (from West Side Story) 05:23
5. Someday My Prince Will Come (Churchill-Morey) 07:48
The trio didn´t play encores because of many flashlights, just like in Montreal.
384
20100713 Keith Jarrett trio
Keith Jarrett (p)
Palazzo Mauro de Andre’,Ravenna,Italy
encore
When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young)
Set I
01- The Meaning Of The Blues (B. Troup – L. Worth) (9:35)
2. Now’s The Time (Charlie Parker) (7:17)
3. I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer) / I Loves You Porgy (10:32)
4. I Am a Fool ToWant You (Wolf – Herron - Sinatra)(10:57)
5. The Bitter End (7:01)
Set 2
1. When Will The Blues Leave (Ornette Coleman) (6:37)
2. Golden Earrings (Victor Young) (8:04)
3. Joy Spring (Clifford Brown) (8:39)
4. I've Got a Crush on You (George Gershwin)(5:00)
Encores
1. God Bless’ The Child (A. Herzog – B. Holiday)(8:43)
2. When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)(7:08)
TT 90:00
385
20100721 Keith Jarrett Trio (DI) (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette
Juan les Pins , France
First Set
TT 104:43
386
20100923 Keith Jarrett Trio (Br)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette
Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo, Japan
2010 11 00
387
2011
First set
00 Intro 3:40
01 Improv01 10:32
02 Improv02 03:04
03 Improv03 05:32
03a Kj talks 00:46
04 Improv04 07:14
05 Blues 06:30
06 Improv06 8:43
tt:42:08
388
20110121 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette,
Knight Concert Hall, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami, FL, USA
Intermission
Encores:
Sao Paulo was marvelous, the one encore was Miss Otis Regrets.
There were 10 improvisations, 5 per set.
The 4th piece and 10th piece stood out for me, although every piece was
fantastic.
1 Part I
2 Part II
3 Part III
4 Part IV
5 Part V
6 Part VI
7 Part VII
8 Part VIII
9 Part IX
10 Part X
11 Miss Otis regrets
389
20110409 Keith Jarrett solo (DI) (+++)
Keith Jarrett
Theatro Municipal
Rio de Janeiro
Brasil
2011-04-09
Molecular air vibration pressure waves > Oade Bros. Hi-Resolution Binaural Mics > Zoom H4n > WAV 44,100 Hz 16 bit >
Audacity (SPlit, normalize applause and punctual pops or coughs, amplify first and part of second track, fade in and out)
> TLH (encode, align, test, write checksum) > FLAC > Free and personal distribution only, not for sale
Keith Jarrett: Piano, improvised compositions, feet stomps and jazz noises (sensu Zappa).
Set I
01 - Applause > Silence
02 - Improv I
03 - Improv II (suggested title Riotooria)
04 - Improv III
05 - Improv Iv
06 - Improv V
07 - Improv VI
Set II
08 - Improv VII
09 - Improv VIII
10 - Improv IX
11 - Improv X
12 - Improv XI (The blues)
13 - Improv
Encore I
14 - Improv XII
Encore II
15 - Improv XIII
Encore III
16 - Improv XIV
390
October 29, 2011
.___
KEITH Jarrett had performed hundreds of solo concerts but not like this. From backstage he could hear the buzz in the audi-
torium, the voices carrying just enough to catch the mellifluous Portuguese lilt that surrounded him. Even the name of the
city, Rio de Janeiro, was like music. Now he was about to embark on another night of entirely improvised solo piano but this
was different.
He had eschewed a proper sound-check to avoid filling his head with musical thoughts. What would be would be. It reflected
new confidence from a new love in his life. He rang her in Japan from backstage, as he now found himself ringing her so
often. Each time she buoyed and calmed him and strengthened him. It was just what he needed.
He had wandered on stage earlier and found he was playing an American rather than a German Steinway for the first time.
That would be interesting. Thankfully, a noise in one of the pedals was resolved without it becoming a source of angst.
Then it was time and he went out and the man some people consider jazz's greatest pianist played as he had never played
before. He was playing about Rio and its sounds and shapes, about the musically hip audience with its pin-drop attentive-
ness and explosive applause, and about this piano with its uneven tonal quality that he transformed into a breadth-of-colour
asset. He was also playing about his new love.
Afterwards he called the concert an affirmation of his entire career. It was what he had been building towards since he be-
gan playing at the age of three; since his first recital, aged seven, which included not only Mozart, Bach and Beethoven but
his own work and, crucially, improvisation.
For his eighth birthday he had asked his parents for a walkie-talkie, an elephant or a piano. The latter duly arrived, paid for
out of his own concert earnings. He loved it so much he took to sleeping under it.
The prospect of interviewing Jarrett was clouded with accounts of monosyllables and disdain. He sounds suspicious when
he picks up the telephone in his large New Jersey country house, which has a barn converted into a studio, but swiftly
warms and talks for an hour.
''When I was a little kid and I was studying piano,'' he recounts, ''I would get music that would look too difficult, so occasional-
ly I remember saying to my mother, 'I don't think I can play this piece.' And she would say, 'Can you play the first note?' I
said, 'Yes.' 'Can you play the second note?' 'Yes.' 'Well, then you can probably play the piece.
Now he has crowned his evolution as a musician with Rio, the double album of that concert last April.
Born in 1945, Jarrett passed through the bands of Art Blakey, Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis and in 1971 made an album of
solo piano improvisations for Manfred Eicher's fledgling ECM label. This proved a signal event. A stream of concerts in this
format followed, including 1975's Koln Concert, which sold more than 3.5 million copies, alongside stellar bands and occa-
sional classical performances.
It all came crashing down in 1996 when he was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. ''This disease stopped me dead. I
could only look at my piano. I couldn't touch it,'' Jarrett says. Not knowing whether he would play again, many things became
clear.
''One of those things was I really hated my previous recordings,'' he says, then gives a short laugh. ''Not hated but I thought,
'If this is all of my work, it's not enough.'''
He found his playing too busy, for example, and wanted to improvise without resorting to a pre-existing vocabulary of ideas;
to always reach for the new; reach for what happened in Rio.
''It's proof that what I spend my time doing can work like that,'' Jarrett says. ''The only thing is that it can't work just because
you want it to work. It takes a certain amount of crazy convergences of reality.
''I remember feeling strangely at ease when I went out on stage and all the way there was a lack of a certain kind of stress.
My wife had left three years ago. I have someone who's been giving me more hope than I thought I would get from any per-
son. This, of course, can help me stay relaxed and if an improviser's stressed out on stage, the music isn't going to come.''
That ''someone'' is his Japanese fiancee, Akiko. ''If I talked to her on the way out to the stage, or backstage between sets, I
would get this complete feeling of support,'' he says.
391
They met when Jarrett walked into a shop where she was working in Japan. He kept returning during his stay and found she
knew his name but nothing of his work. On the last day his tour assistant told him to go down to the shop while she packed.
''I said, 'Wait, no, no, no, I don't do dates! Don't leave me!' I suddenly am at the elevator going down alone to meet her.''
Jarrett disabused Akiko of her notion that his tour assistant was, in fact, his partner and then they said goodbye with a hug
that was ''full of stuff that meant more than I could figure out and we parted, and I couldn't let that go.
''So I just started calling her all the time. In the beginning she said, 'Oh, Keith, what's wrong? Why are you calling me?'
'' 'Nothing's wrong. I don't know why I'm calling you. Really, I don't want to lose you and I don't think I have you at the mo-
ment.' '' He laughs. ''You could write a book about this.''
When Jarrett received a finished copy of Rio, Akiko asked him how it felt. ''I think she thought I'd say 'exciting','' he says. ''But
I think she suspected it was a complicated feeling. And I said, 'nervous'. The natural thing is to be sitting there with this in
your hands going, 'Will they get it?' I did my job. But now it's out there.''
392
Keith Jarrett: Rio (2011)
By
JOHN KELMAN,
Published: November 15, 2011
If music is a reflection of where we live, it must also be a reflection of where we are at any given moment.
As much as the undercurrent redolent of an artist's home can often be heard, a live performance can equally
draw inspiration from where it is, especially if it's a place with its own musical tradition. There's little doub-
ting the intrinsic Americanism of pianist Keith Jarrett on Rio—his first solo piano recording since Testament
(ECM, 200where two largely dark performances drew on a difficult time in the pianist's personal life—but
equally, there's no mistaking the Brazilian joie de vivre that informs this 90-minute concert from April, 2011,
turned around with uncharacteristic speed by ECM in just six short months.
That's not to say Jarrett has left the dark side entirely behind. Opening this concert of fifteen improvised
miniatures with "Part I," the pianist doesn't make it an easy entry point for his audience, contrapuntal angu-
larities ebbing and flowing with quirky stops and starts and temporal swings and sways, but largely pushing
relentlessly forward during its entire 8:40 duration. "Part II" provides welcome relief, though its brooding
ambiance remains more closely aligned to contemporary classicism than a specific jazz vernacular.
Things shift with "Part III," however, as Jarrett begins to pull a more definitive song form from the ether,
the sound of his stomping foot creating its own rhythmic energy as the pianist builds changes that begin to
reflect his South American surroundings, while a passing reference to "As Time Goes By" acts as a founda-
tional motif for the rubato "Part IV." Even as hints of dissonance abound throughout, the mood continues to
brighten, as Jarrett demonstrates the encyclopedic knowledge that's always at the core of his muse, though
with his stream-of-consciousness approach it's never possible to predict just where that knowledge will take
him.
In the case of "Part VIII," it's a buoyancy that could easily be heard in Egberto Gismonti's repertoire, though
Jarrett's unfailing melodism is born more of the city than the rougher Amazonian jungles that often inform
the Brazilian pianist/guitarist's music. The cascading notes of "Part IX" are closer to the rainforest, however,
while "
9), "Part XI" returns the pianist to his home, as funky and straightforward a blues as he's ever played.
Since his bout with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the 1990s scuttled his well-known continuous improvisa-
tional marathons, Jarrett has opted, instead, for a more individual and self-contained approach to solo piano
performance. With so many landmark recordings on ECM—ranging from 1972's Facing You to 2006's The
Carnegie Hall Concert, with its controversial applause—it's become pointless to assess each subsequent re-
cording in terms of "good, better, best"; instead, each set, carefully chosen from the half-dozen or so shows
he does each year, occupies its own space, with its own points of recommendation. Rio, despite some hints
of darkness, is a most joyous and lyrical set, and one that finds the perfect nexus of where Jarrett lives and
where Jarrett is.
393
20110412 Keith Jarrett solo (mu) (+++)
Theatre Colon ,Buenos Aires,Argentina
➢ Set 1 - 6 pieces
>
1. Part 1 (07:10)
2. Part 2 (6:05)
3. Part 3 (2:16)
4. Part 4 (06:02)
4a Speech (00:59)
5. Part 5 (5:45)
6. Part 6 (04:28)
7. Part 7 (09:36)
Set 2
8. Part 8 (6:28)
9. Part 9 (5:27)
10. Part 10 (7:22)
11. Slow blues (6:52)
11a Speech (1:51)
12. Part 12 (09.09)
13. Don’t Ever Leave Me (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein)(4:25)
14. Carolina Shout (James P. Johnson) (3:41)
15. Someday My Prince Will Come (Churchill-Morey)(5:10)
394
20110602 Keith Jarrett solo (+++)
Main Auditorium, Sejong Center, Seoul, South Korea
1. Part 1 (13,14)
2. Part 2 (6:20)
3. Part 3 (4:40)
4. Part 4 (06:40)
4a Speech (00:59)
5. Part 5 (7:13)
6. Part 6 (08:20)
Set 2
7. Part 7 (08:58)
8. Part 8 (3:03)
9. Part 9 (11:21)
10. Part 10 (9:37)
Notes: encores
1. Blues (3:40)
2. I´m Through With Love(Livingston – Malneck – Kahn) (5:25)
3. Miss Otis Regrets (Porter) (5:42)
4. Don´t Ever Leave Me (Hammerstein – Kern) (5:10)
5 I loves you Porgy (Gershwin) (4:35)
I could only make out two songs: "Bye bye blackbird" and "The song is You". It was a great show, although not smashing. The trio
played three encores (I could not identify). Real funny was that at 10.00 p.m. somesone`s watch or mobile caused a ring tone - everyone
stopped breathing - and K.J. repeated the ring tone (just an interval) on the piano. I was impressed: though I knew that he has a perfect
pitch (can you say that in English? we call it absolutes Gehör), i would not proof it in front of two thousand people.
395
20110707 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette,
Copenhagen, Denmark July 9, 2011
Thanks to "havardkd " (havardkd@[Link]) for sharing his account of the night in Copenhagen with our heroes Keith Jarrett, Gary
Peacock and Jack DeJohnette. The following is another account by Morten Ravn Hansen ([Link]@[Link]).
It's just before noon and I am sitting in the shade of the trees by the small lake here in Kolding; very idyllic.
I went to the concert by car. The trip was about a 2½ hour drive away, across two bridges. The Royal Danish Opera Hall is a new and
very impressive building! I really felt like a tourist visiting the Capitol! The music hall should be state-of-the-art in terms of sound and
acoustics, so I was very excited to both see and hear the concert in this hall. My seat was on the ground floor in the middle and a little to
the left, so this should and hopefully would be a great spot to hear Keith (especially).
They entered the stage after an introduction, and there was an appeal not to record, film or take pictures - that is, if we were interested in
encores! The audience just laughed an insecure laugh; we all seemed to know his special moods.
Deep bows to the great applause of the audience. Three older guys; Jarrett was in a blue shirt and his usual round and dark glasses. I just
couldn't believe that I was going to hear them play! I was beyond excited!
Most of the songs they played I knew, even though I could not put a title to the song. This is typical of me. I always forget titles…but not
the melodies. So I can't (yet) give you the titles of all the songs. It's just like meeting someone you know, but haven't seen for a long
time…you know who they are, but just can't seem to remember their names!
3. A beautiful ballad
I did not recognize this ballad, it was more contemporary in style with chord choices, but I tell you it was so beautiful. The break did not
seem to affect Keith. The intro was so wonderful, and Jack enters with some loud hi-hat splashes - stop it Jack! I want to hear the intro!
This was the best piece of the first set, no doubt in my mind.
4. Monk-style The theme of this blues was a bit strange, very Monk inspired - maybe a Monk piece, but I couldn't tell. Keith just touched
the melody and then Jack was sent on! Full of energy.
5. Standard F-blues
I maybe think this was a Sonny Rollins blues, but I am not sure. Super swing and a great bluesy solo by Keith.
6. Ballad Blues [? I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life (cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy)…stopped]
- Gospel Piece
Keith started on one of his famous intros, leading into a ballad. So beautiful again, and when the solo began, I was at the edge of the seat,
both because of the excitement and partly because of the poor sound. Suddenly, he waves his arms again! He just wants to let us know
what a "terrible hall this is, but probably very expensive!" Some laughed, and I guess some felt a bit troubled about this statement. The
room was dead, no ambiance, he said, so he did not want to continue the ballad - very sad. They talked a bit and started on a gospel feel
piece. Even though I was sad that he did not finish the ballad, this was great too, a very great groove! The piece comes to an end and a
big applause, but Keith is not finished with this song obviously. He continues in the root chord, and from there they take it on, out of
space - typical Keith!
This was the end of the first set. With my expectations to this hall in mind, I was not impressed with this Opera Hall at all! Jack was too
loud, Keith too low, and hard to hear the details in the left hand, sound too muddy. And Drama!
4. Solar(Chuck Wayne)
This was absolutely the highlight of the concert! Keith starts with a C7sus4 chord, and some very distinct 1/8 rhythms, a bit gospel like.
It changes mood to minor and soon the theme starts. Usually the audience applauds whenever they recognize the theme, but somehow
they didn't hear that he started on "Solar." Amazing solo! And a telepathic connection between the musicians! They take the solo way out
in space. Time, chords and melody - everything vanishes, but they still 'have the time.' Keith ends with some classical inputs before
returning to the melody. And now the audience recognizes the melody! The song ends in a c minor groove which Keith starts. Now they
are on again, and the groove keeps developing! Time flies and yet it stands still! So amazing, they go on for about 10 minutes - with a
total of 20 minutes for this song. They deconstruct the groove until it fades out. Big, big applause.
The 2nd set ends. After appearing a couple of times and bowing, they start on the first encore.
The 2nd set was inspiring and focused, much different from the 1st set. The sound quality was good. I got what I had hoped for - a great
experience!
first set
Second set
encores
13. When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman) (08:19)
14. One For Majid (Pete La Roca Sims) (3:01)
tt 61:29
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20110712 Keith Jarrett Trio (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette,
Salle Pleyel ,Paris, France
Jarrett K. trio
Paris , salle Pleyel,
July,12 2011
Sound quality: A
Source: audience recording
398
20110718 Keith Jarrett Trio (VA)
Keith Jarrett (p), Gary Peacock (b), Jack DeJohnette (d).
“Teatro San Carlo”, Napoli, ITALIA.
Set I
01 - The Old Country (Nat Adderley, Curtis Lewis) [Beginning Missing; Fades In] 8’19”
02 – Five Brothers (Gerry Mulligan)7’40”
03 – Yesterdays (Kern – Harbach)8’26”
04 – Bye Bye Blackbird (R. Henderson) 9’39”
05 – The Bitter End 7’23”
Set II
06 – Bass Tuning > I’m A Fool To Want You (Wolf – Herron - Sinatra)12’21”
07 – I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life (cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy) 8’42”
08 – Unknown Standard – Tonight (Bernstein – Sondheim) 6’23”
09 – I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer) > Applause 10’55”
[Encores]
10 – K.J. Speaks > Sandu (Clifford Brown) > Applause 8’34”
11 – When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)> Final Applause 8’40”
After a bit disappointing concert in Juan les Pins and a good one in Naples, the trio gave her best yesterday night in
Milan at the Arcimboldi theater. Jarrett was superlative, and Gary and jack tried keeping pace with. A good first set
and a wonderful second one, with two gems, a moving Answer me my love and a an amazing version of When will
the blues leave. Two encores, a final standing ovation despite many flashes, actually a triumph.
399
20110723 Keith Jarrett Trio (DI)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette,
Barcelona,Spain
Second Set
- Straight no chaser (Thelonius Monk) 06:17
- Bop Be (Keith Jarrett) 04:47
- My Baby and me (Bobby Womack) 05:30
- Someday my prince will come (Churchill-Morey) 07:00
- Don’t Ever Leave Me (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein) 05:15
- God Bless’ The Child (A. Herzog – B. Holiday) 10:25
- When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young) . 06:13
TT 101:38
400
20110727 Keith Jarrett Trio (di)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette,
London,Uk
In search of that transported state, Jarrett often begins tentatively, and his trio's latest London show was no exception; a sound-balance
that weighted Jack DeJohnette's drums against the piano volume didn't help, either. But the pianist's longer lines soon began to swell out
of softly curled short figures on Dave Brubeck's In Your Own Sweet Way and against the rocking riff of Basin Street Blues. Clifford
Brown's bop blues Sandu brought the band to the boil, with DeJohnette's brushwork bumping and nudging the piano lines and Gary
Peacock's bass weaving through the spaces, before an exquisite Answer Me My Love brought out all Jarrett's legendary delicacy
and eloquence in the unveiling of a ballad's secrets.
Jarrett's own Bop-Be snapped the second set into action with a torrent of silvery runs and sly pace-changes. Yesterdays was a reverie of
rippling impressionism, Ornette Coleman's When Will the Blues Leave brought an astonishing solo of flurrying snare-patterns and rat-
tling rimshots from DeJohnette, and the pianist's famously funky account of God Bless the Child launched a succession of encores that
wound up on a jubilantly swinging When I Fall in Love. The gig didn't see Jarrett at his most blazing, but it was upbeat, inventive and
left a very warm feeling in its wake.
As for the concert: I knew it would be wonderful, but even so it surpassed my expectations. No matter how many recordings you listen
to, there is no substitute for the live experience; and we were lucky it was in the RFH, where the sound is excellent, rather than the go-
dawful Barbican (maybe Jarrett refuses to play there?)
We all know Jarrett is a magnificent artist, but what really got me was the lyricism of his playing in the literal sense - it sounds corny, but
he really can make the piano sing. He was in expansive mood, with lots of dazzling runs and flourishes, but not one note seemed out of
place. And of course the interaction with Peacock (who could have been louder for my taste) and DeJohnette is now pretty much at tele-
pathic level.
There was plenty of variety - bebop blues ('Sandu'), gospel funk ('God Bless the Child'), gentle swingers ('In Your Own Sweet Way'),
gorgeous ballads ('When I Fall in Love'), gut-bucket slow-drag ('Basin Street Blues'), and even some hairy free-form stuff which I didn't
recognise. The highlight for me was a stunning 'Yesterdays' in the second half, articulated with the sensitivity of a Bill Evans, but follo-
wed by a Jarrett solo of intense drama all his own. That was only the start: during Peacock's solo DeJohnette doubled the tempo, and then
developed a collective improvisation with the others concentrating on the tom-toms that took us all way, way away from the original
tune. Then Jarrett brought everything back in, and ended the piece with some deep pools of chords, totally solo. Amazing stuff.
As regards the 'extramusical' elements; not a lot, really - Jarrett fooled around with the piano stool a bit, let DeJohnette do the 'no photo-
graphs' speech (Jarrett commented 'I can't do that any more'), and responded to a woman's shout of 'I love you' with an icy 'Everyone
needed THAT'. He seems to be trying to get the 'vocalising' under control, I'm pleased to say, although it broke through at times. There
were no fewer than FOUR encores, though I've since learned that that's pretty much part of the ritual at the Trio's gigs these days.
401
20111021 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette,
Chicago,IL
First Set:
On Green Dolphin Street (B. Kaper – N. Washington)
Things Ain’t What They Used To Be
You Don't Know What Love Is(DePaul – Raye)
Answer me my love - Mutterlein (Winkler - Rauch - Sigman)
?(Blues)
Second Set:
Bye Bye Blackbird (R. Henderson)
My Funny Valentine(Rodgers - Hart)
Autumn Leaves ([Link] – J. Cosma – J. Mercer)
When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young)
First Encore:
God Bless The Child (Holiday - Herzog)
Second Encore:
I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer)
402
20111029 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette,
Berkeley,Ca,Zellerbach Hall
I went to the trio's show at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, CA last night. I didn't keep a running list of songs played (and some I didn't even
recognize), but among the highlights were:
"Fever" - the old Peggy Lee hit drew a chuckle from the audience once they recognized it, but this version was pretty intense (as you
might expect). Jarrett was so into the song, he gave one of his best performances of the Chicken Dance at the piano.
That was followed immediately by "Once Upon a Time", a Strouse & Adams tune that I know best from Sinatra's recording. This was
WONDERFUL! Gary Peacock played his most eloquent solo of the night, but the trio played this song with breathtaking passion. Jarrett
jumped right into the melody on this song, no preamble or introduction and they stayed pretty close to the melody overall, but it is such a
lovely melody to begin with.
The first half of the concert was maybe 50 minutes. There was a 30 minute intermission (I guess with CA's schools being broke, they
really have to make all the money they can off the booze and refreshments during this time) and then they returned for a 60 minute se-
cond half (including all the time spent on curtain calls leading up to theie two encores).
"Joy Spring (Clifford Brown)" -- just great. DeJohnette had some of his best extended soloing of the night on this
"Things Ain’t What They Used To Be" -- DeJohnette during his drum breaks really took the rhythm into funkytown which made for a
nice tension and contrast with the medium swing of the melody.
Encores:
"You Don'Know What Love Is" -- FANTASTIC! I haven't looked at the video to see if it is the same arrangement played in L.A. last
week, but this version was very powerful.
Jarrett (who seemed to be in a good mood and made a few remarks to the audience and who expressed his puzzlement at people who
seem to think he hasn't a sense of humor) said the next selection was dedicated to some one he had recently fallen in love with (which
makes one wonder if the previous selection was dedicated to she-who-will-not-be-named).
"When I Fall In Love" -- okay, but not my favorite version of this song I have heard the trio play.
TT 46:51
Second Set -
7- Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Ellington)
8- Autum Leaves (Kosma – Prevert)
9- I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer)
10- You Don't Know What Love Is (DePaul – Raye)
Encore 1 - track 3
11- Encore 1: When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young)
Encore 2 - track 4
12- Encore 2: God Bless The Child (Holiday - Herzog)
403
2012
20120125 Keith Jarrett Solo
Isaac Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, Ny,
I wasn't that into the first set (it was still beautiful of course) but the second half and encores were truly inspired - Jarrett at his absolute
best. It had everything - an exquisite improvised ballad, a middle-eastern vamp piece in D-flat (sometimes I have trouble with those but
this was the best I've ever heard), an intricate, rhythmically angular bluesy piece that was just out of this world, Americana, at least one
standard (Miss Otis). The last encore also sounded like a tune to me - does anyone know? If not, it was amazingly well-crafted on the fly.
They included a warning to try not to cough during the pre-concert announcement, and it made a difference - this was the quietest I've
ever heard Carnegie. He was in good spirits - even made a self-deprecating remark after a brief atonal piece - something to the effect of
"how can I expect people not to cough after I play something like that".
There’s an overwhelming sense of ritual behind any solo piano concert by Keith Jarrett: a set of expectations and behaviors, often unspo-
ken but widely understood. To the extent that it’s a code, it involves both the artist and his audience, and especially the transaction
between the two. Since the 1970s, when Mr. Jarrett first earned a reputation for sustained, spontaneous rhapsody, he has trained his
concertgoers to gather as congregants, complicit witnesses to his search for illumination. Also: no cameras. No coughing. No, seriously.
At Carnegie Hall, where Mr. Jarrett appeared on Wednesday night, these issues tend to come into sharp relief. His previous concert there,
almost exactly a year ago, was by all accounts a peevish affair, pockmarked by complaints from the stage. This time a preconcert an-
nouncement pleading for the suppression of coughs sent a ripple of knowing laughter through the hall; a while later Mr. Jarrett, inter-
rupting his performance, addressed the matter himself, adding one more layer of ritual, that of atonement.
Or something to that effect. “Everything I’ve ever said, I apologize for,” he said with an impish grin, after divulging that he was wearing
an outdated, uncomfortable pair of pants, errantly plucked from the closet on his way out the door. He thanked those who had never let
his words, or the ensuing criticism, color their view of his music.
Right, the music. Mr. Jarrett’s standard for solo-piano performance is dauntingly high, maybe now more than ever: “Rio,” the album he
released last year, is an outright astonishment, as is “The Carnegie Hall Concert,” recorded in 2005 and released in ’06. Blame the pants
or the muse, but Mr. Jarrett had to work hard to get to an equivalent plateau on Wednesday. In the first half, when most of his inventions
clocked in at an uncannily precise five minutes, he often seemed to be rolling a boulder uphill.
Of course, even in the struggle there were moments of breathtaking artistry; Mr. Jarrett, with his exquisite touch and exacting intuition,
doesn’t settle for much less. He began with a dissonant overture, rummaging with both hands around the piano’s lower register; what
eventually emerged was a trancelike vamp over an Eastern scale. There was more to come in this vein, along with a few murmuring
ballads, a brief gospel excursion and an outlying burst of atonal shrapnel. (“What is it about me that’s bothered by coughing,” he chuck-
led afterward, “when I’m playing something as ridiculous as that?”)
Whatever happened at intermission was salutary. Mr. Jarrett opened the second half with a song of deep yearning, with a more resonant
touch and greater internal structure than anything that had come before. He followed this with an in-the-pocket groove, syncopating open
fifths with his left hand; another gospelish piece, silvery and sure; a devastatingly pretty miniature suffused with dreamlike tremolos; and
a ballad of somber beauty, its harmony shifting like a cloud formation. He stopped himself two minutes into a rousing but banal 12-bar
blues, exercising a right as the keenest critic of his own work. When he resumed, his tack was more harmonically restive, and driven by
tough, grinding rhythm.
The encores, as usual, were stunning: a soulful groove tune; a gleaming, Copland-esque ballad; and pristinely lyrical readings of “Miss
Otis Regrets” and “It’s a Lonesome Old Town.” A great, worshipful clamor arose after each of these: the standard protocol, and the one
that made the most sense.
1. Part 1 (12:27)
2. Part 2 (4:24)
3. Part 3 (5:33)
4. Part 4 (4:16)
5. Speech / Part 5 (7:02)
6. Part 6 (5:27)
7. Part 7 (6:23)
8. Speech (2:31)
9. Part 8 (5:14)
10. Part 9 (4:50)
11.. Part 10 (3:50)
12. Part 11 (4:42)
13. Blues / speech (2:41)
14. Part 12 (5:05)
15. Miss Otis Regrets (Porter) (4:55)
16. Encore 2 (4:39)
17. Encore 3 (4:28)
18. It´s a Lonesome Old Town (Kisco – Tobias) (5:28)
404
20120327 Keith Jarrett Solo
Disney Concert hall,Los Angeles , Ca
Keith Jarrett, the 66 year-old jazz legend, opened his solo concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall Tuesday night by
plucking on his Steinway's strings, avant-garde style. He closed the evening with a love letter to Los Angeles:
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow," by composer Harold Arlen.
A range of music, not quite jazz, rather, unidentified art songs, came between. The slow-tempo'ed ruminations
clustered 'round the low notes of the grey-haired pianist's keyboard.
Feeding a rhapsodic house of worshipful fans, Jarrett offered an assortment of repertory, all digestible, ranging
from 8-10 minutes. "This is the new, short me!" he proclaimed in one of several appealing commentaries delive-
red from a standing microphone 10 feet from his piano.
Jarrett is a highly introspective performer. Alternately hunched over the keyboard, then weirdly (and wonderful-
ly) rising to standing position while still playing, he noodled and extracted harmonies. The slender pianist at
times wrenched away from the keyboard, twisting his torso and turning his face to the house. Sometimes he
wailed with his voice.
Even boogie woogie, even walking blues, all that he touched was shapely and controlled. There was a sameness,
at worst, but the evening came to a crescendo during three encores.
Having been roundly warned by a stern voice on the P.A. system against talking, photo-taking, cellphone rin-
ging, or the worst of all, god forbid, coughing, the muzzled audience nonetheless gamely drank it in. They see-
med awestruck. In the end, they loudly demanded not one, not two, but three encores from Jarrett who char-
mingly offered the Arlen ditty as his farewell. The love connection between artist and audience was thus sealed.
Along with his rapturous playing, Jarrett rapped. Getting the thumbs down was Kenny G; saxophonist Albert
Ayler got a thumbs up. Jarrett admitted to having been self-indulgent in his salad days. Apropos his new-found
musical brevity, he said, "When it's over, it's over!"
Debra Levine is a Los Angeles-based arts journalist blogging about dance, film, music and urban culture
on arts•meme.
405
20120401 Keith Jarrett Solo (+++)
Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
SOUND QUALITY: A-
SOURCED FROM YOU-TUBE COMPRESSED VIDEO FROM AUDIENCE SHOT.
01 intro 01:15
02 Improv. 01 10:41
03 kj speaks 00:37
04 improv. 02 05:15
05 improv. 03 03:08
06 improv. 04 03:21
07 improv. 05 03:46
08 improv. 06 06:19
09 Kj talks 00:28
10 improv. 07 07:20
11 Blues 08 02:58
12 Kj talks set 2 01:19
13 improv. 09 08:09
14 kj talks 01:22
15 improv. 10 06:16
16 improv. 11 05:09
17 kj talks about Rubinstein 03:21
18 improv. 12 05:04
19 If I should lose you (Rainger – Robin) 04:49
20 Summertime(Gershwin-DuBoseGershwin) 04:05
21 I am through with love (Livingston – Malneck – Kahn) 03:56
22 KJ talks 02:06
23 improvised encore 02:01
24 Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) 04:09
tt 97:07
Over the past five decades, Keith
Jarrett has come to be recognized as one of the most creative musicians of our time—
universally acclaimed as an improviser of unsurpassed genius; a master of jazz piano; a classical
keyboardist of great depth; and a composer who has written hundreds of pieces for his various
jazz groups, plus extended works for orchestra, soloist and chamber ensemble.
Born on May 8, 1945, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Mr. Jarrett began playing the
piano at age three and studied classical music throughout his youth. He took formal composition studies at age 15, before studying brief-
ly at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
After a tentative period of sitting in at various New York jazz spots, Mr. Jarrett toured
with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in 1965–1966, and with the Charles Lloyd Quartet
from 1966–1968. He soon established his own trio with bassist Charlie Haden and drummer
Paul Motian, which in 1972 expanded to a quartet with the addition of tenor saxophonist
Dewey Redman. In 1970–1971, Mr. Jarrett was a member of Miles Davis’s band, playing electric
piano and organ—his last stint as a sideman.
Thereafter, Mr. Jarrett dedicated himself exclusively to performing acoustic music as a solo artist and leader.
In 1971, Mr. Jarrett made his first recording for Manfred Eicher of ECM (Editions ofContemporary Music) Records. Their fruitful
collaboration has produced over 60 recordings to date, unparalleled in their scope, diversity
and qualit y.
The foundation of Mr. Jarrett’s ECM discography are his landmark solo piano recordings, which have redefined the role of
the piano in contemporary music. Facing You, Solo Concerts: Bremen and Lausanne, The
Köln Concert, Staircase, Sun Bear Concerts, Invocations: The Moth and the Flame, Concerts
(Bregenz), Paris Concert, Dark Intervals, Vienna Concert, La Scala, Radiance, The Carnegie Hall
Concert and Paris/London—Testament incorporate a broad spectrum of musical idioms and
languages—classical, jazz, ethnic, gospel, folk, blues and pure sound—resulting in music both
deeply personal and universal. Mr. Jarrett’s most recent ECM solo piano CD is Rio, recorded live
in Brazil in April 2011 and released in fall 2011 to worldwide critical acclaim.
In 1999, The Melody at Night, with You, a solo piano studio recording of classic melodies,
was released by ECM, winning many “Best of the Year” awards in Europe, Japan and the
United States. In 2010, ECM released Jasmine, an duo recording by Mr. Jarrett and Mr. Haden,
their first musical collaboration in over 30 years, which became one of the most acclaimed and
bestselling jazz recordings of the decade.
For the past 29 years, Mr. Jarrett’s main context for playing jazz has been in trio with bassist
Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette.
In January 1983, Mr. Jarrett invited Mr. Peacock and Mr. DeJohnette to New York’s Power
Station studio to record “standards”—American
show and jazz tunes from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s. At the time, it was considered passé for jazz
406
musicians to concentrate on “standards” instead of original material, but Mr. Jarrett thought it
important to demonstrate that “music wasn’t about the material, but what the player brings
to the material.”
The original 1983 session produced the trio’s first three ECM releases: Standards, Vol. 1 and
Vol. 2, and Changes, which features free playing.
These seminal trio recordings were re-released by ECM in 2008 as a special three-CD set entitled The New York Sessions, in celebration
of the trio’s 25th anniversary.
Fifteen concert recordings followed on ECM: Standards Live (Paris, 1985), Still Live (Munich, 1986), Changeless (U.S. Tour, 1987),
Tr ibute (Cologne, 1989), Standards in Norway (Oslo, 1989), The Cure (New York, 1990), Live
at the Blue Note (New York, 1994), Tokyo ’96 (Tokyo, 1996), Whisper Not (Paris, 1999), Inside
Out (London, 2000), Always Let Me Go ( Tok yo, 2001), The Out of Towners (Munich, 2001), My
Foolish Heart: Live in Montreux (Montreux, 2001), Up for It (Juan-Les-Pins, 2002) and Yesterdays ( Tok yo, 2001).
In 1991, two weeks after the death of Miles Davis, the trio went into the studio for the first
time in eight years to record Bye Bye Blackbird, their deeply felt tribute to the jazz giant whom
all three had played with in their early years.
There are also four ECM releases by Mr. Jarrett’s acclaimed late-1970s Scandinavian
quartet featuring Jan Garbarek (saxophone), Palle Danielsson (bass) and Jon Christensen
(drums). Belonging, My Song, Nude Ants and Personal Mountains became bestsellers, influencing a generation of young jazz players in
Europe and the United States.
In the late 1960s and ’70s, Mr. Jarrett made a dozen recordings on the Atlantic, Columbia, Impulse! and ECM labels with his original
American quartet with Mr. Haden, Mr. Motian and Mr. Redman: The Mourning of a Star, Birth,
El Juicio, Expectations, Fort Yawuh, Treasure Island, Death and the Flower, BackHand, Mysteries, Shades, The Survivors’ Suite and
Eyes of the Heart.
Classical music releases by Mr. Jarrett on ECM include J. S. Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I (piano) and Book II (harpsi-
chord), Goldberg Variations (harpsichord), French Suites (harpsichord), and Sonatas for Viola da Gamba
and Cembalo with Kim Kashkashian (viola) and Mr. Jarrett (harpsichord); plus piano recordings of Shostakovich’s 24 Preludes and
Fugues, Op. 87; Handel’s Suites for Keyboard; and two volumes of Mozart Piano Concertos with the Stuttgart Kammerorchester under
the direction of Dennis Russell Davies.
In May 2006, ECM released the DVD Keith Jarrett: Tokyo Solo, a complete concert video filmed in 2002. In fall 2008, ECM re-released
four live trio concerts filmed in Tokyo between 1985 and 1996: Standards I (1985) and Standards II (1986) in a special two-DVD set,
and Live at the Open Air Theater East (1993) and Tokyo ’96 (1996) in a second two-DVD set.
In 2005, Euro Arts released the DVD, Keith Jarrett: The Art of Improvisation, a fulllength documentary directed by British filmmaker
Mike Dibbs that includes extensive interviews with Mr. Jarrett, as well as Chick Corea,
Mr. Haden, Mr. Peacock, Mr. DeJohnette and Mr. Eicher.
Mr. Jarrett’s many honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship; Président de la
République and Grand Prix du Disque awards from the Académie Charles-Cros; seven Deutscher Schallplattenpreis awards; and eight
Grammy Award nominations in the jazz and classical categories. He has received dozens of “Artist” or “Album of the Year” awards
from The New York Times, The New Yorker, Time, Stereo Review, DownBeat, Billboard, CD Review
and Rolling Stone; was named “Best Classical Keyboardist” in Keyboard Magazine’s Readers’
Poll (1991, 1993); and awarded “Best Classical CD” in the CD Review Editor’s Poll (1992) for the Shostakovich Preludes and Fugues; in
addition to receiving dozens of awards from the international music press.
In December 2008, Mr. Jarrett was inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame, following his many annual DownBeat awards over the
previous 30 years.
In 1989 Mr. Jarrett was named an Officier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and in 2007
Commandeur dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, two of the highest honors the French
Ministry of Culture bestows on artists. In 1996, he was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, joining Duke Elling-
ton as only the second foreign jazz musician to ever be so honored. In 2002 he was named a Fellow of
the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and in 2003 he was awarded the Polar Music Prize, presented by the King of Sweden in a
special televised ceremony in Stockholm.
In July 2004, Mr. Jarrett was awarded the Léonie Sonning Music Prize in Copenhagen, Denmark.
He is only the second jazz artist to receive the Sonning Award since its founding in 1959; the first was Miles Davis in 1985.
Funny, no one yet has posted on Sunday night's concert. It was remarkable in a number of ways. The last concert I attended
was Carnegie 2011, where the second half was disrupted and it seemed Jarrett never found his groove. This time the audience
was better behaved than any KJ concert I have ever attended (going back to the early 80's), and while the first half wandered
and had very interesting moments, things entered a whole new level during the second set, and in Keith's frequent banters,
he revealed some interesting things about how he works.
The first set was comprised of no less than 8 pieces. Unlike many recent concerts, the first piece was not jagged or wild, but
was wide-ranging, harmonic with complex voicings. For the first time in a long time, he opened one piece with a wonderful
slapping/beating of the strings with is hands which set the rhythm for a (actual key-struck) piece that (until the very end)
repeated the same notes in the left hand, with the right exploring all kinds of possibilities without the benefit of a key change.
The audience was astonishingly quiet. There was not a single cough until perhaps the fifth piece of the set, and after that the
coughs were spare. I saw no flashes either. At one point he commented on how quiet it was, and how he liked it that way.
Interestingly, the applause was also rather subdued, almost un-spirited, as if everyone was holding their breath. And while
the music was interesting, beautiful and pleasing, it seemed that Jarrett too was not quite finding that doorway into great
things.
From the start of the second set, that changed. There were 4 extended pieces in the second half, and each was a gem unto
itself. We all knew it, and the applause reflected it. Jarrett made a comment after the first piece to the effect that great things
were happening. One of these pieces was something akin to Part 9 of the Carnegie Hall Concert, but, may I say, far better.
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The spans where one hand dropped away were far longer, more pregnant and the whole piece developed an electricity that
gave me goose-bumps.
There were 5 encores, and the first was a standard so lyric and beautiful, it almost deserved to end the evening as a powerful
lullaby. Fortunately there was enough (predetermined) drive in the audience as to sustain a demanding applause to bring
him back four more times, including Summertime with some wonderful drawn-out explorations during the returns from the
refrains, which to me reflected the space that had opened up between Jarrett and the audience. There was a fair amount of
"We Love You, Keith" that felt tired and predictable, but it did not stunt Jarrett's output. He closed with a stunning rendition
of Rainbow (in spite of his stated reluctance because it was just recorded at his last concert).
We received quite a commentary about how he plays, with hardly a complaint. Early on he commented about why he now
plays distinct pieces instead of the long continuous improv's, that he would paint himself into corners that he did not want to
get into, and then he would paint himself into even worse corners trying to get out of the first. With separate pieces there is
"more space". He ended with a quip, "We don't want the subject matter to get in the way".
At one point he had started playing something of a Gospel piece and then stopped abruptly, saying, "The nice thing about not
bringing composed pieces is that I don't have to worry about throwing one away". He went on to wonder how he could sur-
vive if he played for a show on Broadway, playing the same music over and over again. He also joked about the trouble of
carrying a classical repertoire, not being able to play whatever you want. But with the freedom of improvisation comes tre-
mendous pressure. He said he understands better than anyone else why the Liberty Bell cracked, and he appreciates that
they never tried to make another one in its place, alluding to recognizing that freedom carries a heavy price.
Later, during the encores, he asked for people to continue to chat, because he needed the time to figure out what next to play.
He said that people say to him, "Oh come on, you are so good, you can just play anything you like", but he said that actually
his synapses were firing so fast, he can't just do whatever he wants. He implied that he needs a certain inner door to open.
Perhaps this is why he needs to banter between pieces - it creates space for the next improvisation to emerge. He told "a
pianist joke" about Artur Rubenstein who started Beethoven's so-called Moonlight Sonata in C sharp major (which Jarrett
whipped off), then suddenly realized his mistake, flipped down the cover to the keys, then started again in C sharp minor as
if nothing has happened (which Jarrett again whipped off).
After the third encore, he seemed to be struggling to figure out his next piece, and while people were shouting out sugges-
tions, some one said, "just play something you've never played before", and he launched into a wild running interplay of the
two hands, not unlike pieces he might start a concert with. With the fullness and the presence of the evening surrounding us,
it did not feel like an exploration of a new space but rather an extraordinary celebration of what was being felt. It was as if I
understood it in a cellular way, even though I would be entirely unable to explain it in any normal way (composition, har-
monics, techniques, etc).
And one last curious and peripheral item - this crowd struck me as much older than the 2011 Carnegie I went to, or even
other performances in San Francisco in recent years. I mean, this was an assemblage of Gray and White. Damn, are we all
getting that old? In NY, there were a lot of young people. Is it just Berkeley?
Seth Melchert
I thought it was a very good concert. Although it was recorded, I don't think there is any chance that it will be released any
time soon.
The music was quite good and very moving/involving in many places, but KJ seemed to acknowledge that he wasn't exactly
"in the zone" that evening. He seemed like he wasn't always certain where he wanted to go next and a couple of times it
seemed like he bailed out early of certain pieces. There was one point between numbers when he was seated at the piano for
a longer than usual time and he said to the audience something like, "That's the problem of working without a repertoire. It's
very liberating, but . . ."
The very first number of the evening was perhaps the most "free" piece. After a few minutes it came to a point where he
stopped playing and I assumed the piece was over. I think even KJ thought the piece was over. But since no one began ap-
plauding, after a few seconds he started playing again, like a continuation of the piece. But he brought that part to a conclu-
sion in just a couple of minutes. He then said something like, "I don't play longer pieces very often anymore because the
problem is you often find you work yourself into a corner. And sometimes I really don't like that corner."
One piece he stopped in probably just 30 or 40 seconds and said something like, "I didn't bring that music with me, so I can
just throw it away". He then self-servingly congratulated himself for being willing to admit that in front of a large audience.
It was the loosest I've ever seen KJ. He did seem to be having a good time -- well, at least by his standards. (One statement
you will never hear in this life, "That Keith Jarrett -- he just makes it look so easy!") Maybe it was an influence of April Fool's
Day, but he seemed almost goofy (again, by KJ standards) at times. During one pause between songs while he took a drink of
water, he said, "You all are so quiet". Some one shouted back, "You're welcome!" and even KJ seemed to find the humor in
that.
The music was generally an alternating mix of ballads and blues with the occasional freestyle piece thrown in the mix. I en-
joyed this concert better than the last time I saw him play solo. It was not a landmark concert, but still quite musically re-
warding.
duaneiac
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20120404 Keith Jarrett Solo (mu)
Orchestra Hall, Symphony Center, Chicago, IL
1. Part 1 (8:46)
2. Part 2 (5:23)
3. Part 3 (3:40)
4. Speech / Part 4 (6:05)
5. Speech / Part 5 (3:52)
6. Speech (2:49)
7. Part 6 (5:13)
8. Part 7 (6:39)
9. Part 8 (6:14)
10. Part 9 (4:23)
11. Summertime(Gershwin-DuBoseGershwin) (5:03)
12. Speech (2:19)
13. Part 10 (3:39)
14. Part 11 (5:44)
15. Part 12 (1:25)
16. Speech (2:01)
17. Don´t Ever Leave Me (Hammerstein – Kern) (4:35)
18. Carolina Shout (James P. Johnson) (2:53)
19. Speech / Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (7:02)
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20120506 Keith Jarrett Solo (+++)
Tokyo
First Set
1. Part 1 (07:28)
2. Part 2 (07:02)
3. Part 3 (08.30)
4. Part 4 (04:35)
4a kj talks (00:13)
5. Part 5 (04:35)
6. Blues (04:44)
Second Set
7. Part 7 (06:10)
8. Part 8 (06:58)
9. Part 9 (07:41)
10. Part 10 (04:39)
11. Part 11 (12:02)
12. It's a lonesome Old Town (Kisco – Tobias) (06:09)
12a applause (02:17)
13. Carolina Shout (James P. Johnson) (04:10)
14 Encore III (08:20)
Second Set
7. Pentatonic Explorations
8. A piece that really demonstrated the sonic capabilities of the Steinway. Very multi tonal, lots of pedal flourishes.
-awkward applause, is he done? -Keith makes a gesture that he was undecided whether or not he was done.
then looks at the audience, smiles, and says 'energy.'
9. Deconstructed blues, very heavy in the lower register of the piano, very rhythmic, one of my favorites.
10. Another ballad, but more slow and touching.
11. Piece de resistance. Searches for a minute, plays the inner working of the piano,then decides on an octave
repetition between bass and melody that he builds into what I thought was the best piece of the night.
Encores
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20120511 Keith Jarrett Solo (+++)
Tokyo
Source: audience recording
First Set
1. Part 1 (10:45)
2. Part 2 (05:13)
3. Part 3 (05:21)
4. Part 4 (04:20)
4a False Start (00:35)
5. Part 5 (07:50)
6. Part 6 (07:08)
TT 41:16
Second Set
7. Part 7 (07:34)
8. Part 8 (04:32)
9. Part 9 (04:22)
10 Salt Peanuts (Gillespie)? (05:00)
11 Part 11 (05:46)
12. Blues (03:25)
13 Part 13 (05:38)
14 Summertime(Gershwin-DuBoseGershwin) (04:27)
14a Laughs (00:13)
15 Encore 2 (05:15)
16 Carolina Shout (James P. Johnson) (3.31)
17 Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (8:28)
TT 58:18
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20120708 Keith Jarrett Trio (+++ 1st set) (mu)
Austria,Vienna , Konzerthaus
Powerful opening of the Trio's summer tour tonight - they really enjoyed themselves! And so did
we (Aram, Arnulf & Joschi). Lyrical opening, two great, dynamic extensions. Two wonderful en-
cores, God Bless the Child at the end.
First Set
1. Introduction (5:08)
2. Stella By Starlight (N. Washington – V. Young)(11:50)
3. Sandu (Clifford Brown) (4:50)
4. I Fall In Love Too Easily (S. Cahn – J. Styne) (6:25)
5. Autumn Leaves ([Link] – J. Cosma – J. Mercer)/Extension (16:23) TT 46:35
Second Set
6. Introduction (0:54)
7. I´ve Got a Crush on You (George Gershwin)(7:46)
8. I´m a Fool toWant You (Wolf – Herron - Sinatra)(11:14)
9. I´m Gonna Laugh You right Out of My Life (cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy) (8:57)
10. One For Majid (Pete La Roca Sims)(3:32)
11. Is it really the same (Keith Jarrett)? (6:42)
12. Unidentified standard (7:47)
13. Once Upon A Time (Lee Adams, Charles Strouse) (10:19)
14. God Bless’ The Child (A. Herzog – B. Holiday)(9:22)
15. Speech Steven Cloud (0:12)
First Set
1 Intro 01:57
2 Round midnight (Monk -Williams - Hanighen)10:57
3 Tonight (Bernstein – Sondheim) 09:27
4 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Duke Ellington) 08:07
5 So Tender (Love Should Be) (Keith jarrett)09:00
6 I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer) 12:48
Second set
7 Intro 00:49
8 Woody’n You (Dizzy Gillespie) 07:43
9 Bye Bye Blackbird (R. Henderson) 10:07
10 Ballad of the Sad Young Man(wolf-landesman) 6:10
11 I’m A Fool To Want You (Wolf – Herron - Sinatra)10:14
12 When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)05:15
13 Final applause 05:16
TT 97:58
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20120713 Keith Jarrett Trio (+++) (VA)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette,
Suisse , Zurich, Kongresshalle
Set I
01 - I Hear A Rapsody (Baker – Fragos – Gasparre) 11.03
02 - Sandu (Clifford Brown) 6.02
03 - Ballad of the Sad Young Man(wolf-landesman) 5.24
04 - Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (ellington) 6.54
05 - Joy Spring (Clifford Brown) 5.47
Set II
01 - Autumn Leaves ([Link] – [Link] – [Link])7.44
02 - Last Night When We Were Young (Arlen – Harburg) 8.51
03 - I've Got A Crush on You (George Gershwin)7.14
04 - Answer me my love - Mutterlein (Winkler - Rauch - Sigman) 10.43
[Encores]
05 – Straight, No Chaser (Monk) 5.07
06 - When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)6.54
07 - G blues / Final Applause 5.48
T.T: 90’36”.
First set
1. Impro
2. Yesterdays (Kern – Harbach)
3. Blues in G
4. Little Man You Had a Busy Day (Wayne - Sigler - Hoffmann)
5. One for Maijd (pete La Roca Sims)
6. The Bitter End
Second set:
1. Last Night When We Were Young (Arlen – Harburg),
2. I am Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life(cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy).
3. In Your Own Sweet Way (Brubeck).
4. Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Ellington)
Encores:
1. When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young)
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20120720 Keith Jarrett Trio (+++)
52ND ANTIBES JAZZ FESTIVAL,
France,Juan Les Pins, Pinède Gould.
-Sound Check Audience Shot Video.
Tracklist:
01 - Audience Noise. Then Jarrett walks the stage and plays a few notes (at 0'06'') 0'36 // [CUT] \\
02 - Trio improvising over Unknown Standard [Cuts In] > Stop. Then Jarrett plays a few notes (among those, a quotation of
Butch And Butch's melody) 1'10'' // [CUT] \\
03 - Trio improvising over "It's Easy To Remember" [Cuts In] > Stop. Then Jarrett talks a few seconds and plays few notes
of the actual melody; twice. Stop. 2'04'' // [CUT] \\
04 - Trio improvising over "All The Things You Are" [Cuts In] > Stop. Then Jarrett plays a few notes and stops.
[CUTS OFF] //-- 2'00''.
Set 1
01- Applause (00:22)
02- Tonight (Bernstein – Sondheim) (10:34)
03- Tuning (00:02)
04- Somewhere(Bernstein-Sondheim) (16:15) *
05- I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life (cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy) (03:56)
06- Bop Be (Keith Jarrett) (03:30)
07- Is it really the same (Keith Jarrett)? (05:56) *
NOTES: *most probably due to recording device duration time limitation recording was paused during applauses,
so quite a few tunes lacks their first notes in the beginning. Due to this feature, most probably also other tapings by this
same guy have all this same problem.
However, it exist a complete-without interruption alternative recording of this Trio concert,
although this other one is slightly worse quality than the first one, due to noticeably boomy bass frequencies.
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20120723 Keith Jarrett Trio +++
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette,
Teatro Carlo Felice, Genova, Italy
Set list:
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20120727 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette,
“Teatro Petruzzelli”, Bari, Italy.
Source: Private Audience Recording,
Quality: A--
SET I
Beginning Applause 0:35
On Green Dolphin Street (B. Kaper – N. Washington)11:50
You Took Advantage Of Me (Rodgers-Hart)7:10
Things Ain’t What They Used To Be 6:50
Last Night When We Were Young (Arlen – Harburg) 10:25
Yesterdays (Kern – Harbach)8:25
SET II
Applause 0:30
The Bitter End 8:20
Is Its Really The Same (Keith Jarrett) 9:15
Once Upon A Time (Lee Adams, Charles Strouse) 6:00
Sandu (Clifford Brown) 5:45
Little Man, You've Had A Busy Day (Wayne - Sigler - Hoffmann)"6:50
I’m A Fool To Want You (Wolf – Herron - Sinatra)8:20
Applause 1:20
[Encores]
Short Intermission / Applause 0:25
When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)/ Applause 9:50
Straight, No Chaser (Monk) / Applause 7:55
I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer) / Final Applause 6:20
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20120729 Keith Jarrett Trio (+++) (VA)
Keith Jarrett (p), Gary Peacock (b), Jack DeJohnette (d).
“Auditorium Parco Della Musica”, Roma, ITALIA.
Set I
01 - All Of You (Porter) (Cole Porter)11’13”
02 – Summertime(Gershwin-DuBoseGershwin) 8’39”
03 – I Fall In Love Too Easily (S. Cahn – J. Styne) 8’06”
04 – Butch And Butch (O. Nelson) 6’10”
05 - Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Ellington) [Cut At End?] 7’08”
Set II
06 - Autumn Leaves ([Link] – [Link] – [Link])8’52”
07 – Somewhere(Bernstein-Sondheim) 12’58”
08 – You Took Advantage Of Me (Rodgers-Hart)8’19”
09 - Last Night When We Were Young (Arlen – Harburg) [Starts Abruptly]
> Applause 11’14”
[Encores]
10 - When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)> Applause 9’41”
11 – G Blues > Applause 7’15”
12 – Applause > I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life (cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy)
[Cut At End?] > Final Applause 5’55”
Total Time: 99’23”.Gli organizzatori sono stati con il fiato sospeso sino all’ultimo. A pochi minuti dall’inizio del
concerto la Sala Santa Cecilia era in gran parte vuota. L’orario del concerto, fissato per le 19:00, assolutamente
inusuale ma necessario per permettere a Jarrett di partire secondo i suoi piani, faceva temere che gran parte
del pubblico convergesse sull’Auditorium alle 21:00, ora di normale inizio dei concerti. In perfetto stile roma-
no, invece, a ridosso dell’orario fissato per l’inizio dello spettacolo, gli spettatori sono arrivati in massa, occu-
pando la platea della Sala Santa Cecilia in ogni ordine di posti.
Con puntualità svizzera, sul palco appaiono Keith Jarrett, camicia rosso fuoco e pantaloni grigi, Gary Peakock e
Jack DeJohnette e il concerto, articolato in due set con un intervallo di venticinque minuti, ha inizio. E’ All Of
Me ad aprire la serata. Jarrett ne maschera il tema, opera tutta una serie di variazioni prima sui registri medi
prima di lasciare spazio a Peacock per un assolo di contrabbasso. Al termine Jarrett continua a improvvisare e
di tanto in tanto duetta con i “break” di DeJohnette. Sarà questo lo schema tipico che verrà portato avanti per
tutto il concerto, senza quasi nessuna eccezione. Summertime, il cui tema strappa subito l’applauso della pla-
tea, viene eseguito a tempo medio. Jarrett gioca con il tema, frazionandolo e riproponendolo spesso, evitando
di snaturarne la melodicità. Ma è con il terzo brano, una splendida ballad, che il pianista riesce a far scaldare il
pubblico.
Una lunga introduzione eseguita un tempo molto lento crea un’atmosfera magica in sala e la conclusione del
brano, in trio viene accolta dalla prima ovazione della serata. Jarrett risponde agli applausi con un cenno, poi si
china a saggiare la consistenza dell’imbottitura dello sgabello su cui siede. Durante le prove Jarrett non era
soddisfatto dei vari sgabelli che gli erano stati proposti. Questo era troppo alto, quello troppo basso,
quell’altro troppo duro. A chi legge potranno sembrare i capricci di una star, cosa a cui Jarrett non è nuovo, ma
bisogna tenere in considerazione che un artista quando cerca di dare il meglio di sé in concerto, deve trovarsi
assolutamente a suo agio per concentrarsi sulla musica. Qualsiasi elemento di disturbo può alterare quello
stato di grazia che è così difficile da raggiungere. Al termine del set lo sgabello verrà sostituito da uno
dall’imbottitura più morbida. In platea qualcuno noterà la cosa e citerà, con pungente affetto, la “principessa
sul pisello”, strappando qualche sorrisetto irirverente.
Il set si chiude con un’inaspettata Things Ain’t What They Used To Be, splendido blues del 1941 composto da
Duke Ellington e girato (per aggirare lo sciopero che vedeva contrapposti musicisti e case discografiche) al fi-
glio Mercer. Anche in questo caso Jarrett rimane fedele allo spirito del brano e, per la prima volta nel concerto,
tocca i tasti all’estrema sinistra della tastiera. Non lo scopriamo certo oggi che Jarrett non utilizza la mano sini-
stra con un pianista di boogie woogie. Il suo è un pianismo di timbri medio alti, di delicatezze, di sfumature
417
cristalline, non avvezzo alle profonde note del blues. E’ proprio questo il suono che è piaciuto al pubblico di
tutto il mondo e che ha contribuito a fare di Jarrett una star mondiale. La conclusione del brano segna anche la
fine di un primo set “bonsai” di buon livello. Il pubblico rimane un po’ perplesso della brevità della prima parte
dello spettacolo e applaude come se stesse richiedendo un bis.
Al rientro dopo l’intervallo si ricomincia con una veloce Autumn Leaves nel corso della quale DeJohnette fa a
volte sin troppo sentire la sue energia, liberata nei break e trattenuta a stento nell’accompagnamento. Il pub-
blico però apprezza il cambio di clima e applaude convinto. Somewhere è introdotta da una lunga improvvisa-
zione solista di Jarrett. La ritmica interviene con delicatezza, con DeJohnette alle spazzole e Peacock ad ac-
compagnare con poche e profonde note. L’assolo di contrabbasso che occupa la parte centrale del brano è
molto bello, così come il sostegno che Jarrett offre con splendide armonie. E’ forse questo il momento più
intenso della serata, l’unico in cui Jarrett cessa di essere il pianista star al cui seguito ci sono due accompagna-
tori di livello straordinario e diventa parte paritetica del trio. La musica si sblocca e circola liberamente.
Gli strumenti dialogano e a beneficiarne è la qualità della musica stessa. Il brano termina così come era iniziato
con Jarrett in perfetta solitudine che lascia a poco a poco spegnere la melodia sino a lasciar sopravvenire il
silenzio. Scrosciano gli applausi. You Took Advantage Of me, segna un cambio di clima, portando con sé
l’allegria dei ruggenti anni venti in cui il brano fu composto da Richard Rodgers e Lorenz Hart per il musical
Present Arms. Jarrett esegue tutta una serie di improvvisazioni, sempre più ardite moderne prima di lasciare
spazio a Peacock, secondo lo schema già noto, prima di riprendere il tema e portare il brano a conclusione.
Last Night When We Were Young è eseguita con brio e precede la conclusiva When I Fall In Love che conclude
il secondo mini set. Il trio ringrazia il pubblico plaudente e si avvia verso le quinte tra gli applausi. Tutti sperano
che Jarrett rientri e regali qualche bis. Due giorni prima a Bari ne aveva effettuati ben quattro.
Il pianista centellina i brani e regala On A Clear Day, un profondissimo inchino e poi esce di scena e rientra per
G-Blues. Un profondissimo inchino, un’altra uscita, un’altra razione di applausi e l’ultimo bis: I Thought About
You. A nulla valgono le ovazioni del pubblico tutto in piedi. Il concerto è davvero finito. In definitiva Jarrett ha
tenuto un buona esibizione, di livello alto e di durata tutto sommato accettabile. La sensazione che però ci
resta dentro mentre ci stiamo allontanando dall’Auditorium è analoga a quella che avvertiamo ogni volta che
andiamo a mangiare il sushi. Gustando ai piatti ne lodiamo la qualità e ne ammiriamo la fattura, ma quando
usciamo dal ristorante, l’istinto è quello di andare alla ricerca della più vicina pizzeria per dare un senso com-
piuto alla nostra serata gastronomica.
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20121024 Keith Jarrett Solo
October 24, 2012: Theatro Municipal, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
I found myself enjoying this evening so much more than the famous "great" concert of April last year...
I remember reporting to the group - in fact later in the same night of that "Rio" concert - that my own impression was that
the music wasn't flowing for him that night, and that he was engageged in a real struggle to get things going - although I
conceeded there was music of great beauty emerging alright... (He, of course, felt deeply differently - and the CD was subse-
quently issued).
To my mind - even though last nights concert opened with a very simillar music to what we have as "Part I" on the Rio CD
(altough it grew into a more purely rhythmic music which climaxed with him leaving the keyboard and beating the rhythm
on the inside fram of the piano) - the whole tone of the evening was different - music more competely formed and delivered.
More satisfying for me... This, of course, could be the whole point: the rigour of the previous years concert (and CD) and the
forcing of "newness" may be what represents "achievement" within the manifesto of total improvisation.
But the music was much less austere last night - one friend during the interval said it was "much more romantic": again,
melody seemed to be flowing much more freely.
Also a bonus: he didn't return, repeatedly, to those funky/blusey vamp type pieces we know so well - that I found frankly
unsatisfying from last year's "great" concert: to me they didn't even seem to be the best of their type last year... nor have I
warmed to them (yet?) on the CD...
He did, though, in the first half, have an extended, searching piece that yielded a considerable and singing melody - as if from
nowhere (now this, surely, is the real, elusive magic of that manifesto of "pure" improvisation. I think "improviation" is such
a lousy word to apply to music. Anyway...). In fact the melody emerged in the bass register (this paino last night had an espe-
cially beautiful and resonant bass), and when I say "singing" - he litterally did sing its second strain, as if it were a song (alt-
hough nothing as heavy as what I'm used to rountinely hearing from Ivan Lins and from Francis Hime down here, as they
continue to reveal their new work these days). Also in the first half, there was a lighter, brighter piece, also of almost pure
melody, that had a real Broadway show tune atmosphere to it (think post-Sondheim). Again, rendered freely.
So, onto the second half - and all the real surprises - the real revelation of this great night!
The first piece was a gorgeous unfolding melody that had a Schubertian quality - but dense and detailed in its movement... It
seemed to work to a perfect cadence and was marked by a small number of the audiece starting to applaud - they were
"Susshhhhhed" by other audience members, but Keith conceeded that this was the end of the piece - and it may well have
been! (In any case a perfect improvisation!).
He seemed (maybe?) amused with this close response to the movement of that tender music (as I say, it really was the mo-
vement of the cadence to a natural climax, that brought the audience response), so, this is what happened next:
He took a deepth breath - looked to the floor, left of the piano, and played an absolutely GORGEOUS phrase. When he played
the second GORGEOUS phrase, the whole house realised we were listening to Michel Legrand's masterpiece "Once Upon A
Summertime". My honest feeling is that Keith may have been as equally surprised this was happening.
He mined the song for a great deal of depth and beauty within: it was melancholy, slow as hell, and very deep. The melody
supported the treatment.
The next surprise for us all was when he started into Jobim's "One Note Samba" ! Maybe an unlikely choice even amongst
Brazilian repertoire - its cadences not the most obvious for improvisatory excavation: but, my god, he digged deep into this
one, and gave us chorus after chorus of inspired jazz soloing. Very brilliant, and with unflagging inspiration and gorgeous
weight and tone, mostly over a two note ostinato in the bass that changed the harmony slightly, and that kept him aloft for, I
don't know - 5 choruses? As one chorus came to an end, he seemed to "lean" into a phrase and an whole new chorus... won-
derful!
Next he played the great old standard "Don't Worry 'Bout Me" (GREAT SONG!) and it was somber, beautiful, powerful and
meaningful (I love this song: listen to Sinatra sing it with Basie, Live at The Sands).
After this he seemed to want to break the mood he had created, and he succeeded: he opened a lengthy, austere improvised
piece, with a detailed and sustained bass figure - dense, rhythmic music - again more flowing, the folksy bass figure returning
to close the music.
And that was the last piece of the concert "proper".
At curtain call, people shouted requests - first he took Summertime, and gave us a spirited, blusey and inspired version.
Next he returned for an achingly beautiful "Over The Rainbow" (as requested). It really was good!
And that was it.
Sound to you like last years famous concert?
Myself, I preferred it, got more out of it - but wheather it was "greater" (by his own standards) is another question...
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20121029 Keith Jarrett Solo (MU)
1. (5:20)
2. (6:46)
3. (6:06)
4. (5:39)
5. (8:46)
6. Summertime(Gershwin) (6:01)
7. Encore 2 (5:58)
8. Encore 3 (3:48)
9. Speech St. Cloud (0:34)
10. Over the Rainbow(H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (7:24)
Utterly tremendous trio concert tonight. Firstly, the sound in the Arts Center is incredible, so clear and balanced, unbelievab-
le. It's always shocking to hear Keith play again live -his conception is unfathomable, what he can do with the instrument so
inconceivable, his execution is flawless, his projection is huge, his hand/voice balance is "Bernstein leading the Philharmonic"
perfect. If anything his sound seems to continually get drier, purer, more distilled as the years go on. You can drive a truck
between the melody and the other 30 voices he's creating simultaneously to support the melody. Primary fluctuating weight
given to the melody at all times- so this is what music is, yeah, it's SONGS)Every part of his playing zoned to carry musical
concepts to add to the whole, each zone played within itself perfectly and perfectly balanced with the other zones he's
playing perfectly, how all the parts interface in a completely architecturally thought out woven tapestry and perfectly played.
Lots of great moments -A beautiful intro right off the bat on You Go To My Head, followed by Santa Claus is comin to town,
420
played and improvised all the way through) Gary and Jack were fantastic, no diminution of any kind, Jack is beyond dispute
the greatest drummer alive and was outstanding tonight. The time feel, between Gary right in the pocket and Jack relaxed
every so slightly off the beat conveyed a layering of time that was remarkable. Everything was happnin, vamps, blues, ballads,
dixeland (He did a bit of almost an Errol Garner imitation with a staccato 4-to-the-bar LH that was hysterical), funk, Latin, all
done to perfection.
There's a moment in the Bhagavad Gita where Krishna shows Arjuna his infinite form, and Arjuna's mind is blown to bits and
begs Krishna to return to his usual personal form...we're sitting there, the concert is over, right? We heard 2 encores -God
Bless the Child, When I Fall in Love, you know..I mean everyone is standing + cheering, I mean the concert is over, everyone
is tired, IT'S OVER, you dig?
Then Keith walks over to the piano and shows us his infinite form with a supremely wild out out out furious Jackson Pollack
on Straight No Chaser, it was hair-raising! Shocking, paralyzing! Wow, Jack played the greatest drum solo I ever heard in my
life, and Keith just blew the piano into smithereens...after the concert is over!
Keith Jarrett is universes after universes of the highest level of piano artistry ever known on this planet. All you can say after
this experience is - GOD IS GREAT.
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2013
1. Speech (0:23)
2. Part 1 (19:15)
3. Part 2 (5:28)
4. Speech (0:24)
5. Part 3 (8:24)
6. Part 4 (8:51)
7. Jarrett announces and plays Loch Lomond (7:30)
8. Speech (3:01)
9. Part 6 (4:40)
10. Part 7 (6:36)
11. Part 8 (3:38)
12. Part 9 (6:08)
13. Speech (2:49)
14. Part 10 (6:18)
15. Speech (0:34)
16. My Wild Irish Rose (Trad) (5:42)
17. Speech (0:23)
18. Blues (3:03)
19. Speech (1:11)
20 Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (6:56)
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20130225 Keith Jarrett Solo (+++)
1. Part 1 (8:31)
2. Part 2 (9:01)
3. Jarrett talks (1:05)
4. Part 3 (5:32)
5. Jarrett talks before short break (0:20)
6. Jarrett talks after short break (1:02)
7. Part 4 (6:14)
8. Part 5 (5:34)
9. Part 6 (4:57)
10. Jarrett talks abouts photographs (3:10)
11. Part 7 (11:31)
12. Part 8 (1:32), interrupted
13. Summertime(Gershwin-DuBoseGershwin) (5:57)
14. Jarrett talks (1:42)
15. Part 10 (7:15)
16. Part 11 (4:20)
17. Jarrett talks (0:33)
18. Encore 1 (5:57)
19. Jarrett talks about photographs (0:59)
20. Miss Otis Regrets (Porter) (5:20)
21. Blues (3:35)
22. Once Upon A Time (Lee Adams, Charles Strouse) (5:21)
Keith Jarrett’s solo performances put almost as many demands on audiences as they do on the pianist himself. There are
strict rules – no coughing, no photography
(a blessing), no re-admittance – and elaborate rituals of bowing and acknowledgement between each number that reach a
climax in drawn-out encores. In other hands, this might be irritating, but it is a process that Jarrett uses to focus the mind.
And it works. At this generous, two-set performance, he bared his soul, and immersed a full and spellbound house in a suc-
cession of delicate themes, volcanic abstractions and rolling, disjointed boogies.
It began with a maelstrom of splattered counterpoint delivered with a light touch. The pulse firmed up, there were hints of a
riff, two-handed rolls and abstract shapes that swirled out of the lower register, with both hands on the go. It was high-energy
stuff and ended with a trill, a quick-fire arpeggio and a single-note stop. Two ballads followed. The first was delicately poised
over gentle cadences and it morphed to a passionate, flamenco-inflected highlight; the second was a sparse reverie over an
elastic pulse.
After a short break – a heavy cold was to blame – a stark tremolo unfolded into momentous panoramas and themes that
suggested a storm to come. Then came a country-soul boogie – the bass figure was truncated and, recalling the old blues
masters, changed key when the fancy struck – and finally a return to abstraction, but this time jagged and bop-inflected.
In the second set the balance shifted to ballads but a rolling-rhythmed “Summertime”, gospel and a return to angularity pro-
vided variety. As before, themes conjured in the moment were rarely reprised and stopped suddenly at Jarrett’s whim. Yet
each self-contained piece sustained coherence, even while following the pianist’s wildest fancy. At times he stood, fingers
flying in long, arcing runs while his left hand prodded, nagged or thumped out a beat. But elsewhere there were warmly
developed cadences and the stark ring of a simple chord or a single note.
It was a terrific performance whose contrasts were sustained through to the rolling rhythms and dazzling lines of the fourth
and final encore, a nippy minor blues. Jarrett’s solo performances always concentrate the mind, but tonight’s warm-hearted
performance was exceptionally giving.
423
Once a great rarity, Keith Jarrett concerts now seem to be assuming a ritualistic regularity. In the past five years, Jarrett has
visited London twice with his Standards Trio (with bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette) and now twice as
a solo performer, perhaps the context for which he is most revered. The recording of his legendary solo concert in Koln re-
mains one of the biggest selling jazz albums of all time and, nearly three decades on from that, Jarrett has the ability to sell
out a large concert hall in minutes, a feat very familiar from the rock and pop worlds, but not nearly so commonplace in jazz.
Also ritualistic by now is Jarrett’s notoriously confrontational approach to his audience. He detests camera phones and be-
rates the front rows for using them (‘it means those little things are more important to you than 64 years of work at an in-
strument’). By now, it is as if they take the pictures simply to provoke the inevitable response. Given his aversion to cough-
ing, a bitingly cold British February would seem to be just about the worst time to schedule one of his improvised solo con-
certs, for which he requires intense focus and concentration.
Tonight, however, Jarrett does not seem to be quite himself – or perhaps we see a little more of the real Keith than he would
usually have us see. “Does anyone have a particular chord they’d like to request?,” he asks two pieces in to the first set. “I
was just feeling baffled – this instrument suddenly seemed much larger than usual.” It’s a moment of disarming and winning
vulnerability, as is his sudden request for a three minute break to dose up on a variety of cold remedies (“whiskey, ginger –
all sorts of things I wouldn’t normally take before a solo concert”).
Perhaps as a result, this concert does not have quite the same pitch of intensity as the 2008 London concert, which took
place in the immediate aftermath of Jarrett’s split from his wife and which felt intimate, at once tempestuous and uplifting.
The opening moments of tonight’s first set, whilst having glimmers of breathtaking excitement and great beauty, also feel a
little tentative, as if Jarrett is grasping for that transcendent state in which he makes his best music, but does not quite get
there.
The opening piece begins frantically, with a dense and agitated flurry of atonal activity, before broadening out into something
more open and spirited. The second improvisation contains many of the tropes that make Jarrett so adored by his legion of
admirers and also so reviled by his fewer but vocal detractors. It begins with the kind of beautiful, affecting and stirring melo-
dy that suggests that, beneath his often icy exterior, Jarrett is an old fashioned romantic. It then breaks out into the kind of
brilliant, spiritually-infused gospel vamp that Jarrett deploys so frequently.
Jarrett has some interesting solutions for dealing with the occasional absence of inspiration. He launches into a couple of
blues based constructions, the first of which seems to borrow its bass line from Ray Charles’ What’d I Say and has an irre-
sistible, near-childlike energy and excitement. During the second set, he sadly abandons a potentially intriguing township-
meets-calypso hybrid in favour of an unexpected deconstruction of Gershwin’s Summertime, perhaps the most overplayed
standard in the entire repertoire. Perhaps this is part of this concert’s overarching sly humour – an ironic commentary on
what audiences often want to hear, or even a little dig at the British weather. The concluding piece of the first set – a part-
tetchy, part-mischievous rollercoaster that echoes the first piece, seems to sum up the mood perfectly. In the second set, the
pieces often end with witty statements that make devious play on jazz cliches.
Jarrett seems to turn a corner after the interval (at least until that delightful rendition of Summertime). The first piece of the
second set seems more focused and sustained, initially stating and developing a three note motif, before expanding into
something both graceful and exultant. There’s also a lovely, heartfelt ballad in C major and a rapid, energetic piece that
seems to hint at some of jazz’s rich history (there are possibly suggestions of the themes of Thelonious Monk and Sonny
Rollins). What is most impressive about Jarrett’s best improvisations is the extent to which they feel like fully organised and
orchestrated compositions.
The inevitable succession of encores, for which the audience is forced to applaud with near-painful vigour as Jarrett walks
on and off-stage at a deliberately slow pace, are simply gorgeous, including another bright, inspired and joyful moment of
Jarrett gospel, a take on Miss Otis Regrets and a lovely, touching take on Once Upon A Time. These deftly avoid stepping
over the line into more saccharine territory through the deployment of the odd unpredictable chord change, and through the
sheer depth of emotion Jarrett invests in his playing, even in the face of adversity. His music seems to simultaneously cap-
ture a sense of awe and innocence. On the whole though, tonight sees a little bit less of Jarrett the transcendent virtuoso,
and a little more of Jarrett the human being. In itself, this is quite a wonderful thing.
424
Billed as "The Solo Concert",
Keith Jarrett's latest visit to the Royal Festival Hall (25 February 2013) drew the predictable full house: I'm told the event,
promoted by Serious, sold out within a few days of its being announced. In the audience were Jarrett's producer, Manfred
Eicher, the British-Bulgarian composer Dobrinka Tabakova – whose striking cello concerto is soon to be released on ECM
New Series, together with some of her chamber pieces for strings – and Jan Garbarek, who had flown in from Norway espe-
cially for the occasion: extraordinarily enough, he hadn't heard Jarrett live since 1979, the last year they worked together in
the Belonging quartet, and this was his first experience of a Jarrett solo concert.
As has been the case with the most recent ECM solo releases of concerts of his in New York, London, Paris and Rio de
Janeiro, Jarrett eschewed the lengthy, ever-evolving improvisations of earlier days to offer instead a range of more overtly
formed and focused perspectives on the improviser's art. Two ecstatically received sets of around 45 and 35 minutes (the
latter fleshed out by four encores) each featured some six or seven pieces, ranging from scurrying if thickly bodied passages
of seemingly arhythmic chromaticism to hymnal excursions into the sort of tenderly reflective and open-voiced tonality which
the pianist has long made his own. The blues were there, in various passages of vamp-driven energy which found Jarrett
stomping out his own rhythm accompaniment. So too was the world of standards which the Jarrett trio with Gary Peacock
and Jack DeJohnette has done so much to celebrate over past decades: a strongly rhythmic look at Summertime and a
beautifully intimate reading of Miss Otis Regrets (the second encore) were highlights of the second part of the concert.
As wonderful as Jarrett's touch, sound and improvisatory love of melody remain, I found a fair portion of this concert much
less riveting than I suspect I would have done 30 or more years ago. For all I know, this might have been the case for Jarrett
himself, who had just come down with a cold. He spent quite some time talking to the audience, rather than playing: in a very
friendly, almost Woody Allen-like manner, it must be said, even pausing at one point to invite suggestions for what sort of
chord he might use to commence a piece – although he could not resist his customary dig at the world of the snapshot pho-
tographer. A Keith Jarrett solo concert has long been – at least in the eyes of some of the paying customers – as much an
event as a performance and I had the unwelcome thought at some moments that what we were being invited to enjoy was
not so much Keith Jarrett playing music as only he can, but Keith Jarrett being Keith Jarrett – as only he can.
So was Jan Garbarek's trip over from Norway worth the time and the effort? Along with the vast majority of the ultra-attentive
and extraordinarily appreciative audience, Jarrett's colleague from the days of such classic ECM albums as Belonging, Ar-
bour Zena, My Song and (the recently released) Sleeper had no doubts: "Oh, certainly! From the first note, he was there in
the music, and he brought us to be there also, all the way through.
425
20130506 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett,Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette
Bunkamura ,Tokyo (7pm)
First set:
Intro 00:59
You go to my head (J Fred Coots - H Gillespie) 13:15
Little Man, You've Had A Busy Day (Wayne - Sigler - Hoffmann) 06:19
Fever (Eddie Cooley / Otis Blackwell) [with improvisation initiated by Jack DeJohnette] 09:52
Yesterdays (Kern – Harbach) 11:34
Second set:
Intro 00:41
The Old Country (Nat Adderley, Curtis Lewis) [one of my personal favorites!] 07:35
It's A Raggy Waltz (Brubeck) 05:57
I’m A Fool To Want You (Wolf – Herron - Sinatra)[with a FANTASTIC drum solo] 17:06
I Fall In Love Too Easily (S. Cahn – J. Styne) 09:14
One For Majid (Pete La Roca Sims) 10:20
Encores:
When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman) 7:41
St. Thomas (Trad.) 7:45
Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Duke Ellington) 8:21
First set:
All Of You (Porter) (Porter)
I’ve got a Crush on You (George Gershwin)
Golden Earrings (Victor Young)
Come Rain Or Come Shine (H. Arlen – J. Mercer)
Joy Spring (Clifford Brown)
I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life (cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy)
Second set:
Butch And Butch (O. Nelson)
In Your Own Sweet Way (Brubeck)
The Bitter End
Encores:
Straight no chaser (Thelonius Monk)[the highlight of the evening]
When I Fall In Love([Link] – E. Heyman)
God Bless The Child (Holiday - Herzog)
426
20130512 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett,Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette
Festival Hall ,Osaka (7pm)
First set:
All Of You (Porter) (Porter)
Django (john Lewis)
The Bitter End [interesting "bossa nova" version!]
The Old Country (Nat Adderley, Curtis Lewis) [unique one-note intro by KJ (i.e. like a five year old would play the melody) and a long
beautiful KJ solo "outro"!)]
Straight No Chaser (Monk)
Second set:
Last Night When We Were Young (Arlen – Harburg)
Conception (George Shearing)
I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer)
One For Majid (Pete La Roca Sims)[borderline PERFECT version!]
I Fall In Love Too Easily (S. Cahn – J. Styne)
Encores:
Bye Bye Blackbird (R. Henderson) [nice surprise and in my view the highlight of the evening!]
Answer Me, My Love (Winkler - Rauch - Sigman) [stunningly beautiful!]
Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Duke Ellington) [ultra groovy version!]
For some reason some people chose to leave Festival Hall after the stunning version of "Answer Me My Love"! Incompre-
hensible behaviour…
During "Things Ain’t What They Used To Be" a member of the audience did a "KJ moan". If think that the moan was ho-
nest (i.e. not forced or with ironic pretences) and KJ answered the moan with his own moan! For a second it sounded like a
farm inside the beautiful Festival Hall!
KJ chose to address the audience today. After he started a lyrical intro, a member of the audience started to clap. KJ imme-
diately stopped and asked "how do you know what I am going to play?". He then started again. KJ asked his question in a
humoristic way (i.e. not with "an attitude"). Between two of the songs he also crossed his legs, reviewed some sheets of
paper and "complained" that there were "so many songs". Both GP and JD started to laugh!
First set:
Intro :45
On Green Dolphin Street (B. Kaper – N. Washington)08:53
Lament (J.J. Johnson) 09:04
Sandu (Clifford Brown) 07:37
Too Young To Go Steady (H. Adamson – J. McHugh) 07:33
Meaning Of The Blues (B. Troup – L. Worth) [slow and "dark" version – nice improvisation at the end] 13:27
Second set:
Intro :33
The Masquerade Is Over (A. Wrubel – H. Magidson)10:40
I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer) [GP was brilliant!] 14:01
God Bless’ The Child (A. Herzog – B. Holiday) 12:48
Encores:
When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman) 08:57
Straight, No Chaser (Monk) 08:32
Things Ain’t What They Used To Be) (Duke Ellington) 08:43
Answer Me, My Love (Winkler - Rauch - Sigman) 05:52
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20130519 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett,Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette
the Sejong Center in Seoul on May 19, 2013
1st set
2nd set
Encores
When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman) 7:53
Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Duke Ellington) 9:55
Once Upon A Time (Lee Adams, Charles Strouse) 7:42
Straight no chaser (Thelonius Monk)(Monk) 6:15
First Set
First Set
Second Set
Encores
428
20130704 Keith Jarrett Trio (DI)
Keith Jarrett,Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette
Rotterdam - DE DOELEN Symphony Hall
A wonderful evening, with unfortunately a first set where the sound quality (bass and especially drums seemed too loud in the house),
this all seemed to be resolved in a much better and longer second set after the break.
The trio seemed to be in an excellent mood with lot of appreciation and humour between them. Keith's solo intro's and outro's were long
and breathtaking. espcially on Yesterdays and I fall in love too easily.
Also Fever was a highlight of the evening, very groovy and great rhytmics, i don't recall the trio playing this song before, was very
groovy and surprising.
Set list
Intermission
Second set
1) Sioux City Sue New (Jarrett) 06:48
2) Yesterdays (Kern – Harbach) 08:45
3) All The Things You Are (J. Kern – O. Hammerstein) (Great intro) 07:15
4) Fever (Eddie Cooley / Otis Blackwell) (great Vamp) 08:01
5) I Fall In Love Too Easily (S. Cahn – J. Styne) 08:47
6) Tonk (Ray Bryant) 04:34
encores
1) I’ve got a Crush on You (George Gershwin) 05:53
2) When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young) 05:55
3) Straight no chaser (Thelonius Monk)(Free style) 03:40
429
7 PERUGIA - ARENA GIULIANA - UMBRIA JAZZ
The much talked about opening weekend here at Umbria Jazz in Perugia lived up to expectations
as Diana Krall, Jan Garbarek (stepping up for Sonny Rollins) and Keith Jarrett performed to mark
the 40th anniversary of the festival.
Sunday night saw the return of prodigal son Keith Jarrett and trio
(pictured left) – famously told ‘he will never play again’ at Umbria
Jazz for his derogatory comments about Perugia in 2007 the last
time he played here. However artistic director Carlo Pagnotta (who
has been in the job the entire 40 festivals) was very keen to have
Jarrett back, and who after all was much loved here.
Well known for his hatred of photography during his concerts, and
with the Italian audience not overly sensitive to his wishes, it had
been the main point of discussion among many here as to exactly
what was going to happen. Jarrett did not disappoint – despite Pa-
gnotta personally introducing him and specifically asking that no one took pictures – Jarrett was not
on stage for more than five seconds before he walked up to the microphone and said “See you later,”
and walked off (someone at the front had obviously taken a photo). After a few anxious moments Jar-
rett’s manger came on stage and again asked that no photos were taken during the performance.
Jarrett and band then re-appeared and immediately asked for there to be ‘zero lighting’ on stage and
commenced the concert in virtual total darkness – the only light visible was on Gary Peacock's music
stand.
The first set opened with ‘Green Dolphin Street’, continuing with ‘Yesterdays’, and ‘I’m Gonna Laugh
You Right Out of Town’, although it was quite bizarre not actually being able to see anything (no big
screen video either), and in some ways it made you concentrate more on the music.
After the interval the trio returned (now with very subdued lighting) and played in a slightly more pas-
sionate way – with ‘Bye Bye Blackbird, ‘In Your Own Sweet Way’, ‘Things Ain’t What They Used To
Be’ and ‘Answer Me’ the stand outs. A good but not great Jarrett performance, ultimately though tho-
se people in the front section who had paid 120 euros to see Keith Jarrett may be more than a little
miffed but they can’t say they weren’t warned and they must know who the culprits were. That said
Jarrett surely must come down off his high horse a little bit to avoid these farcical scenes.
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20130709 Keith Jarrett Trio (FL+++)
Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette
July 9, 2013 - Munich - Gasteig
A short but very intense Trio concert in Munich just ended with birthday congratulations to Manfred Eicher from Keith, Jack and Gary.
They played 11 songs encluding three encores and finished with a very free, short version of "Oleo". Fine! Better than Baden-Baden last
year. Gary in good form!
5) Hallucinations 06:05
6) I Thought About You (Van Heusen -Mercer) 09:35
7) Things Ain’t What They Used To Be(M. Ellington-Persons) (Duke Ellington) 09:17
8) Answer me my love - Mutterlein (Winkler - Rauch - Sigman) 06:12
Encores
9) When Will The Blues Leave (Ornette Coleman) 04:26
10) When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young) 06:06
11) Straight, No Chaser (Thelonius Monk) 02:51
>
> I'm not entirely sure about "Conception" (infact it is Hallucinations ) as KJ ended the piece with a quote from "Woody'n You" which
confused my memory banks. I also can't get used to writing in the dark so am not positive about the order of tunes 7 & 8.
>
> The drum balance sounded pretty good to me even though the kit was between my seat at the right of the stage and the piano. From my
seat I thought the bass sounded weak and boomy, with the lower registers
> indistinct.
>
> Musically, I felt that the opening number took its time to get going, and I wondered if the choice of second number was a comment on
how KJ felt. With "One for Majid" they found a groove and for me that's when the concert really shone.
>
> "It never entered my mind" was exquisite - one of the finest performances I have heard from this band. "Answer Me" was a bit faster
than the last time I heard it live (London 2011 when it had a large number of the audience in tears).
>
> "When I fall in Love" was freer with the melody and more embellished with phrasing than I have heard it before. "Straight No Chaser"
was hilarious, with JDJ outstanding in his fill-ins. The apparent chaos of the treatment ended with a precision which brought the house
down.
431
20130712 Keith Jarrett Trio (DI)
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette,
Jazz a Juan
Pinede Gould
Juan-Les-Pins, France
[AUD]
Right of stage
Core Sound Binaural Microphone Set (Switchable Bass Roll-off Filter set to flat) Sony PCM-M10 LPCM 96/24 Audacity 2.03
(Applau-se Cut Hard Limiter -20db Fade Out + Reverse Stereo + Normalisation + Track Split + Resampling 44/16) Trader's
Little Helper FLAC
Here's my setlist:
Second Set
Encores
FIRST SET
01 You go to my head (J Fred Coots - H Gillespie) 11:23
02 Lament (J.J. Johnson) 09:45
03 G blues 06:33
04 Ballad of the Sad Young Man(wolf-landesman) 07:59
05 When will the Blues Leave (Ornette Coleman) 06:14
SECOND SET
06 Piano solo intro to .. 05:48
07 On Green Dolphin Street (B. Kaper – N. Washington) 09:22
07 It Never Entered My Mind (R. Rodgers – L. Hart) 08:28
08 Autumn Leaves (Prévert-Mercer-Kosma) 09:28
ENCORES:
09 When I Fall in Love (E. Heyman-V. Young) 08:45
10 God Bless The Child (Billie Holiday-A. Herzog, Jr.) 14:07
11 Once Upon A Time (Lee Adams, Charles Strouse) 06:22
TT 104:22
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20130719 Keith Jarrett Trio (DI)
Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette
July 19, 2013
Les Nuits De Fourviere
Theatres Romains De Fourviere Lyon, France
First Set
01 Talk 1:15
02 You go to my head (J Fred Coots - H Gillespie) 08:34
03 Is it really the same (Keith Jarrett) 08:59
04 It Never Entered My Mind (R. Rodgers – L. Hart) 07:59
05 Hallucinations (Bud Powell) 06:42
06 Lament (J.J. Johnson) 09:19
07 When Will The Blues Leave (Ornette Coleman) 06:14
Second Set
08 Talk 00:36
09 I've Got A Crush on You (George Gershwin) 07:52
10 I’m A Fool To Want You (Wolf – Herron - Sinatra) 12:09
Encore
Per la quinta volta in nove anni, Keith Jarrett calca il palco delle Nuits de Fourvière e lo fa
accompagnato da Gary Peacock e Jack DeJohnette. Il magico trio festeggia quest’anno i trent’anni
di attività e l’appuntamento lionese sembra essere entrato appieno nelle abitudini delle loro
tournée.
La presenza del trio si deve soprattutto alla decisa volontà del direttore del festival, Dominique Delorme che, fin
dalla sua nomina, nel 2002, ha intrapreso un cammino per offrire al pubblico del festival un cartellone ricco e con
grandi nomi della musica internazionale.
L’appuntamento era di quelli da non perdere. Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock e Jack DeJohnette in concerto tra le rovine
romane dell’antica Lugdunum. Sotto un tempo minaccioso, il trio ha suonato per un’ora e mezza, ripercorrendo la
storia del jazz, ma con l’inconfondibile timbro che solamente questi musicisti sanno infondere.
Gli spettatori non sono sicuramente rimasti delusi. I tre hanno suonato, non molto, ma sicuramente a un altissimo
livello. Keith Jarrett è apparso, come al solito, irrequieto, agitandosi sulla panchetta, talvolta alzandosi come
portato dalla musica. Qualche movimento del bacino, i piedi che segnano il tempo, la voce che marca alcuni
momenti topici. Non sono mancati i consueti richiami a non fare fotografie ma questa volta, forse meno
integerrimo rispetto alle sue abitudini, Jarrett assume fino in fondo la propria celeberrima idiosincrasia contro i
flash dei vari apparecchi di riproduzione, ammettendo che forse, un giorno, perfino sulla sua tomba comparirà
questa ingiunzione: “No photographs”.
Ma nonostante queste richieste, il pubblico lionese si dimostra disciplinato e silenzioso. Pochi colpi di tosse, silenzio
quasi assoluto e qualche uccello che si arrischia in canti serali. La musica del trio può esprimersi al meglio e il
clima è ideale allo sviluppo delle melodie sonore che prendono corpo all’interno dell’antica costruzione teatrale.
Maestri della forma libera, i tre musicisti decostruiscono le melodie degli stardard del jazz per proporre poi delle
loro creazioni. Un concerto che vede la presenza di Keith Jarrett non è un semplice concerto, ma un vero e proprio
evento, non racchiudibile, non riproducibile (ecco qui palesarsi la paradossalità degli album live), sempre nuovo,
anche rispetto a se stesso. The Köln concert, La Scala, Inside Out, Always Let Me Go e molti altri lavori
testimoniano di questa germinazione continua, di questa continua e sempre nuova creazione che non vuole essere
identificata.
Il fascino delle melodie alle quali Jarrett dà vita è tale che perfino Peacock e DeJohnette, ogni tanto, si fermano a
ascoltarlo, come rapiti dalla sua arte. Come durante l’esibizione in solo della dolcissima ballata It Never entered
my mind. In questi istanti si ha l’impressione che tutto tenda alla sospensione: il tempo (quello cronologico e
quello meteorologico), il respiro, il resto del mondo. La musica di Jarrett ha il pregio di sostenere e di mantenere
tutto quello che la circonda. Nulla può accadere perché ci si trova in una stasi all’interno del tempo – tema classico tema classico in
Jarrett, come testimonia l’amore che prova per lo standard classico Time after time. Jarrett accarezza il piano, rallentando progressiva-
mente il continuum temporale per installare una sacca di resistenza che non permette all’avvenire di avvenire. Un paradosso, forse, ma
433
che ha una dimostrazione effettiva proprio durante il concerto. Il tempo, quello meteorologico, fortemente incerto, non vede alcun tipo di
peggioramento e quando la musica si interrompe e gli occhi degli spettatori si alzano al cielo, quest’ultimo si dimostra essere altro rispet-
to a quello minacciante d’inizio concerto. La sospensione si dimostra essere totalmente percettiva, quasi magica.
Qualche uccello si azzarda a inserire il proprio canto serale tra le melodie sospese di Jarrett, il quale pare accettare questa interruzione
naturale, lasciandole un piccolo spazio per poi tornare a essere Keith Jarrett e a portare il pubblico dove vuole lui. Lament, il brano che
segue, è una dimostrazione di questa volontà.
Un secondo set di pezzi più ridotto ma segnato da un maggior brio accompagna gli spettatori nel buio della notte.
Il trio ritorna sul palco per un solo bis, suonando When I fall in love con trasporto e precisione. Il concerto può concludersi, il pubblico
vorrebbe ascoltare ancora qualcosa, ma la perfezione non necessità di appendici. Ciò che era da dire è stato detto. E nella maniera forse
migliore: quella musicale.
Set 1
Set 2
Encores
When I Fall In Love (V. Young – E. Heyman)(1. encore) 8:22
Straight, No Chaser (Monk) (2. encore) 2:11
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24 Bordeaux – Auditorium Cancelled
CD1 40.02
01 I’m a fool to want you (Wolf – Herron - Sinatra) 14.10
02 appl 0.26
03 Blame it on my youth (O. Levant – E. Heyman) 10.33
04 appl 0.37
05 Hallucinations (Bud Powell) 6.45
06 appl 0.31
07 Fever (Eddie Cooley / Otis Blackwell) 8.03
08 appl 0.33
CD2 68.01
01 appl 0.13
02 I’ve got a Crush on You (George Gershwin) 7.48
03 appl 0.23
04 In Your Own Sweet Way (D. Brubeck) 10.31
05 appl 0.31
06 You’ve Changed (Fischer – Carey) 8.42
07 appl 0.42
08 One For Majid (Pete La Roca Sims) 6.33
09 appl 1.21
10 Answer me my love - Mutterlein (Winkler - Rauch - Sigman) 8.05
11 appl 0.23
12 When Will The Blues Leave (Ornette Coleman) 3.55
13 appl 0.23
14 God Bless The Child (Holiday - Herzog) 9.43
15 appl 0.56
16 When I Fall In Love (E. Heyman-V. Young) 6.08
17 appl 0.11
435
20131004 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette
Zellerbach Hall,Berkeley, CA,October 4, 2013
Day three of the United States government shut-down, and the public wasn't buying the official announcement that the
giant sequoias in the Yosemite National Park "weren't available for viewing, today." Really? Those magnificent trees that
have stood since before there was a United States, before there were colonies, and even before there was a bloody king of
England, are taking a break. The National Park Service told us there is no Grand Canyon and no Redwoods too. Please.
Some things that were here before there was a U.S. Federal Government will still be here millennia after there is no more
United States.
Speaking of things eternal, the trio of pianist Keith Jarrett, bassist Gary Peacock, and drummerJack DeJohnette mark 30
years playing standards together with a brief West Coast tour—Los Angeles, Seattle, and the final night in Berkeley, at
Zellerbach Auditorium on the University of California campus. Presented in Berkeley by Cal Performances, the trio was
warmly received by a packed house of 2,000 knowledgeable enthusiasts.
Arriving the same weekend as the Cal football team who was hosting Washington State, Jarrett told the crowd to forgive
him, "But I'm trying to get the marching band out of my head." That jocular mood, not noted as a trait of the persnickety
pianist, relaxed the audience, and set the tone for the evening.
The trio's 'brand' is a combination of improvisation and interplay. Jarrett, who generally works without a set list and does
not call out the tunes, began most pieces unaccompanied. Peacock and DeJohnette joined in from musical cues honed from
years of familiarity.
The nonchalant theme of the night persisted. Jarrett was in the mood for bluesy swing and bits of funkiness, opening
with John Lewis' "Django," followed by some hyper-speed bebop. Their standards included the non-jazz standard "Fever,"
which, in their hands, was transformed into an intricate chamber piece with Jarrett reconfiguring the music into a complex
piece of origami. DeJohnette was content to accompany the pianist with the smallest of gestures. Rarely taking a loud solo,
he manipulated time and his patterns with a wrist flick and brush work that painted his cymbals.
The audience was keenly aware that these three fellows were enjoying themselves, as Gary Peacock seemed unable to
suppress his smile throughout.
Whether they were pulling music from bebop, Broadway, or Berkeley itself, their ritual music making transformed each
song into a mini-masterpiece. This 30-years celebration brings to mind another anniversary, that of Mick Jagger, Keith
Richards and Charlie Watts touring for their fiftieth year. Unlike the British rockers, Jarrett, Peacock, and DeJohnette are
not tasked with playing the same old hits. Unless, of course drawing from hundreds (maybe a thousand) standards is the
same old—same old. Jarrett's "G Blues" began in an off-centered manner, the pianist pushing odd angles against Peacock
and DeJohnette. After he stood to towel off, DeJohnette pulled the music back to center, balancing the music out.
Unlike most trios, the ballads are not simply filler between the hits. With the Standards Trio, they are what the crowd came
for. Covering "You've Changed," Peacock took a singing solo that left Jarrett (and the audience) beaming. His expressive
bass soloes this evening rivaled the pianist's deft touch.
The trio might have saved the best for last. Called back for two encores, first they covered "When I Fall In Love" with
DeJohnette accompanying on cymbals only and Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Child." The songs were edge-of-your-seat
listening, Jarrett holding the crowd in an ecstatic spellbound state.
Like the giant sequoias of California, their music was timeless, and the three musicians made the argument that they too,
might outlast the government.
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20131211 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett (p) Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette,
Carnegie Hall
Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette will complete the celebration of their 30th Anniversary
with a special concert at Carnegie Hall in New York on December 11 at 8 PM.”
The show began almost surreally, with Jarrett taking to the mic to inveigh against the New York Times, which had run a
front-page Arts Section profile on him earlier in the day. Apparently someone in the photography department mistook him for
Chick Corea (see above) – because, you know, they look so much alike – and no one in the editorial brain trust caught the
oversight. (All trace of the blunder has now been wiped from the Times site, with the coy explanation, "A picture in some
editions on Wednesday with a critic’s notebook article about the jazz pianist Keith Jarrett was published in error and the
caption with it misidentified the person shown. The picture was of another jazz pianist, Chick Corea, not of Mr. Jarrett.") Yet
if Jarrett was irked by the mix-up, he didn't show it. For sure, he used the opportunity to take a jab or two at the Times –
never really a stronghold of Jarrett support, anyway – but mostly he seemed pleased at the excuse to recount past cases of
mistaken identity. These included a story about an early Miles Davis encounter (featuring the obligatory Mi-
les impersonation), with the great trumpeter asking Jarrett if he was Chick Corea, to which Jarrett simply responded, "Yes!"
The pianist did eventually get round to communicating his gratitude for the support over the decades, first expressing thanks
"for taking care of our 30-year mortgages" and then going one further, sarcastically declaring that the whole trio venture had
actually been an elaborate moneymaking scheme, with all three members now living in lavish, richly-appointed mansions.
(Though if it's true the trio makes $80,000 a show, this might not be as far from the truth as it seems.) To the audience's
considerable amusement, Jarrett was in an usually chatty mood. While he kept returning to the mic, like a good showman,
he saved the best for last, informing the crowd that his granddaughters were in attendance and that this was their very first
time seeing him "at work." After the house breathed out a collective sigh in response to the news, the trio finally tore into
some music.
Things started on a festive note, with an impish Santa Claus is Coming to Town expressly dedicated to the granddaughters.
Jarrett's cryptic piano introduction was a miniature masterwork unto itself, a punning musical brainteaser – he only gradually
let on to the melody, teasing the tiniest fragments of it – and this was followed by some lively group interaction. Though
some might have objected that Jarrett's solo (to say nothing of his pianistic style in toto) was one or two sizes too large for
the lighthearted Santa Claus, the performance was one of the unexpected highlights of the first set, fully worthy to set aside
the great piano trio version recorded by Bill Evans in 1963. (Evans' bass player on that cut, which turns fifty years old on the
18th of December: one Gary Peacock.) Then came a rendition of the obscure triple-time ballad Answer Me, My Love,
a relatively recent addition, as far as I can tell, to the trio's repertoire. Jarrett's sure handling of the tune encapsulated the
approach he has long taken towards lesser, second-rank pop hits from the thirties and forties: an utter simplicity of touch
married to an absolute fidelity to the vocal line. Though Jarrett is well-known for having memorized the lyrics to all the great
standards, decoupling the tune from Carl Sigman's mawkish words worked wonders here, since no less than Nat King Co-
le and Joni Mitchell have been tripped up by lines like "You must know I've been true / Won't you say that we can start
anew?" In Jarrett's hands, the melody "spoke" with so much more immediacy than any poetry ever could. DeJohnette also
shined here, matching Jarrett's approach by holding back much of the time and interjecting the most delicate, fleeting shards
of pulse. The group has never released a commercial recording of Answer Me, but when they do, it will surely become the
definitive version of the tune. Incidentally, this was the night's first spotlight of the miraculous Jarrett "singing" piano tone. If it
437
comes across well enough on recordings, it is truly a thousand times more jaw-dropping in person.
Next up was one of the trio's calling cards, Autumn Leaves. (Back in 1983, it was a provocation: Anything Davis, Adderley,
or Evans can do, we can do better.) Wednesday's performance yielded no major revelations – one of the dangers of playing
a tune so routinely – though it was nice to hear Peacock take the first solo, even if the content of the solo was unremarkable.
Much better was DeJohnette, whose tightly-wound, funk-inflected solo took what would seem like a willful and unidiomatic
idea on paper – echoes of funk in Autumn Leaves! – and made it work. After that was a dirty blues I didn't recognize, sport-
ing an extremely pronounced left hand ostinato that put the lie to the allegation that Jarrett's left hand has always been
weak. This was followed by what I thought was a hyper-allusive I Loves You Porgy. (Could it have been Little Girl
Blue instead?) The melody was never stated outright, only suggested, a favorite technique of this band. (As Jarrett has ex-
plained it, it's a process of "going somewhere inside the music that is bound by nothing exactly, but we're still playing the
song, and then eventually we're not, but we're still somehow relating to it.") The peak moment here was some resourceful
dialogue between bassist and pianist, with Jarrett offering a masterclass on comping that was sensitive yet never merely
subservient to Peacock's upper-register musings. Indeed, Jarrett's comping – hardly the first thing that comes to mind with
this pianist – was of a very high level all night long. Whether it was punchy and pungent like Bill Evans or laid-back and
bluesy a la Wynton Kelly, Jarrett showed that he could be a masterful supporter of a solo, whenever he puts his mind to it.
Putting a capper on the first set was the robust fast blues One for Majid. A compact, no-frills run-through, the performance
conveyed the impression, We can swing with the best of them.
After intermission Jarrett was back at the mic, expounding on all matter of subject: why he dislikes using set lists ("It's a Zen
thing"), speculating whether the piano was up to snuff (a traffic snafu delayed his arrival at soundcheck, so that he was only
able to try one of the two mainstage pianos), and his seventies quartet days, when an audience member once stole half of
his recorder flute ("Why would anyone steal half a recorder?"). Jarrett even opened up a bit on his reputation as the "Piano
Nazi," insisting that "I'm not alone in my desire for everything to be perfect. It never happens, but you have to try." To Pea-
cock's chagrin, he also recalled a strange espresso-fueled trio date, with the ordinarily laconic bassist exhorting Jarrett to
"knock 'em [the audience] dead." The pianist's reply: "I just want to play two good notes." (Here, Jarrett instead relates his
response as "I just want to play a few good notes.”) In any case, Jarrett's garrulous frame of mind meant that the second set
didn't begin until well after nine-thirty, with an unremarkable rendition of Peggy Lee's signature song Fever.
Jarrett must have been fixated on the notion of "just two notes," since Fever's central melodic idea is little more than an
elementary oscillation between a pair of pitches. As a result, it doesn't have much in the way of any real melody – to say
nothing of compensating harmonic or rhythmic interest – so that to my mind, the tune is one of the trio's rare repertoire mis-
calculations. Not to mention that covers by Madonna and Beyoncé have helped to keep Fever in the public ear (at least in an
intuitive pop-cultural sense) in a way that cannot be said for most of the other tunes the trio performs. This familiarity makes
assimilating the song into the Jarrett-Peacock-DeJohnette idiom an uphill battle. Even so, the bad taste wasn't allowed to
linger long. It's often said that you go to hear the Standards Trio for the ballads, and nowhere was that more true than in the
next number, The Ballad of the Sad Young Men. Another relatively inconsequential Broadway tune, from 1959, Jarrett in-
vested it with the most tender, concentrated emotion imaginable. Once again, this was a study of juxtapositions: in anyone
else's hands, DeJohnette's nimble Latin rhythms would have been at variance with Jarrett's folksy, chorale-like introduction.
Not the least of the wonders here was Jarrett's virtual moratorium on the sustain pedal. The piano tone was fragile yet finely-
controlled, the absolute right choice for this song, an exploration of sotto voce understatement. While the audience was
audibly delighted to hear the group next launch into a pro forma Someday My Prince Will Come, I was still reeling from the
sound of Jarrett's touch.
Though some spectators left after the conclusion of the short second set (presumably to catch late trains) the applause was
hearty enough for four very substantial encores to be offered. It wasn't entirely uncharacteristic that the trio would leave the
biggest surprises for last, as if to say, You guys who stuck around 'til the end, we're saving the real good stuff for you. There
was an extended God Bless the Child that almost lapsed into free-form jamming; Jarrett must have been suitably inspired,
as he took two lengthy solos. Though the trio performs God Bless on the vast majority of their dates – with Jarrett's gospel
harmonies and DeJohnette's rock backbeat, their overhaul of Billie Holiday's signature song on 1983's Standards, Vol. 1 was
perhaps their earliest and clearest statement of aesthetic intent – it was perhaps only here where they truly approached their
stated ideal of constant interplay, melodic reinvention, and minimal pre-arrangement. Even more of a corker was the final
encore, a free version of what I believe was a Charlie Parker tune, taken at an appropriately – though for this group, surpri-
singly – blistering pace. (I haven't been able to identify the song: it wasn't Scrapple from the Apple or Shaw'nuff.) After an
evening of buttoned-down but mostly safe music-making, we were reminded that these are, after all, children of the sixties,
alumni of bands led by Albert Ayler, Miles Davis, and Charles Lloyd. It was one of the best demonstrations possible of the
fundamental continuity linking what was once the avant-garde – bebop – with what often still sounds like the avant-garde –
the New Thing. For a few minutes, at least, the Jarrett-Peacock-DeJohnette combo convinced anyone and everyone within
earshot that they would not be going gently into that good night.
A few years back, Jarrett commented on the effect aging was having on the trio: "The negative side is you don’t have a very
long future ahead of you, but the positive side is that you might as well let it all hang out." I don't doubt that Jarrett believed
this wholeheartedly, at least when he said it. But whether that's the way the audience perceives it – well, that's another issue
entirely. Too often on Wednesday, the group was on auto-pilot. More exactly, they were hamstrung by Peacock's playing,
sad as it is to admit. To be sure, the audio mix did him no favors: Peacock's high notes were blurred and indistinct, while the
low end was virtually nonexistent. Still, Peacock's technique has declined sharply in recent years. The fat, quasi-
synthetic Eddie Gómez-like tone on display in the early trio records has given way to a wiry sound with much dubious intona-
tion. Peacock can still cook, as he did during the encores, but his solos are precarious affairs. As if recognizing this and
hoping to keep him afloat, the Carnegie crowd gave him more than his fair share of applause, even if only one of his solos,
from the unidentified first set blues, made much of an impact.
438
All told, the star of the evening was DeJohnette, Jarrett's moments of brilliance notwithstanding. DeJohnette can play "out"
with the best of them (his solo freak-out during the final free number was a case in point) but what really impresses about the
man is his innate musical intelligence, the way in which rhythm and timbre positively merge in his hands. He doesn't always
require wild polyrhythms or nonstop fills to keep things interesting: color, shading, and implication are often enough for him.
If most drummers are working from a 12-color Crayola set, DeJohnette has the 120 crayon jumbo box. And no matter how
spare or complex things get, with him the listener never loses track of the implied pulse. Still, the percussion clinic wasn't
enough to redeem the show's more uninspired patches. It's patently unfair to expect these men to produce magic each and
every night, but then, that's what you get when you call yourselves the Standards Trio – the implication being that they're the
"standard setters." In response to a question about his singleminded loyalty to the trio (and solo) formats over the past 30
years, Jarrett recently offered the following rationale: "At this point, anything else I would do would be an event. And what if it
was horrible and lasted only a very short time? I’d happily go out of my career knowing I had never made that kind of mista-
ke." As age continues to take its toll, the trio will become an increasingly inconsistent proposition. While it's still far from
stagnant, perhaps Jarrett's mistake will have been not to make a mistake.
439
2014
20140205 Keith Jarrett solo
Carnegie hall
Set I:
Set II:
Encores:
1. Speech (4:59)
2. Part 1 (10:33)
3. Part 2 (4:05)
4. Part 3 (5:42)
5. Part 4 (1:45)
6. Speech (1:36)
7. Part 5 (5:27)
8. Part 6 (4:51)
9. Speech (1:32)
10. Part 7 (6:24)
11. Part 8 (7:26)
12. Part 9 (6:01)
13. Part 10 (4:43)
14. Part 11 (7:08)
15. Part 12 (4:12)
16. Speech (2:43)
17. Part 13 (1:12), interr.
18. Part 13 (2:12), cont.
19. Part 14 (7:21)
20. Fever (Eddie Cooley / Otis Blackwell) (4:35)
21. Come Sunday (Ellington)(5:10)
22. Encore 3 (5:16)
23. Somewhere Over the Rainbow (H. Arlen – E.Y. Harburg) (6:13)
440
20140430 Keith Jarrett SOLO
Part 1
1. Improvisation 18:45
2. Improvisation 05:16
3. Improvisation 4:04
4. Improvisation 7:38
5. Improvisation 7:44
Part 2
1. Improvisation 10:11
2. Improvisation 6:59
3. Improvisation 11:04
4. Improvisation 10:34
Encore:
5. Improvisation 8:28
6. Improvisation 11:11
7. Improvisation 10:39
8. Improvisation 6.57
TT 119:39
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20140506 Keith Jarrett Solo (DI)
Keith Jarrett (p)
Bunkamura – Orchard Hall | Tokyo
Set 1
1. Improvisation 17:55
2. Improvisation 05:54
3. Improvisation 4:52
4. Improvisation 5:18
5. FS + Improvisation 9:55
Set 2
6. FS + Improvisation 12:02
7. Improvisation 3:20
7a kj talks 00:13
8. Improvisation 5:23
9. Improvisation 9:33
Encores:
10. Summertime(Gershwin-DuBoseGershwin) 5:06
11. Improvisation 5:09
12. Improvisation 7:29
13. Improvisation 6:34
TT 98:50
Part 1
1. Improvisation 10:32
2. Improvisation 08:03
3. Improvisation 6:46
4. Improvisation 7:41
5. Improvisation 6:34
Part 2
1. Improvisation 7:20
2. Improvisation 5:51
3. Improvisation 7:12
Encore:
4. Improvisation 9:28
5. Improvisation 6:29
6. Improvisation 5:03
7. Improvisation 2:41
TT 83:47
442
20140625 Keith Jarrett Solo (MU)
Keith Jarrett (p)
Toronto, Roy Thomson Hall, Canada, 25.6.2014
Sound quality: A
Source: audience recording
1. Part 1 (12:36)
2. Part 2 (7:29)
3. Part 3 (3:45)
4. Part 4 (6:36)
5. Part 5 (4:44)
6. Part 6 (4:34)
7. Part 7 (4:17)
8. Part 8 (8:23)
9. Part 9 (5:07)
10. Part 10 (4:16)
11. Speech (1:52)
12. Encore 1 (4:28)
13. Encore 2 (6:47)
The audience was a bit jittery before jazz pianist Keith Jarrett’s concert at Roy Thomson Hall Wed-
nesday night.
“I had a dream,” says a nattily dressed middle aged man to his wife, “that we didn’t settle down and he
never came on stage.”
She trumps him with, “I left my phone at home so I wouldn’t worry if it was turned off.”
Their friend pipes up: “I’ve got my phone in my jacket . . . but the batteries are in my pants pocket.”
Oh, that curmudgeon. Jarrett has stormed off in the middle of performances in the past over rude pho-
to-taking, too many people coughing and a piano that wasn’t up to snuff.
At 69, the taciturn jazz legend has earned a reputation as a difficult performer to please, although his
music, both classical and jazz, solo or in a group, is impeccable.
His performance Wednesday, a wonderful “get” for the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, was a solo concert that
was entirely improvised. The audience, knowing it was in for a treat, listened in a state of hushed re-
verence.
The capacity crowd witnessed all the Jarrett idiosyncrasies including his moaning and humming while
playing, stomping his foot and emitting guttural, almost animal noises.
Concentrated, even transported, Jarrett played a series of tunes that ranged from sweetly romantic to
rousing barn burners. He got an ovation before he even started and, in his soft-spoken way, stated he
didn’t know what he did to get everyone excited.
The evening had all the elements of a special occasion — a solo performance by a virtuoso, a one-of-a-
kind improvised program and a recording of the evening that will cement it in the music libraries of the
devoted fans when it comes out on CD.
Although he had a few quibbles with his stool and the Steinway piano (he admitted that he had a repu-
tation for complaining), he spent the balance of two hours playing beautiful music — sweet ballads,
light, gentle, contemplative tunes, and saucy and jaunty pieces that could be described as charming.
He possesses a light touch, while always being in total command of his instrument. His playing is ex-
quisite and precise, and earned him a standing ovation at the end.
His first encore was a boogie-woogie-infused piece while his second harkened to Aaron Copland’s
western-flavoured compositions.
One man and his piano added up to a mighty powerful evening.
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“I have to do this,” Keith Jarrett told the audience at one point during his concert at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on
Wednesday night, part of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival. “It’s my rep.”
“This” referred to the way Jarrett obsessively noted, and sometimes commented at length on, any sound the audience made
— as well as whatever peculiarities of his piano, his bench, the lighting and the room temperature struck him as odd.
“Bless you,” he said after a woman sneezed when he settled on the piano bench for his first piece. Then he swivelled to
face her. “But you only get one.” Nervous laughter. “Once you’ve been blessed, how can you be blessed again?” he said to
the room in general, or to himself, or to posterity. It took him some time to regain his composure enough to play.
This is indeed Jarrett’s “rep” — his reputation, for those of us who are not 69 and did not come of age during the ’60s. He
is probably the most prominent jazz pianist alive, although many would argue either that the word “jazz” lets him down in
some ways, or he it, or both. But especially in his solo concerts, which are entirely improvised and have been legenda-
ry since 1975, he likes his audiences quiet and attentive. We were reminded of this three times before he arrived onstage:
by ushers at the entrances to the hall and then to the auditorium, and by a bashful Jazz FM deejay who introduced him
onstage. And then once more after intermission. (“Please take no more photographs, either of the performances or the
bows,” said a disembodied voice.) The consequences of distracting Jarrett are higher and more frequently incurred than for
any other performer I know, as you can discover by googling the words “Keith Jarrett tantrum.” Connoisseurs compare his
hissy fits the way tweens compare Elphabas in touring productions of Wicked. “San Francisco, man.” “No, Umbria.” “The
first Umbria tantrum or the second one?”
But on this night there was no final loss of the Jarrett temper. (Don’t worry, I’ll talk about the music soon.) What made the
evening weird and wonderful was that Jarrett toyed with the expectations his own rep stirred up — even as he was plainly,
genuinely, helplessly in the grip of the elevated level of awareness and sensitivity that has led him to turn on, or walk out
on, so many other audiences.
“I’m sorry,” he said, interrupting his performance after only a few bars of one piece. “That was just the wrong cough at the
wrong time.” But he said it apologetically, and he quickly restarted what he’d been working on. This piece, like most, was
effectively a ballad, diatonically tuneful, achingly pretty in the mode of high Americana that is one of Jarrett’s trademark
styles. Jarrett’s recent solo recordings, all performed live in concert, have featured similar successions of short improvisati-
ons, each from four to 12 minutes or so in length. But the recordings have put a wider variety of moods and styles on dis-
play, including various forms of the abstract. Here, Jarrett spent most of the evening in a pastoral mood. One tune was a
waltz, one had a larger dollop of gospel influence, another had skittering right-hand runs of sixteenth notes, but they were
all pretty with gusts to beautiful. If he was in a rut, it was an excellent rut to be in. The departures from the general mood
were, to my ear, successful: the maze of interacting left- and right-hand bebop fragments that opened the second set,
another piece that featured an obsessive bass-clef chant.
After the first tune he stared at the piano as if seeing one for the first time, jumped to his feet and turned to stare at the
bench, exclaimed, shifted the bench sideways an inch, sat back down, reached his arms out straight to find the keyboard’s
edges and gauge the centre. “No wonder I was playing in F sharp major,” he said.
Hoots of applause. He stared forward some more. “Well, now I’m locked into D flat major.” He insisted the piano manu-
facturers’ logo was not in the right place. The logo’s left-right positioning tells you where Middle C is on the keyboard, or
should. “Steinway & Sons are losing it, folks,” he lamented jokingly. Then more seriously: “These are the signposts that
show a pianist the way home.” Then he played another gorgeous impromptu ballad.
After the bass-clef chant he stood and drank from his glass of water. “Anyone have anything they want to talk about while I
catch my breath?” he asked. “Just don’t ask me why I do this. I have no idea.” The laughter here, as all night, had a note of
gratitude to it, as everyone realized Jarrett’s good mood was holding. He darkened the mood a touch: “I was born insane.
“Actually, my mom always said, it was V-E Day” — this is true; he was born on May 8, 1945 — “and they just stopped the
war because…’ This is too weird.’ ”
Then he sat and pulled another haunting melody out of the air. Jarrett matters because he possesses the improvisor’s secret
to greater degree than almost anyone. He can spin melody and logic, structure and surprise, richly and indefinitely. The
stubborn streak that makes him insist, after half a century and against all the evidence, that he can control an audience or
walk out on it is the same streak that made him stick with the acoustic piano through the 1970s, when all around him were
plugging their keyboards in. He helped keep the sound of the acoustic piano alive as an option for serious musicians. In one
way or another, to greater or lesser extent, most of the younger pianists playing today are his children.
I’m not going to lie to you: the nervousness in the room was sky-high, as those of us who know Jarrett’s rep wondered
whether a cough or a pocket of jingling change would trigger the legendary Jarrett temper. I nearly left at intermission,
figuring I should quit while I was ahead. I wish he wasn’t so high maintenance. But music has no end of nice guys who
mail it in, and Jarrett was never going to be one of those. He’ll play solo again in Montreal on Saturday. Don’t take photos
when he bows.
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20140628 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
Montreal, Maison Symphonique, Canada, 28.6.2014
Sound quality: A
Source: audience recording
1. Part 1 (4:19)
2. Speech (0:31)
3. Part 2 (7:57)
4. Speech (0:23)
5. Part 3 (4:47)
6. Part 4 (6:00)
7. Part 5 (6:54)
8. Part 6 (5:33)
9. Part 7 (6:57)
10. Part 8 (3:53)
11. Part 9 (4:47)
12. Part 10 (5:10)
13. Part 11 (7:02)
14. Part 12 (5:08)
15. Encore 1 (5.59)
16. Speech (0:22)
17. Encore 2 (6:44)
18. Encore 3 (4:29)
FESTIVAL DE JAZZ
L'instant Jarrett
29 juin 2014 07h44 |Guillaume Bourgault-Côté | Musique
«Keith Jarrett en solo à la Maison symphonique, c’était le fantasme de plusieurs personnes quand
la salle a été construite», disait André Ménard à la foule avant le concert du pianiste américain,
samedi soir. Que oui. Et quelle expérience ce fut.
Plus de deux heures de musique improvisée par le maître de cette formule de funambule: pur
bonheur. Une quinzaine de segments musicaux créés là, sous nos yeux, public attentif, ouvert,
silencieux. Entre Jarrett, son état d’esprit de ce samedi (visiblement de bonne humeur), le Stein-
way, le public, la salle, tous les paramètres étaient les bons pour faire du grand retour du pianiste
— 24 ans qu’il n’avait pas joué en solo à Montréal — un succès prolongé par trois rappels.
Dans le livret des disques «Paris/London — Testament» (2009), Jarrett écrivait que «la quantité
de préparation mentale, physique et émotionnelle [pour un concert solo] est probablement au-
dessus de l’imagination de tout le monde. Ce n’est pas naturel de s’assoir au piano sans aucun
matériel, de vider complètement son esprit de toutes idées musicales, et de jouer quelque chose
de complètement nouveau — sans compter que ce sont des concerts, et que le public joue un rôle
de la plus haute importance chimique: plus que le piano ou la salle, le public a le pouvoir
d’influencer les contours de la musique.»
Représentation unique
445
C’est aussi la beauté de ce genre d’exercice: tout peut se passer, ou ne pas se passer. Nous
sommes tous dans un «instant» qui doit se vivre collectivement. Représentation unique, ici-même
et maintenant. En pénétrant dans la salle, le spectateur n’a aucune idée de ce qui l’attend. Jarrett
non plus. Téléphones fermés, merci de ne pas tousser, le silence se fait, il pose ses mains sur le
piano, et…
Et samedi, 20h10, une intro pleine de lumière sur tempo rapide. Jarrett signale au public qu’il
s’est surpris lui-même, qu’il commence d’habitude par quelque chose de plus abstrait... «Désolé
si la prochaine est plus difficile», dit-il.
Commence ainsi une impro toute en richesse harmonique, des arpèges qui caressent le piano.
Climat de mystère, de tension, d’introspection. Puis Jarrett enchaine avec une démonstration de
virtuosité technique de haute voltige. Une course effrénée qui le fait chantonner (ça vient avec
l’expérience Jarrett), bondir de son banc, taper du pied.
Le reste est à l’avenant: à chaque morceau une surprise, un nouveau climat, des tempos diffé-
rents. On reconnait la manière Jarrett, des mélodies lyriques, ballades magnifiquement servies
par sa touche unique, une certaine mélancolie parfois, une assise rythmique fantastique de la
main gauche — les fameux ostinatos de Jarrett, d’apparence répétitifs (voire hypnotisants) mais
qui permettent de développer la phrase musicale à droite), etc., etc..
Est-ce à dire que tout était du plus haut intérêt? Peut-être pas. Keith Jarrett se donne le droit à
l’erreur et au tâtonnement (on le voit parfois bûcher pour ouvrir une nouvelle porte qui permett-
rait de relancer ce qu’il tente de faire), mais la maîtrise générale est absolue. Et un concert solo
de Jarrett se prend comme un grand tout: c’est l’ensemble de l’expérience qui donne toute la pro-
fondeur à l’instant vécu.
Keith Jarrett a offert samedi soir un solo au piano historique à la Maison symphonique de Mon-
tréal, alors qu’il se produisait dans le cadre du 35e Festival international de jazz.
Le célèbre pianiste âgé de 69 ans a en effet proposé au public une performance totalement impro-
visée et enregistrée pour l’occasion.
«C’est impressionnant, c’est un véritable fantasme qui se réalise, de voir un tel spectacle ici», s’est
exclamé le directeur artistique et co-fondateur du Festival, André Ménard.
446
Juste avant de laisser place à celui qui a joué aux côtés de Miles Davis, M. Ménard a demandé au
public d’éteindre téléphones intelligents et autres tablettes afin de «profiter du moment présent».
Un moment que le virtuose comptait tout bonnement arrêter pour nous transporter au cœur de
l’âge d’or de la musique jazz.
Il a alors tout simplement commencé à jouer en fonction de son inspiration et à alterner des
morceaux laconiques et pleins de voluptés, à des morceaux plus rythmés, accompagnés de fre-
donnements. Fidèle à lui-même, le pianiste était quasiment en état de transe, et ne faisait plus
qu’un avec son piano, remuant son corps tel un métronome un peu fou, en tapant la mesure avec
son pied.
Quasiment possédé, ce sont de véritables histoires qu’il racontait. Des histoires qu’il ponctuait de
grimaces et de petites blagues essayant en vain de décontracter ses admirateurs impressionnés.
Tel un gentleman, Keith Jarrett s'est levé entre chaque morceau afin de remercier le public, qui
lui, pendu aux allers et venus de ses doigts sur les touches du piano, laissait l’écho de la dernière
note jouée mourir, avant d’applaudir chaleureusement le maître du free jazz.
Après une ovation du public et pas moins de trois rappels, il a finalement quitté la scène d’un pas
léger, et avec simplicité, laissant planer un peu de magie dans l'air de la Maison symphonique.
Quelques notes de folk, de blues, de classique, et un peu de chair de poule aussi.
Jazz fans in general and Keith Jarrett fans in particular are well aware of the worst thing that could happen
when the famously mercurial pianist’s mood turns foul and he begins, for whatever reason be it someone coug-
hing or snapping a photo, to lecture, berate or snub people who came to bask in the splendour of his music.
So, to get it out of the way as quickly as possible: None of that extra-musical stuff happened Saturday night,
when the world’s best jazz pianist gave one of his entirely improvised concerts at the Montreal International
Jazz Festival.
Quite the opposite. A chatty Jarrett was upbeat and in good spirits, for example, responding to the fan who had
bellowed “We love you!” late in the concert: “You certainly are the loudest one.” The vocal fan did seem to speak
for the roughly 2,000 people who packed Montreal’s Maison Symphonique, who expressed themselves if not
with such clarity, with roars of adulations and whoops of enjoyment before the night was out.
Jarrett began his concert in a very concrete way, with a happy-making, four-minute gospel proclamation that
almost immediately had him stomping, singing and rising off the bench in his famous bent-knee crouch.
It was a rousing, catchy start. Right after, Jarrett strode to the microphone on the other side of the stage to con-
fess: “I just did that to shock myself into the beginning. If you hear tonality, it’s hard to get abstract after that.
“If the next one is more difficult to listen to, hey, I can’t help it.”
While that wasn’t quite a magician revealing how a trick is done, it was a bit of a window into how Jarrett
might at times parcel music in in his mind. Indeed, of the dozen or so improvised pieces that he created, most
seemed to be not only tonal but also focused on a single, albeit well-explored, mood or kind of piece.
Long gone, it would seem, are the long, wending improvisations of the 1970s and 1980s when Jarrett, who is
now 69, would immerse in the journey of improvising. In comparison, you could almost call the Montreal con-
cert Keith Jarrett’s Greatest Hits.
447
Jarrett’s second piece, though, was more abstract as promised. more mysterious and perhaps, for Jarrett as well
as his listeners,more intriguing and process-rich. The long piece was atonal and meandering, formless yet emo-
tional and striving, seeking development and resolution or at least a point of rest.
Next came a piece marked by playful scurrying and the physicality of hands crossing over each other, that cul-
minated with a trip to the top of keyboard. Then there was a slow, sad, beautiful ballad spun from a few notes
(Jarrett ended that one with his hands in his lap, saying “Heh, heh, I need a few minutes.”).
The first half of the concert concluded with the first droning, bass-driven tribal vamp, and then a stately roman-
tic ballad with that Americana feeling that Jarrett practically introduced into jazz.
Of course, these terse summaries do no justice at all to the brilliance of Jarrett and the micro level, the beauty of
his sound, the delicious frissons that the inner voices of his chords provoke, the clarity and direction of his me-
lodies.
As Ottawa pianist Alexander Tsertsvadze said to me when we chatted about Jarrett’s abilities during the break:
“We cannot find those notes. It’s as if those notes don’t exist for us,” Tsertsvadze said.
And that’s not to mention the sheer shapeliness of each piece as it proceeded from beginning to middle to oh-so-
right conclusion.
The concert’s second half was even more concrete and tonal than its first, such that one might have wondered if,
before launching into a piece, Jarrett so much as says a word to himself in his mind, be it “blues” or “hymn” or
“drone” or “atonal” or whatever. I suspect no one will never know, least of all the people who write about Jarrett.
Among the second half’s most special and even recognizable offerings: a lovely, magical opener that involved
Jarrett’s right hand trilling and playing tremolo for much of its beginning and end, while his left hand supplied a
great deal of moving content that moved from hymnal to majestic; a piece that alternated spry, sometimes
country-tinged melodies played in unison in both hands with 16-bar sections (the first half of rhythm changes)
moving through different keys; Another gospel stomper that made its way from the tonic to the subdominant
and then back down chromatically as Jarrett unfurled long, dazzling melodies; and a jaunty long-form blues that
finished suddenly.
There were three encores, each preceded by a deafening love-in from the audience and Jarrett taking the musi-
cian’s equivalent of a victory lap on stage: a major-key ballad that seemed like a composition; a swirling, minor-
key piece and a harmonically static, but rhythmically churning and vaguely Slavic vamp.
After one of the encores, there was even the flash of a camera above Jarrett, at the back of the wrap-around sta-
ge, thanks to a delinquent who flouted the rules that had been recounted at length before each half of the con-
cert, in both of Canada’s official languages.
Some in the crowd who saw the flash gasped and maybe worried that the Sun Bear would show his claws. But if
Jarrett noticed the photo being taken, he must have simply thought it wasn’t worth making a fuss. Why ruin an
otherwise perfect night of music?
448
20140704 Keith Jarrett Solo (DI)
Keith Jarrett (p)
Paris, Salle Pleyel, France, 4.7.2014
1. Part 1 (10:36)
2. Part 2 (6:46)
3. Part 3 (6:07)
4. Part 4, interrupted / speech / Part 5, interrupted / speech (3:44)
5. Part 5 (7:24)
6. Part 6 (6:12)
7. Speech (1:44)
8. Part 7 (5:25)
9. Part 8 (10:08)
10. Part 9 (8:20)
11. Part 10 (8:13)
12. Part 11 (7:30)
13. Part 12, interrupted / speech / audience noise / applause (3:25)
14. Speech / rhythm hand clapping (8:14)
If you saw Keith Jarrett play solo in late June in Toronto or Montreal, consider yourself even more lucky about
how good, and controversy-free, the concert was.
According to the report below, the pianist was much more persnickety on July 4, walking out on his audience
during the second set of his concert at Salle Pleyel, the room where he recorded The Paris Concert in 1988 and,
20 years later, half of the Testament double-CD solo piano set.
From the Der Yankee blog, here’s a translation of Felix Janosa’s original account in German:
Yesterday evening something was out of whack. Namely, Keith Jarrett at the Salle Pleyel in Paris, where my dear wife and
I were in the audience of a sold-out house. After the customary admonitions about coughing that we’ve come to expect
from Jarrett, and a total of six complete improvisations as well as two interrupted ones in the first half, the second half
began in markedly elevated fashion: a Shostakovich-ian toccata, followed by a convincing Jarrett gospel number, and then
a very beautiful ballade. But during the fourth piece (a standard Jarrett-ostinato), when Jarrett again felt he had been dis-
tracted by a VERY small cough, he left the hall in a snit after some back and forth with fans and “disruptors.” Even ten
minutes of sustained clapping could not convince the shrinking violet to bring the concert to a fitting conclusion. The mas-
ter then came out again, but only to say to the disappointed fans, “I have no more music in me.” Jarrett departed to the
accompaniment of catcalls and real disappointment from many hardcore Jarrett-fans, my humble self included.
449
20140708 Keith Jarrett Solo (+++)
Keith Jarrett (p)
Venezia, Gran Teatro La Fenice, Italy, 2014 july 08th
1. Part 1 (13:48)
2. Part 2 (7:03)
3. Part 3 (5:59)
4. Part 4 (7:37)
5. Part 5 (4:03)
6. Part 6 (4:27)
7. Part 7 (7:50) TT 50:52
Set 2
8. Part 8 (5:41)
9. Part 9 (8:56)
10. Part 9, cont. (2:35)
11. Speech (0:19)
12. Part 10 (11:05)
13. Part 11 (9:39)
14. Too Young to Go Steady (8:32)
15. Blues (6:45)
16. Answer Me My love (5:42)
1. Speech (2:24)
2. Part 1 (8:05)
3. Part 2 (9:05)
4. Speech St. Cloud (1:07)
5. Part 3 (7:14)
6. Part 4, interrupted (0:58)
7. Part 5 (5:31)
8. Part 6 (6:32)
9. Part 7 (5:54)
10. Part 8 (7:51)
11. Part 9 (3:59)
12. Part 10 (5:40)
13. Part 11 (8:54)
14. Part 12 (5:42)
15. Part 13 (5:45)
16. Speech (1:05)
17. Too Young to Go Steady (H. Adamson – J. McHugh) (6:38)
18. Speech (0:26)
19. Blues (5:41)
20. I´m Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life (cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy) (7:10)
450
20141019 Keith Jarrett Trio
Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette
Chicago | Symphony Center | 19 October 2014
1st Set
-Green Dolphin St.-beautiful rubato intro and exit KJ solo
-Django (Lewis) -beautiful blues rhythm variance by Gary throughout
- I'm Going to Laugh You Right Out of My Life (cy coleman, joseph allen mccarthy)
-They went right into the head of Green Dolphin St again, and then segued into a blues romp through Sandu,
which was slower with more block chords by KJ than on Whisper Not
-I Didn't Know What Time It Was (Rodgers -Hart)- Latin style
-Lament (J.J. Johnson)
2nd Set
Tennesse Waltz (Pee Wee King - Redd Stewart)
Fever (Eddie Cooley / Otis Blackwell) - totally rhythmic exploration between all three
Joy Spring(Clifford Brown)
I Fall In Love Too Easily (S. Cahn – J. Styne)
My Funny Valentine(Rodgers - Hart)
Encores
Is it really the same (Keith Jarrett)
Answer me my love - Mutterlein (Winkler - Rauch - Sigman)
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2015
20150103 Keith Jarrett Solo (DI)
Keith Jarrett (p)
Carnegie Hall
New York City, NY.
March 3, 2015 sound cleaned 44100/16 bit version
First set
TT 47:23
09 Part 09
10 part 10
11 Part XI (7:10)
12 Part XII (4:31)
13 Part XIII (5:15)
14 Part XIV (6:05)
15 I’m A Fool to Want You (6:06)
16 Blues (3:01)
In his improvised solo piano concerts, Keith Jarrett has made it a custom to save a familiar song or two
for the encores — a gleaming prize at the finish line. But of his three encores at Carnegie Hall on
Tuesday night, just one fit that bill: “I’m a Fool to Want You,” an abject cry of romantic despondence
introduced by Frank Sinatra in 1951.
Mr. Jarrett gave the song a deliberate and empathetic reading, milking the moments of lingering irreso-
lution in the melody, with an air of absolute sincerity. It was an elegant capstone to an often exquisite
performance. Still, it was hard to shake the notion that this song had been intended as some kind of
joke. The implicit contract between artist and audience has been a complicated subject in Mr. Jarrett’s
career — especially as it pertains to his heroic solo performances, the most famous of which, “The
Köln Concert,” was released on the ECM label 40 years ago. Because he creates the music in the mo-
ment, at the mercy of his muse, Mr. Jarrett maintains a notoriously low threshold for disruption. Occa-
sionally, needled by coughing or other offenses among the crowd, he darkens, and the concert curdles.
That didn’t happen here. But Mr. Jarrett kept alluding to the subject, making it a thematic framework
for the evening. He was a few minutes into his second piece, a rhythmic vamp with faint gospel impli-
cations, when someone coughed sharply. His hands left the keyboard at once. “Thank you, for that,” he
said. Then he grinned. “Some people know exactly when to cough,” he offered, encouragingly. Plenty
of time left. No harm, no foul.
Mr. Jarrett turns 70 in May. To mark the occasion, ECM has scheduled two releases: a classical album
and an album of solo inventions. His fan base, from both camps, tends to accept that the intensity of
452
feeling in his playing is worth whatever limits he chooses to impose. “I want to thank All Of You
(Porter) for following my work,” he said near the concert’s midpoint. “Here’s the big deal that nobody
seems to realize: I could not do it without you.”
This audience, responsive and discerning, rained extra approval on every moment deserving of it. That
included one ballad with the noble architecture of a Gershwin song and another that seemed to arrive
fully formed, with a twinkling motif and a delicate logic of harmonic development. The prickly but
flowing piece just before intermission and the gem of rapturous romanticism just after it were also
standouts. So was one exercise that morphed from boppish chromaticism to a derivation of boogie-
woogie.
Mr. Jarrett’s pianism, precise and aglow, was irreproachable even on the less engaging pieces. What
they lacked was the structure and emotional clarity that seems to issue forth, in a cloud of mystery,
from this pianist at his best.
And as he implied, the role that an audience plays in this alchemy isn’t exactly passive. It can’t be an
accident that his encores, emerging from a frothy ocean of adulation, always manage to reach some
higher gear. “Time and time again I said I’d leave you,” goes one tortured line in Sinatra’s song. “Pity
me, I need you,” goes another.
Who knows whether Mr. Jarrett was thinking about those lyrics as he finessed the tune. But he seemed
to hold something in check when, after his bluesy third encore, he spoke his parting words: “So maybe
you’ll be the first audience where I don’t say a word to the person who’s taking photos.” See you next
time.
More information can be found in an article by JazzEcho, where it is mentioned that both albums should be
released on May 8, 2015. The first one, entitled “Creation”, includes nine pieces from solo concerts recorded in
2014 in Tokyo, Toronto, Paris, and Rome. The second one, entitled “Samuel Barber/Béla Bartók”, includes com-
positions by Barber and Bartók, recorded in 1984-85 with the German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Saarbrü-
cken Kaiserslautern (directed by Dennis Russell Davies) and with the New Japan Philharmonic (directed
by Kazuyoshi Akiyama).
Thanks to Helmut and Christoph for the links.
453
Ma Jarrett ha parlato a lungo con il Corriere al telefono dalla sua casa-fattoria di Union, New Jer-
sey, per spiegare che il pubblico scambia la sua concentrazione per arroganza, che ascoltare i più
grandi pianisti classici non lo stimola, che Herbie Hancock non capisce il pianoforte, e molto altro.
Jarrett parla come suona: non per frasi o paragrafi ma per lunghi movimenti, e non ama essere interrot-
to. Ecco dunque, senza interruzioni, quello che ha detto al Corriere. «I pianisti classici non hanno uno
sfogo per tutta quella musica che hanno dentro. E allora cercano di mettere qualcosa di personale dent-
ro Mozart, o Beethoven, uno sforzo terribile. Io suono Bach o Händel alla lettera, la 'mia visione' non
esiste. Ma quando improvviso sono completamente libero. I più grandi pianisti del mondo tengono la
loro immaginazione al guinzaglio perché hanno sempre davanti quello spartito. Allora io dico: libera-
teli. Il mio amico Vladimir Ashkenazy mi ha raccontato che suo padre suonava il piano nei cinema ai
tempi del muto: improvvisava sempre. 'Io non sarei capace', mi ha detto. Dovrebbe ritirarsi per mesi e
entrare in una forma mentis completamente diversa. Ecco perché i grandi pianisti rischiano la schizo-
frenia. Lo stress produce un modo di suonare meccanico, la fedeltà è una trappola: io cerco di non es-
sere fedele nemmeno a me stesso — il cervello è ingannatore, le dita gli dicono cose che, da solo, non
immaginerebbe mai».
«Dicono che maltratto il pubblico ma non hanno capito che tocca a loro chiudere il cerchio diseg-
nato da me: ho bisogno del pubblico al punto che in sala d’incisione mi manca. Suono la musica che
nasce nella mia testa e se c’è troppo rumore, non parliamo dei flash dei videofonini, non riesco più a
sentirla, quella musica. Il mio pubblico ideale è 'succoso'. Ha ragione Emmanuel Ax, altro grande pia-
nista classico, quando dice che il pubblico della classica è troppo silenzioso. Sono più ordinati, ma non
migliori del pubblico jazz. Non ho un pubblico ideale, ma in Giappone c’è rispetto e partecipazione
sincera. Tre mesi fa a New York, alla Carnegie Hall, silenzio totale nei pianissimo, fruscii e colpi di
tosse e altri 'segni di vita' quando le dinamiche diventavano più intense, era come respirare all’unisono.
Alla Scala nel ’95 fu un’altra bella serata: spero che a Napoli, nel teatro dove da Rossini in poi sono
passati tutti i più grandi, potremo vivere tutti insieme un’altra notte da ricordare. Arriverò almeno tre
giorni prima, come faccio sempre, perché non ho bisogno di provare ma di camminare per le strade,
ascoltare i rumori. La musica di una città è nella sua aria: basta saperla ascoltare. Ecco perché la glo-
balizzazione è così terribile: un solo mondo, una sola lingua? Una noia inimmaginabile. Un’altra cosa
incredibilmente vacua sono gli anniversari dei compositori, una fissazione della musica classica».
«Non si può capire Bach senza una conoscenza profonda del clavicembalo, ma l’evoluzione è ne-
mica della padronanza tecnica. Il pianoforte non è cambiato dal diciannovesimo secolo a oggi, e questo
è un bene. Herbie Hancock pensa che l’elettronica aiuti la musica, ma il suo pianoforte elettrico non
sarà mai paragonabile a uno Steinway, mai. Sostenere che il pianoforte è obsoleto è la negazione della
mia visione della musica. Suonare è un atto estremo, voglio trascendere le possibilità fisiche del mio
piano, voglio che suoni come una voce umana, come una chitarra, come un uccellino. Per questo amo
tanto la musica del vostro Ferruccio Busoni e soprattutto il secondo concerto per pianoforte di Béla
Bartók: perché chiedono al piano più di quanto possa fisicamente dare, quando finisci sei sudato come
una bestia. Tento sempre di andare oltre. Le note mi arrivano come un vapore sottile, come vapore
acqueo. E io cerco di coglierne la forma prima che svaniscano nell’aria».
Matteo Persivale
07 maggio 2009
454
“Creation” cover
1. Pt. I, Toronto – Roy Thomson Hall, June 25, 2014 (8:16) Part 8
2. Pt. II, Tokyo – Kioi Hall, May 9, 2014 (7:40) Part 04
3. Pt. III, Paris – Salle Pleyel, July 4, 2014 (6:58)
4. Pt. IV, Rome – Auditorium Parco Della Musica, July 11, 2014 ( 7:32) Part 08
5. Pt. V, Tokyo – Kioi Hall, May 9, 2014 (7:12) Part 08
6. Pt. VI, Tokyo – Orchard Hall, May 6, 2014 (9:24) Part 09
7. Pt. VII, Rome – Auditorium Parco Della Musica, July 11, 2014 (8:17) Part 11
8. Pt. VIII, Rome – Auditorium Parco Della Musica, July 11, 2014 (8:35) Part 02
9. Pt. IX, Tokyo – Orchard Hall, April 30, 2014 (8:30) part 11 encore
455
20150508-18 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
In Naples, Jarrett was playing with some real fire. Many of the regular concert-
goers swore Naples was the best Jarrett concert they have ever seen. Without a
second listen, I wouldn't make such a claim, but the music was really great. I wont
give a breakdown of the show because it was a bit ago. Photography was a big
problem, but Jarrett didn't let it ruin the show. Instead he played 4 improvised en-
cores. There was a funny moment when Jarrett left the stage in the middle of the
second set and everyone in the audience was worried. Steve Cloud came out and
announced "Keith had to use the washroom". Then the audience laughed in relief.
Lucerne was an odd show that featured some really great music as well. There was
one absolutely fantastic "out" piece that was just killer in the first set (the second of
two "out" pieces). In the second set there were some problems with coughing that
were oddly specific. All three "coughs" that disturbed Jarrett and concert goers
alike came during the soft concluding moments of very beautiful pieces. Jarrett let
the first one go, but had to comment on the second. What was really odd about
those coughs was that at no other point in the concert was there coughing---only
those 3 extremely loud coughs (two sounded like they came from the same per-
son). Jarrett didn't make a big deal out of it, he just seemed more disappointed
than anything because those pieces were really excellent and now they are proba-
bly ruined. I honestly wonder if they were intentional? As in, to get yourself on a
record you cough loudly? or to try and provoke Jarrett? Because the coughs were
so loud, rudely loud, and percussive, not muffled, no sound of illness.
In any event, the concert was really excellent musically, and the 3rd encore was a
beautiful solo rendition of "When I Fall in Love."
-John
Napoli 2015
Monday, May 18, 2015
Teatro di San Carlo, Naples, Italy
Luzern 2015
Friday, May 22, 2015
Konzertsaal, Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Luzern, Lucerne, Switzerland
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November Mini tour
The dates for the November “mini-tour” in Europe are the following:
• November 13, 2015 (8 PM): Henry Le Boeuf Hall, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Belgium
• November 17, 2015 (8 PM): National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland
• November 20, 2015 (8 PM): Royal Festival Hall, London, UK
• November 23, 2015 (8 PM): Opera di Firenze, Florence, Italy
Set 1
1. 21:44
2. 5:58
3. 3:48
4. 4:21
5. 1:56
Set 2
1.9:31
2.6:35
3.6:08
4.5:32
5.2:57
6.8:02
Encore 1. 3:58
Encore 2. Time on My Hands (Youmans - Adamson - Gordon)5:25
Even before he had played a single note, Keith Jarrett threatened to quit his job. The virtuoso pianist, allergic to coughs and
cameras, had noticed a flash light when he walked on the stage of a packed Bozar in Brussels. Fortunately, it stayed with
that threat and Jarrett got behind his Steinway to play a catchy piece full of fascinating twists and lyrical fragments, which
impressed the audience immediately.
In the first set Jarrett alternated quite avant-garde pieces with intimate passages and two bluesy pieces with typical Jarrett-
vamps.
The second set had a similar structure, with Jarrett who appeared suddenly in a good mood. But when he once more started
a delicious vamp-piece, he surprised the audience by stopping abruptly. Not because someone had coughed in the room, but
because he had a sudden urge to experiment a bit. "I do that at home too, but without an audience," said Jarrett, who was
surpirsingly talkative in Brussels. "But you have paid for it. I hope you don't mind this isn't a jazz concert?"
Apparently not, because the audience thanked Jarrett with a few standing ovations. Only in the encores Jarrett played some
real jazz, with two pieces of wich my guess is that the first one was a Jarrett-composition, and the second a standard (Stars
in your Eyes???). But after two encores it was over. Apparently Jarrett had seen something or someone in the audience that
irritated him again and he left the stage angrily. That way a gripping concert ended with a false note after all. Peter
457
20151117 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
November 17th, 2015; National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland
After the promoter gave us the warnings up front, Jarrett appeared on stage and kicked off with a jar-
ring complex piece that I assumed would be over after five minutes as per recent concerts, but it deve-
loped into a long piece with many changes of direction and beauty. It was great to watch him find his
way through it and eventually return to the original theme. Good start. Then a fun blues, a ballad and
loads more tracks made up on the spot with melody and atmosphere.
Jarrett was in a good mood and talked a lot. Kept saying he had been playing 67 years and there were
only 88 keys, like he was running out of ideas. But he kept coming up with gems and I think this was a
very strong show. I found every track very engaging and I think this should see a release. Here's ho-
ping. There was lots of beauty and melody, almost like Creation.
Lots of bows, several encores, someone took a photo and he asked them to leave!
Early in the show Jarrett had said his hands were cold and someone suggested he play Summertime.
When he came out for encores he duly obliged with an outstanding bluesy version.
Jim Carroll
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20151120 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
November20th, 2015; Royal Festival Hall, London
Set list:
1. Unknown 20:10
2. Blues 4:53
3. atonal improvisation 4:48
4. Kj speaks 2:26
5. Ballad 6:46
6. Ostinato Piece 6:12
7. Ballad 7:42
Second Set
Hello,
For those who are interested, and were not in attendance, I thought I would attempt to write about the Keith
Jarrett concert that occurred yesterday. I'm writing from the perspective of someone who plays piano, so
apologies to anyone who doesn't grasp my meaning in certain places.
This is also partly for my own benefit, as I wrote down some scrappy notes between sets and would not wish
to forget what they meant!
1st Set
(1) For those of us who have listened to several of Jarrett's concerts from the past decade, we have come to
expect him to open with a 'palate cleanser'. Last time he was in London, I brought some of my family who are
unfamiliar with jazz, and they looked distinctly worried after his furious atonal introduction.
Perhaps Jarrett was aware he was playing to a more diverse crowd yesterday, having chosen a date in the
middle of the London Jazz Festival. Announced the date only a few months ago, I believe Jarrett was not
featured in the festival program. Nevertheless, the audience seemed to include many younger people than
usual. And, from what I overheard, many had no idea about Jarrett or the extraordinary music he creates.
The first piece then was far more muted than was expected. It began slow and chromatic. Based on a
chromatic phrase that he played around with and multiplied into 3 parts. Reminded me much of Bach's
Prelude 20 from WTC 2 (A minor BWV 889). Lots of hand overlapping. And, much like other Bach preludes, the
phrases seemed to emerge from the top of the instruments range, and fall off at the bottom, only to be
replace –like Shepherd's tones– by a new phrase from above.
459
But then, out of nowhere, it developed into a tonal ostinato with a pedal in the middle of the piano and chords
from below. There was a lot of IVm–I stuff that Jarrett always manages to make sound authentic, where others
would sound hackneyed.
When he finished, Jarrett mysteriously asked, "did I manage to get all the planets in?" hinting that he had
some thematic intentions during the piece. Or, perhaps, it had some resemblance to Holst that I did not hear.
(2) A blues that departed quite strongly from a 12 bar format. The right hand was firmly based in the blues,
while the left hand harmony wandered into Americana, with the occasional bridge section. Toward the end, he
even pulled out a bIII–II–bII–I turnaround, which was unexpected.
(3) What we might have expected from the first piece. A quick swirling atonal improvisation.
(4) A ballad. Difficult to describe the beauty of it. Characteristic rubato and beautiful phrasing.
(5) An ostinato piece based around a Jewish scale tonality (phrygian dominant). The right hand motives varied
greatly. There were some familiar staccato phrases, but also some sustained chords which seemed to be trying
to break the pulse of the left hand.
There was also some chat in the 1st set. He got up to tell a story about how someone once left his concert and
told the staff it was because they found the harmony confusing. Jarrett admitted he was only telling this story
so he could take a breather (perhaps a sign of his age). He was in a good mood, nodding with approval at
people coughing between tunes. "I'll wait," he said a few times.
It was encouraging to hear him say, "this is a really great piano!" I've never heard him compliment a piano
before.
(6) A ballad based on a strong low bass note followed by quaver 6ths in the LH hand – much like a romantic
piece of Chopin. Often octave notes in the melody. There was even a I-vi-iv-V progression here, and I
remember being amazed at how Jarrett is able to find some gems in quarry many consider to have been
emptied long ago.
2nd Set
(1) A piece that, on the surface, could have come from the Jarrett of the 70s. An ostinato piece where the left
hand mostly peddled on octaves, while the right hand explored the aeolian mode. The tonality turned melodic
minor half way through.
He then talked a little about having had a bad back, an thinking about cancelling today. Although felling
somewhat sorry for Jarrett, I couldn't help being excited by this new – the last time I recall him complaining
about a bad back was the 1975 Koln concert! He seemed very pleased with the piece he had just played, and
sounded glad he didn't cancel. "Music heals me," he said.
He also spoke a little about how no-one does what he does. How he is anxious a newcomer might one day try
it. Although, as an afterthought, he said that a newcomer wouldn't be able to play like him because it would
take 67 years of practice! It would be easy to brand this as arrogance, except none of it was false. Boasting
perhaps, but not arrogant.
(2) A piece which began with ascending 10ths in the left hand, moving tonally from the root to the fourth. It
then developed into a 4 part improvisation that seemed to stretch the tonality to breaking point before
recapitulating the 10th motive at the end.
I think this is when the encores began. There was one idiot who took a photo, and this upset Jarrett quite a lot.
He took to the mic and swore at the person. He commented on his mortality, and that perhaps the person who
took the photo didn't speak English! He said. "it's not me you've got in the camera, man!"
(4) This was followed by a very angry atonal piece. I imagine Jarrett had the photographer in mind the entire
time.
(6) When he returned for another encore, he seemed in a great mood and absurdly remarked, "but i've just
played my entire repertoire!" I laughed very loudly at this. A man who has spent 50 years playing purely
improvised concerts pretends he only has 60 minutes of material!
Some people interpreted this remark as an opportunity to shout requests. I was worried Jarrett would be
annoyed by this, but he was very generous about it. A drunk woman shouted, "play Somewhere Over The
Rainbow!" which he laughed at. Then someone else suggested Danny Boy, and he complied!
It was very muted, and he seemed to be deliberately muting the phrases normally considered the climatic
sections of the tune ("you raise me up..."). The audience were motionless; silent. I've never heard him play so
quietly before.
(7) To finish, we heard an astounding blues. Departed quite considerably from his favourite left hand motif (as
heard as the Encore of the Paris CD). I couldn't quite hear what was going on, but it sounded he was peddling
with his left thumb while moving up from 1st, 3rd, 5th, and b7th as the bass note. Blistering stuff.
As he gave his final bow, he gestured to the piano, as soloist might acknowledge his accompanist.
A great night!
Thanks,
James Sheils
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How, exactly, are you supposed to review a Keith Jarrett concert – solo, completely improvised, just one
man and his Steinway, audience on all sides, ushers walking up and down the aisles bearing signs forbid-
ding any record of the evening's music?
“Someone asked me, ‘How do you know what to play?’” he said to us between one of the half dozen im-
provisations of the first half of his first-ever concert for the EFG London Jazz Festival. Long pause. Good
question. He looked down at his instrument. “This is a really good piano.” In the second half, he had more:
“Here's how I do this.” Long pause. “First, no one else does.” Great applause. “Second, to do it like this
you have to have had 67 years of playing piano.”
461
And it shows. His music making was inspired, concentrated, mesmerising, and in between the man himself
displayed some of the famous ill will towards surreptitious snappers. You kind of want it to happen – a bit
like seeing Pete Townshend smash his guitar. Midway through the second half, there was a walk-off, then
a diatribe against that “fucking camera”, followed by a very fast, angrily cascading piece of just a few minu-
tes’ length, then a dip – a full immersion – into the mid-century American balladlands, touches of the Silver
Screen wafting through its crescendos and pools of calm.
The first half of six pieces opened with a walking rhythm, and the subtle dissonances of mid 20th century
classical music. That combination of rolling pace and broken phrasing embodied, for me, the static in the
air of the headline events of the past week or so. Concentrated sound. Plenty of glissando of the right
hand, and the sudden emergence of one repeatedly struck note that suddenly refastened all the music
around it, and you hear how the shape has changed, and the fabric hangs quite differently, and is of a new
colour.
Themes and forms slipped in and out of focus, and you got the feeling this music is just hanging in the air,
ready to be pressed into service and given body. Rivulets of the blues, of Satie, and Beethoven, and
Shostakovich, of the Great American Songbook slipped in and out of the flow. In a blues of impressive
filigree and girth, Jarrett half rose from his stool, peering over the grand as if looking to musicians not
present, but felt, unseen figures for his rich and focused improvisations. A beautiful lyrical piece that closed
the first half conjured up a bejewelled Belle Epoche, his piano shapeshifting this grand hall from 21st-
century auditorium to some privileged Mitteleuropean intimacy.
Sometimes, he leant very close to his instrument, head cocked, as if it's a keyhole he's putting his ear to,
taking musical dictation from unseen spirits, letting them fill his hands with music new and miraculous. On
the other hand, he could just be looking for the light of that fucking camera.
Some things about Friday’s solo performance by Keith Jarrett, the American jazz pianist, were famili-
ar. His Royal Festival Hall concert as part of this year’s EFG London jazz festival had sold out within
hours, and before the start of the show ushers ran anxiously about waving “no photography” placards,
since the star is legendarily tetchy about the distractions of cameras and even the audience’s coughs.
But just as familiar, and much more uplifting, was the concert’s rich and unpredictable journey, steered
by the pianist’s voluminous musical memory and spontaneous reflexes.
He plays more pensively now, and with fewer catchy song-like thoughts at 70 than he had when he
made the terrifying art of all-improvised solo piano performance his own with his bestselling The Köln
Concert 40 years ago.
But he has always balanced punctilious respect for traditions (whether those of Bach and Mozart, or
Miles Davis) with the conviction that improvisation has been at the heart of every kind of creative mu-
sic-making down the centuries and still is.
Jarrett began on Friday with a weave of zigzagging lines seamlessly crossing between his hands, and
turned the pert theme that eventually bloomed into a skipping dance. He played a dark, stalking blues,
two sumptuous ballads, a foot-stamping train-rhythm swinger and – in the second half – a jagged folk-
dance hook over a left-hand trill like a drone, a delectable slow rumination brimming with precise,
Bach-like turns, and an enthralling improvisation spun from hints of gospel music.
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Go away and take as many pictures as necessary to kill that fucking camera
He spotted a camera in the adoring crowd before the encores began, left, came back, shouted “go away
and take as many pictures as necessary to kill that fucking camera” and then, as if stung, roared off
into a maelstrom of thundering counterpoint. The maestro’s tantrums can be catastrophic but this one
was short. Smiling, and reacting to a clamour of requests, he played Danny Boy surprisingly straight,
as if the song’s yearning melody was just fine left as it is.
Play like you think it’s going to be the last time. That’s the only way to play.
– Keith Jarrett
Precisely one week after the atrocities began in Paris we were in the Royal Festival Hall watching
Keith Jarrett give one of his most intense and impassioned solo performances. Hunched over the
Steinway, his face at times just inches from the keys, the man in the single spotlight and all of us gath-
ered together to hear him play represented everything that the killers seek to destroy – a shared pleas-
ure in music and the freedom to mingle at peace on a Friday night with other human beings from any-
where in the world, of all faiths or none.
‘Communication is all. Being is all. People are deep, serious creatures with little to hang on to.’ So
said Jarrett in the sleeve notes he wrote for Testament, the ECM release of a recording of a solo con-
cert in this same venue in 2008.
It had been a terrible week, staring into the abyss and fearful of what the future might bring. But, as a
surprisingly loquacious Keith Jarrett remarked at one point: ‘Maybe music can heal.’ And, surely, this
was an evening of miraculous music.
It’s an almost impossible task – and probably pointless – to attempt to express in words the nature of a
solo performance by Jarrett. The experience must be akin to being swept out into the ocean, with no
certainty of where you’re heading and only the stars to guide you. By their very nature Jarrett’s totally
improvised concerts are a leap into the unknown for audience and performer alike. Jim Carroll nailed it
in his review of Jarrett’s Dublin concert earlier in the week:
You think of the thousands of times Keith Jarrett has sat at the piano, paused for a moment with his
fingers over the keys and then started to improvise. Every time is different, every route is different,
every piece is a different once-in-a-lifetime moment. Once played, once experienced, never repeated.
Why, we might ask, does Jarrett do this? After all, he turned 70 in May this year, and these are intense
performances, requiring enormous reserves of concentration and energy. In one of several spoken in-
terludes in last Friday’s show, Jarrett asked himself the same question. He paused, then offered two
answers. ‘First, no one else does.’ That thought hadn’t registered with me before: but then I realised it
was true. Sure, there are other pianists – such as Brad Mehldau – who do solo performances, but they
are not wholly improvised in the Jarrett manner.
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The six year old Keith Jarrett makes his public début
in 1952
Keith’s second response to his query was: to do this kind of thing you have to have had 67 years of
playing piano. He is, after all, the prodigy from Allentown, Pennsylvania, whose first public perfor-
mance was at the age of six (he played Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and a composition of his own). ‘I
grew up with the piano,’ he told his biographer, Ian Carr. ‘I learned its language as I learned to speak.’
So, just as when listening at home to ECM recordings of Jarrett’s solo performances, there were pas-
sages in which I could detect echoes of the great range and diversity of Jarrett’s influences and musical
collaborations – gospel, funk and blues, New Orleans soul and Harlem stride, bebop and free jazz,
Beethoven and Part, Gurdjieff and Mozart.
Jarrett also told Ian Carr, ‘I believe that a truly valuable artist must be an artist who realises the impos-
sibility of his task … and then continues to do it.’ And there is something of that persistence against
the odds in these solo adventures. Here and there I would fleetingly recognise a chord or two before
Jarrett swerved off in a new direction. The mood might shift from minute to minute – from romantic
lyricism to churning drama, calm introspection to rapturous joy – in startling juxtapositions as the pia-
nist’s synapses fired, sending him leaping from one musical idea to another.
To play the thoughts taking form in your mind, to shape them on the fly so that they have every ap-
pearance of having been composed before the event is both daring and wildly ambitious. As Phil John-
son wrote in a piece in 2013 for the Independent:
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With Jarrett, there may not even be a conventional tune to hide behind. Instead, what you get is a long-
haul flight of sustained lyrical invention that can sound as perfectly composed as an operatic aria.
All I can say of this performance is that there, in the moment, experiencing the music in all its passion
and gorgeousness, it was superb – and in the second set it just got better. In one of the breaks between
the music which he said were necessary for him to uncoil himself, Jarrett told the story of the man who
rushed out of one of his concerts. ‘I’m not leaving,’ he told attendants in the foyer. ‘It’s just that he’s
playing chords I never knew existed’. While you are experiencing it,a Jarrett solo performance rolls
out like an endless ocean, storm and calm, and ever-changing currents.
At the piano, Jarrett would sometimes bend his head sideways, close to the keys, as if listening intense-
ly for the receding echoes of his notes, or the silences in between. At other times he would be on his
feet, sashaying and stamping his feet, his body thrust forward over the piano like a charioteer. Between
segments he would stand to face the audience and bow deeply, then rub his hands as if warming them
before returning to the piano stool. He would stare intently at the piano keys for a moment before
launching into the next segment.
Confiding in the audience, Jarrett revealed that only that afternoon he had wondered whether he would
be able to play: a recurring back problem had been troubling him. But, he had played after all: ‘Per-
haps music can heal,’ he said. Clearly he was pleased with the outcome. At the end of the evening he
told us that at the interval he had felt that the first set had expressed everything, meaning there was no
need to play more. ‘But then there would have been no second set’, he said – a recognition that the
heights of the sometimes turbulent power and angularity of the first set had been exceeded by the
beautiful lyricism of the second half.
In his 2013 article for the Independent, Phil Johnson commented on how Jarrett’s emotional state had
affected his performance at this venue in 2008 (a recording of which was recently released by ECM):
his last RFH show in 2008, when after five triumphant encores Jarrett departed in distress. In the unu-
sually revealing notes to the live recording Testament: Paris/London (ECM), his wife of 30 years had
just left him, and he’d only agreed to the hastily arranged concerts to take his mind off the resulting
depression: “I was in an incredibly vulnerable emotional state, but I admit to wondering if this might
not be a ‘good’ thing for the music.” […]
Johnson also recalled how back trouble and stress nearly jinxed the performance Jarrett’s fans love
most:
His most famous record, the Koln Concert of 1975, was also a product of stress. Arriving at the venue,
the Cologne Opera House, after a long drive from Zurich and a week of sleepless nights due to a back
ailment for which he had to wear a brace, Jarrett discovered that the correct piano had been replaced
by an inferior baby grand, a rehearsal instrument. He tried to cancel the late-night concert, and only
agreed to a planned recording going ahead as a “test”. It went on to shift 3.5 million copies, becom-
ing the best-selling solo piano album ever, in any genre.
If Koln is the album fans love most, the love that surged from the audience at the Royal Festival Hall
last Friday evening was truly amazing as Jarrett was brought back on stage for several encores by
standing ovations and wave after wave of tumultuous applause: what one reviewer has called in the
past ‘the sort of ecstasy that might greet a returning prophet.’
465
Smiling, Jarrett pretended he was drained of inspiration – ‘that was my entire repertoire!’ – before
treating us to three (or possibly four) encores, including an exquisite rendering of ‘Danny Boy’, the
only unimprovised part of the evening. I don’t know where this performance, uploaded to YouTube a
year ago, was recorded (or how, given Jarrett’s antipathy towards all in-concert photography – about
which more in a minute):
Yes: Jarrett has a reputation for his intolerance of any kind of noise or photography during his con-
certs. Before the concert began attendants had circulated among the audience holding up symbols for
‘no cameras, no phones’. But during the encores there was a contretemps with snappers in the front
rows which led to the pianist stalking off-stage before the m-c appeared to remind everyone that there
should be no cameras. Keith came back, but indulged in a short rant about intrusive snapping: ‘I don’t
know what you think you have captured in those photos: it’s certainly not me, man.’ He returned to
the piano stool to play an encore that was decidedly turbulent, even angry.
You have to think he’s right, though: before the show, as people took their seats, individuals crowded
around the stage taking selfies and photographing the empty stage and empty piano stool. I even saw
one one man photograph his ticket.
Guys – just listen to the music! It’s all in there. (Note: none of the photos used in this post were taken
by me at the show.)
----------------------------------
E così… questo è un pianoforte? (“So.. this is a piano?”). Sono queste le prime parole di Keith
Jarrett appena salito sul palco della Royal Festival Hall di Londra, guardando lo Steinway grand
coda che lo sta aspettando per l’atteso concerto piano solo nell’ambito del London Jazz Festival
2015. Lo “stupore” di Jarrett dura solo pochi secondi, il tempo di sedersi al piano e iniziare una
performance di livello straordinario, persino per un artista come lui. Un concerto di “musica mi-
racolosa”, come la definirà il suo manager.
Jarrett sembra voler mettere tutto già nel primo brano: 28 minuti che iniziano in modo free, con
rapidi frasi cromatiche prive di tonalità e di apparente ordine che a un certo punto, quasi inaspet-
tatamente, cambiano direzione. Dal caos iniziale emerge una tonalità in minore, Jarrett rallenta il
ritmo, e suona una sequenza di accordi suggestivi, sui quali si sviluppano frammenti di una melo-
dia dolce e riflessiva. Minuti di assoluta poesia, prima di tornare all’atonalità iniziale per chiudere
il brano.
“Sono riuscito a includervi tutti i pianeti?” (“Did I manage to include all the planets?”) chiede
Jarrett finito il brano, come a sottolineare lo straordinario concentrato di armonie racchiuso nella
sua improvvisazione. Da qui in poi la strada è in discesa: il resto del primo set va via con altri
quattro brani (tra i quali un blues, un americana, e una ballad), inframezzati da qualche parola
rivolta al pubblico, come quando confessa di essere andato vicinissimo a cancellare il concerto per
un fastidioso mal di schiena, decidendo solo all’ultimo minuto di suonare. “È la musica che mi
guarisce” dice sorridendo all’audience, e anche questo sembra un piccolo miracolo.
La seconda parte del concerto è, se possibile, ancora piú bella della prima. Anche in questo caso è il primo
brano del set a raggiungere le vette più alte: un brano interamente basato su unico accordo, sostenuto da un
vigoroso vamp suonato con la mano sinistra. La platea è ipnotizzata e Jarrett stesso ne rimane conquistato.
“Alla fine del primo tempo ero contento e avrei voluto smettere li” dice Jarrett al pubblico con un sorriso
sincero “ma se lo avessi fatto, non avrei suonato ‘questo’”.
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Tra blues, gospel e cadenze bachiane, il secondo set sviluppa una valanga di idee musicali, per concludersi
con un brano melodico basato su elementi pop. La sequenza di accordi suonata da Jarrett richiama le armo-
nie di alcune canzoni dei Beatles, mentre i fraseggi della mano destra ci portano alla mente la chitarra elet-
trica di Eric Clapton, in quello che appare come un omaggio alla cultura musicale della capitale britannica.
I miracoli continuano al momento dei bis. Jarrett si irrita per lo scatto di un flash ma invece di abbandonare
il palco (come è avvenuto in molte occasioni), sfoga la sua rabbia sul pianoforte, suonando un violento
brano atonale, seguito da una ballad. Tornato ancora sul palco si schermisce, dicendo di avere ormai “suo-
nato il suo intero repertorio”, quasi chiedendo aiuto al pubblico per trovare ispirazione. E quando una voce
dalla platea urla “Danny Boy”, Jarrett soddisfa la richiesta, come aveva fatto già a Dublino pochi giorni
prima. È una versione struggente, piú lenta e rarefatta del solito, quasi solenne. Jarrett suona pianissimo,
evitando di imbellire la melodia, mentre il pubblico ascolta in religioso silenzio, prima di tributargli
un’autentica ovazione.
C’è spazio ancora per un ultimo blues prima di mettere la parola fine a quella che è stata una serata memo-
rabile. Assistito da uno Steinway perfetto, davanti a un pubblico di 2,500 persone tra i quali molti musici-
sti, Jarrett ha dato vita, ancora una volta, ad una performance assolutamente straordinaria.
Francesco Ragni
Londra, 11/2015
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20151123 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
Teatro dell'Opera, Firenze (Italy) 2015-11-23
Core Sound Binaurals > Tascam DR-2d > 2496 wav > Wavelab > HarBal 2.3 > iZotope RX III > wav 1644 > TLH >
flac
01 Part 01 16:01
02 Part 02 7:45
03 Part 03 4:58
04 False Start 1:03
05 Part 04 6:39
06 Part 05 5:10
07 Part 06 Blues 5:17
set 2
08 Part07 8:44
09 Rag Blues 7:15
10 Kj talks about Blues and Death 3:13
11 Part 09 4:59
12 part 10 8:05
13 Encore 01 The bitter end 7:39
14 Encore 02 3:53
tt 90:49
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20160209 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
Carnegie Hall
Set 1
1. Part I 17:29
2. Part II 04:13
3. Part III 04.45
4. Part IV 06:06
5. Part V 05:13
5a kj speaks 00:25
6 Part VI 05:21
6a Kj speaks 04:41
7 PartV II 05:12
Set 2
8. Part VIII 07:04
9. Blues 03:22
[Link] 06:22
11. PartXI 05:26
12 Part XII 05:27
13 Part XIII 07:31
13a kj talks 03:11
14 Miss Otis regrets (Cole Porter) 05:19
15 Nina never Knew (louis Alter) 08:19
TT 105:37
Carnegie Hall
A few hours ago I had the pleasure of seeing Keith play again, but this time in a solo
context. He started off with a few atonal pieces (3 of them?) and then played 3 somewhat
tonal pieces, and went to another tonal piece. There was intermission, he played 2 blues pie-
ces (called one of them the continuation of the other), another atonal piece and then played
3 encores, all tonal (although when I say tonal for all of them, they definitely did not stay in
one key and instead shifted from key to key very rapidly). The blues and the first tonal im-
prov piece (gospel feel) were the only pieces that stayed in a single key, really.
It is cool seeing him play and express his connection to the music he plays through either his
body language or his vocalizations. In my opinion, the 2nd, 3rd tonal pieces, and the 3 en-
cores were the best tunes. I can't wait to hear it again (assuming that the recording will be
released)... Did anyone else go?
Also, I met a dude that went to U of V majoring in music ed (or graduated?) that came with
his dad from Vermont to see keith (they left at 9:30 AM to see an 8 PM show!!)
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Pianist Keith Jarrett enthralled a sold-out Carnegie Hall audience for nearly two and a half hours on Feb. 9,
entertaining with his inspired musicianship, trademark showmanship and singular personality.
This solo piano concert began as a test of wills. Nonchalantly swaggering from stage left toward the wai-
ting Steinway grand, wearing sunglasses, a dark red shirt and black pants, Jarrett seemed to be saying,
“OK. What are you people going to bring me tonight?”
One could detect a strong emotion behind his black shades and visible sneer, perhaps contempt or merely
caution. As his longtime followers know, Jarrett’s deep sensitivity contributes to his artistry.
His goal is to be one with his audience, not separate from it due to distractions. He’s almost like a faith
healer. If Jarrett senses a pure audience, his muse takes over and he’s thoroughly open, a channel, a ves-
sel. But if any noise—sneezing, chatter, or the absolute worst, a mobile phone camera—is detected, a
petulant Keith takes the stage and calls out the offender, as he did at this show.
Once the audience became totally silent, which was true for most of the performance, Jarrett’s art turned
transcendent. One hour in, Jarrett was a puppy in the audience’s hands, and they in his.
The opening 30 minutes of the first set consisted of dense, furious note clusters played in the middle to
lower register of the instrument, as if he were trying to find his mooring. Rolling, titanic, thunderous low-end
waves of sound banged around the hall. A wave would trail off into upper register tendrils, then a brief rest,
followed by an abrupt finish. It was hard to tell if Jarrett couldn’t locate his mojo, or if the search was an
end in itself.
But after 45 minutes Jarrett settled in. For the remaining hour or so he improvised one fully realized, com-
plete composition after another. He spun out perfect gems of melody, harmony and rhythm, each “song”
remarkably coherent with commensurate solo, all of which any musician would’ve killed for. Jarrett repea-
ted this feat, improvisation after improvisation, until evening’s end.
The improvisations took different shapes, including stride piano with a right-hand solo that defied the logic
of the song’s 4/4 meter. Elsewhere, he offered a rolling Americana interlude with a Metheny-ish melody
(plus a touch of Paul Bley) that also recalled “Shenandoah” and which was ultimately sad yet beautiful:
“On Golden Pond” meets Bernard Herrmann’s Taxi Driver theme.
At one hour in, Jarrett approached the microphone and spoke: “I am trying to avoid everything I’ve ever
done. I’m not interested in [actual] harmony as I used to play it unless it’s a kind of dissonance. You know
my history. I’m not that guy, man! I practice at home every night. I’m really into it. [But] you’re hearing more
variety tonight than I’ve played at home in a month. If I fall into a recognizable harmony I get out of it. It’s
like a prep course.”
After those scattered remarks, Jarrett returned to madly rolling lower register piano notes, resolving them
in a cluster of shimmering upper register trills that seemed weightless.
The stride improvisation arrived around 9:45, followed by Jarrett announcing: “This is a continuation of the
blues.” And it was indeed part two of the stride segment, but with a stomping good groove that Mose Alli-
son would’ve loved. A beautifully dissonant ballad followed, and the performance was nearly over.
Jarrett returned for two encores, Cole Porter’s “Miss Otis Regrets” and the 1952 hit “Nina Never Knew”
(composed by Louis Alter). Two odd choices for sure, awash in bittersweet melody, even nostalgia, and
performed with remarkable musical insight. Jarrett approached the front of the stage and bowed after most
of the improvisations, softly saying after the final encore, “Thank you for being a great audience.”
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Fifty years after rising to national prominence as a member of saxophonist Charles Lloyd’s band, Jarrett
has become a unique figure in improvised music. Catch him on the right evening, and his musical brilliance
can be staggering.
By TYRAN GRILLO
Published: February 14, 2016
Views: 2,728
Keith Jarrett
Carnegie Hall
New York, NY
February 9, 2016
Watching fans eagerly photographing a player-less piano, as if in hopes of visualizing forces only
Keith Jarrett can translate at the keyboard, I couldn't help wondering what it was all for. Neither could
he.
Anticipations were nevertheless high as the audience prepared for a night of fully improvised music by
that format's most widely heard practitioner. Jarrett took to the stage in blood-red shirt and black pants,
cutting a figure as vivid as everything he was about to play. Before he began, he compared his process
to a game of shuttlecock, the Native American variant of which he recounted playing with his two
sons. Together, he said, they'd been "committed to keeping this thing in the air," and hoped to do the
same for us. Still, it was difficult to feel airborne in the overlapping currents that eddied from his fin-
gers in the first three pieces. It seems the piano discloses further complexities every time Jarrett enga-
ges with it, and in these initially treacherous journeys he seemed to be tilting a magnifying glass in
search of that angle at which the sunlight yields flame.
Jarrett's notecraft was thick and fascinating. There was a groove in there somewhere, struggling against
the weight of its own body, drowning in memories of early jazz and prophetic visions of spontaneous
composition. I wish it had gone on, but the applause and atmosphere of the room told him this wasn't
what the audience had come to hear. In response, he eased into a byzantine blues with downright ag-
gressive consonance. Here he sowed long rows of musical crops. As if to confirm the metaphor, he
took a sip of water during the more enthusiastic response that followed, quipping, "I don't know what I
would do without water. Yes I do. I would die." One might substitute the word "music" for "water" and
pull no punch from the statement. He'd reaped life from that soil.
After the next piece, he went to the microphone, explaining how he wanted to "avoid everything I've
ever done." Sadly, this audience didn't agree. "I'm not that guy, man," he asserted against a tide of
laughter, but proceeded to become that guy for our benefit. Like a singer wanting to try out new mate-
rial for those who crave only the classics, he bowed under pressure and went full melodic from thereon
out, but not before opening the keyboard to its possibilities, unpacking future gifts with the glee of the
present in a towering, glassine monument. It made me want to listen in on his private sessions to know
what other doors he opens when shut in behind his own.
The tension between what he wanted to play and what he thought we wanted to hear had the benefit of
variety. From architected bass lines and adlibbed overlays, he spun some of the magic one hoped to
see revived from his classic recordings. This was enhanced by his uniquely edible blues, which in con-
trast to many of said recordings found him abstracting his way through the genre's rudiments, turning
471
the blues into an acute spectrum of greens, yellows, and other colors besides.
There is something inevitable about Jarrett's playing. Also inevitable were those who, even in the wake
and knowledge of his Carnegie woes in 2011, to say little of the incident at Umbria in 2007, chanced a
photo. Were people secretly hoping he would melt down? Did they just not care? Was it the possibility
of being called out on their indiscretion that thrilled them? I'm inclined to think the latter, for when
Jarrett berated the crowd for its technological dependencies and said, "Okay, here's your photo op, take
it now," not a single flash went off in the auditorium. My sense is that no one has taken Jarrett serious-
ly enough on this point. And the point, really, is not about the distraction. It's about giving less than
full attention to the art. Not that anyone is required to do so, but it's a simple courtesy, easy enough to
follow. Is the lure of a cell phone really so impossible to resist for two hours when one of the most
legendary musicians of our time fills those hours with something infinitely more sublime than a text
message or status update? The camera is a surrogate method of appreciation for such a performance.
It's the instrument of a tourist who wants to show off having been there, when that time and energy
might have been spent listening undividedly. If this sounds pretentious, then we might want to rethink
our reasons for attending in the first place. (As Jarrett put it: "If you don't like my music, maybe you
shouldn't be here.") A photo feels permanent, but it's the perishability of a memory that makes it beau-
tiful.
This being my first experience of Jarrett in a live setting, I was so happy to be there, third row center,
that the occasional pinpoint of light reflected off the immaculately polished Steinway seemed more
like the death of a distant star than intrusion upon the one rhapsodizing in my immediate orbit. But my
tolerance was tested when, even after Jarrett had aired his grievances and insisted that no more music
would be heard that night if he saw another flash go off, the woman sitting next to me immediately
took out her cell phone to snap a surreptitious picture of Jarrett during his first encore and post it on
Facebook. Such blatant disregard proved that indifference to an artist's demands—and I think Jarrett's
are reasonable, assuming one factors out the potential excitement of unpredictability—far outweighs
technological fetish. Did anyone, I wonder, ever barge in on Rembrandt in the middle of a painting
session to dash off a sketch of the artist at work and show all their 17th-century friends?
By the second and final encore, an elliptical and touching riff on "Let Me Call You Sweetheart," the
mood had settled into quiet shame. I asked myself: How much of this experience could ever be cap-
tured in a single photo? Then again, for those who expect an artist like Jarrett to play in the same mode
indefinitely, the almighty photo delivers the illusory comfort of fixity. Like the unfortunate soul in
front of me who was discovered to have been sold a counterfeit ticket when another concertgoer show-
ed up with the same seat number, what these trigger-happy fans held in their hands was not genuine.
And in any event, what Jarrett held in his was beyond all technological measure—this review not least
of all.
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20160429 Keith Jarrett Solo (RO)
Keith Jarrett (p)
April 29th 2016; Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles , Ca , USA
1 Part I
2 Part II
3 Part III
4 Part IV
5 Part V
6 Part VI
7 Part VII
8 Part VIII
9 Part IX
10 Part X
11 Encore 1
12 Encore II
13 Encore III
14 Somewhere over the rainbow (Harold Arlen – Edgar Y. Harburg)
We went to see Jarrett last night at Davies Symphony Hall. It was one of
the more potent and magical concerts of the dozen or so concerts of his
I have attended.
The place was full but certainly not sold out. I wonder whether the
stiff pricing on tickets might have had something to do with that.
Jarrett played five pieces in each of the two sets, then four encores.
They tended to be more chromatic and expansive than melodic, and each
felt like an exploration of possibility. Even more than ever it was
clear that the evening was a collaboration between artist and audience.
There was one audience member, sitting in the terrace ringing the stage,
who became disruptive, first shouting "Jesus loves you", then later,
"What is that you are drinking?" to finally a rant about Jarrett not
using a microphone during some of his comments. It was the sort of
dissonance that could have easily derailed the evening. It was marvelous
to see Jarrett handle this, as if he were fully present in the moment
with the game, with whatever arose. Instead of devolving, Jarrett
parried this guy off, which actually enhanced the sense of art and
performance.
There was one piece in the second set that reminded me of the pieces in
his last release, Creation, which seemed to wander here and there, never
seeming to develop any idea or discover anything new. I found that
entire album disappointing, leaving me shaking my head, "What is the
message here? What is he thinking?" I tried to welcome the piece last
night in the spirit of discovery, this being a live performance, yet not
succeeding. Except, at the end of it, Jarrett simplified the lines and
turned it into a rich, simple melodic progression, as if he were
extracting out of the preceding 5 minutes something that was there all
along, but I was just not able to hear it. It was as if he had set up
this tension a year ago, a tension I have been holding, waiting for
resolution...and in a few short phrases, there it was, in all its beauty.
He played a short blues piece in the first set that was refreshing and
new. I have often felt his blues pieces were a bit rote and uninspired.
But this time he modified the chord progressions, sometimes going
I-IV-V-I, or even I-IV-VI-III-V-I...something like that. Each verse he
brought different lines, harmonies, explorations in the right hand. It
was completely alive.
The evening closed with Rainbow, possibly the most beautiful rendition,
ever. Brought tears. So beautiful.
After the release of Creation and after too many on-stage melt-downs, I
was beginning to wonder whether I might forget about more live concerts
with Jarrett...especially after seeing the pricing on these tickets. But
last night was one of those evenings where we walked out feeling awe,
feeling transformed, knowing that we had participated in an
extraordinary event, a testament to what is possible when people come
together skillfully with intention.
Seth Melchert
Oakland CA
474
Keith Jarrett July European tour
First Set
1. Part 1 (14:47)
2. Part 2 (7:14)
3. Part 3 (8:15)
4. Part 4 (8:05)
TT 38:24
Second set
5. Part 5 (5:43)
6. Part 6 (4:03)
7. Part 7 (6:10)
8. Part 8 (5:47)
9. Part 9 (2:39)
10 Blues (00:35)
10a. Kj talks (2:06)
11. Part 11 (8:35)
12 Part 12 (5:52)
encores
13 Blues (3:53)
14 It's a Lonesome Old Town (8:44)
14a Kj Talks (1:14)
15 Answer Me My Love. (5:59)
17. Speech (1:12)
TT 61:27
TT 99:49
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20160709 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
Vienna , Austria,Musikverein
First Set
1. Part 1 (10:30)
2. Part 2 (5:39)
3. Part 3 (6:03)
4. Part 4 (5:17)
5. Part 5 (5:38)
Second set
6. Part 6 (10:09)
7. Part 7 (8:13)
8. Part 8 (8:12)
9. Blues (2:40)
10 Part 10 (4:08)
11. Over The Rainbow (4:53)
TT 71:30
476
20160712 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
July 12 - ROMA - Auditorium Parco della Musica Sala Santa Cecilia
Ok, il seggiolino non gli va a genio, al fenomeno, e dopo un simpatico siparietto l’appoggiaterga viene sostituito in
diretta… ma è ancora troppo basso e viene alzato coi pomelli, a mano, e in quel rivivere di mestieri nobili la memoria
va ai voltapagine, ai racchettapalle, ai correttori di bozze… Ecco, adesso il match può cominciare.
Via libera al contemporaneo spinto: trame sempre nuove, giochi di note e dissonanze, cascate di note con volute ar-
chitettoniche e cascami di Novecento voluti, inseriti, arricchiti. Anche il secondo round, sempre più difficile a dirsi e
descriversi, cresce su armonizzazioni improvvisate, inedite e spericolate. E che tocco… Poi un bluesaggio sghembo
dei suoi e altri echi di modernità perduta e sperduta: smonta, rimonta, straccia e riannoda, in completa libertà e auto-
nomia di mani e di fraseggi. Davvero suoni nuovi, soluzioni irriproducibili, molti echi e sapienti retoriche di pedale,
ribattute e ostinati, con voci cupe (dita sinistre) e cascate di vetreria più acuta (dita destre).
Come da copione arriva anche il momento lento, ma di quelli complessi e di imprevedibile destinazione: non proprio
ballad, ma schemi scarni o nascosti e in divenire, come vuole il dettato improvvisativo, e via cantando.
Qua e là passaggi jazz, ma senza esagerare. Prevale la ricerca ossessiva dell’intentato, quel darsi abbandonato (ma
sempre ben dosato, controllato) all’istinto che passa, lampi e tuoni d’invenzione che sanno stupire anche un habitué
delle di lui perlustrazioni e incursioni in territori non abituali e forse inabitati, schegge sparse che non di rado si tras-
formano in perle ora onanistiche ora condivise, con piccole e a volte impercettibili autocitazioni qua e là.
Il tessuto del tappeto volante che chiude la prima parte (6 tracce), quello che di solito fa venire l’acquolina in bocca
anticipando la seconda parte (solitamente più commestibile), non è da trance ipnotica pur toccando i nervi giusti del
pubblico, che da lì in poi aumenterà intensità e rumore degli applausi.
Venti minuti di intervallo.
Il primo brano della seconda parte fa entrare in fila indiana nella magia. Il secondo idem. E’ un crescendo d’intese
che libera altri spazi mentali melodici e sonori. Saranno anche per palati fini, ma tra una ripresa blues e una maggiore
frequentazione del sistema tonale meno impuro è impossibile fermare i primi brividi di una platea ormai conquistata.
Poi però accade l’imprevisto prevedibile. L’alieno scorge la luce di un flash ed esce dal palco, stizzito. Vi rientra per
acclamazione, quindi fa gli inchini di rito ma soprattutto baipassa il piano incamminandosi verso il microfono. Parla,
spiega, sgrida. Si esprime in maniera stretta per alcuni minuti, tornando sul concetto forte, prescrittivo, che qualcuno
ha osato disattendere. Torna via. Il suo popolo lo chiama. Riappare fuori, raccoglie con altri inchini una rubinetteria
di applausi e se ne va ancora. Ritorna e la scena è la stessa: il pubblico lo acclama, lui ringrazia e se va per la terza
volta. Il chiasso in sala aumenta, tra ansia e compiacimento, perché l’eventualità di una sospensione snob e scocciata
fa parte del live e comunque vale il prezzo esperienziale d’un biglietto all inclusive (but exclusive).
Prevale la comprensione dell’artista “intronauta”, quella per il genere umano: il mito torna sui passi, quelli stabiliti,
cioè sul palco. Ovazione.
Si siede e attacca Over the raimbow, suo grande classico nei bis. Silenzio religioso ed emozioni alle stelle per una
nuova versione, stupendamente eversiva nelle variazioni.
Un regalo… e se ne va. Torna fuori etc inchini etc delirio di applausi etc una, due, tre volte: quella buona.
Si siede per l’ultima volta ed estrae dal cilindro un pezzo senza prezzo, di sensibilità inestimabile. Non solo dolce,
non solo leggerissimo, etereo, non solo sussurrato: è parlato, rallentato ma non troppo, arrivato da non si sa dove nel
posto giusto al momento giusto. Quello che intimamente (mi) aspettavo, sublime nelle sue occulte sublimazioni, rug-
gente a tratti quanto struggente nell’andamento adamantino, intenso e denso nel tema principale, cesellato e vari-
ato più volte ma tenuto fino alla fine nella sua sostanza primigenia: prima coi crescendo, poi coi diminuendo… fino a
chiuderlo, arioso e apertissimo, sferico e lirico, in flebile e sfumata dissolvenza.
477
20160715 Keith Jarrett Solo
Keith Jarrett (p)
Philarmonie, Munich, Germany
First Set:
1. Part 1 (13:28)
2. Part 2 (7:09)
3. Part 3 (6:02)
4. Part 4 (3:47)
5. Part 5 (3:54)
6. Part 6 (5:46)
7. Part 7 (1:42)
Second Set:
1. Part 1 (7:42)
2. kj speaks (3:05)
3. Part 2 (3:01)
4. Part 3 (7:10)
5. kj speaks (0:45)
6. Part 4 (8:27)
7. Part 5 (3:01)
8. Part 6 (4:06)
9. Part 7 (4:59)
10. Part 8 (5:51)
478
2017
Set I:
Intro 01:34
Trump Banter 07:33
Improv #1 08:35
Banter 00:28
Improv #2 07:07
Banter 00:44
Blues 04:29
Improv #4 06:09
Banter 00:34
Improv #5 03:41
Improv #6 05:57
Set II:
Banter 01:52
Improv #7 12:51
Improv #8 04:24
Improv #9 05:38
Banter 01:38
Improv #10 07:17
Improv #11 03:20
Banter 01;31
Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (Jerome Kern, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein ...from "Show Boat") 5:33
Encore Break 00:46
Banter 00:29
Autumn Nocturne (Myrow) 04:37
479
Jarrett’s Profoundly Emotional Excursion at
Carnegie Hall
LIVE, NEWS, KEITH JARRETT
By Brian Zimmerman I Feb 16, 2017 2:57 PM
Keith
Jarrett (seen here in a publicity photo) performed a solo concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Feb. 15. (Pho-
to: © Rose Anne Jarrett / ECM Records)
As his longtime fans well know, the cornerstone of any improvised concert by pianist Keith Jarrett is tension. Jarrett
is a sculptor of tension, and he manipulates it masterfully, extracting moments of penetrating beauty from the frica-
tive space between precision and possibility, skill and imagination, expectation and outcome—and, especially, be-
tween silence and sound.
But on Feb. 15 at New York’s grand Carnegie Hall, where the pianist gave a concert to a full house to help promote
his new ECM release, a four-CD box titled A Multitude Of Angles, the heat of yet another friction hung over the pro-
ceedings: that between politics and art.
The recent election of Donald J. Trump to the highest office in the United States provided the concert’s conceptual
through-line, and the evening served a platform for Jarrett’s politics as much as his artistry. Throughout the night, the
pianist, 71, took to the microphone time and again to rail against the Trump administration and what he feels is an
attack on the American character, calling the recent blitz of executive orders a “preventative measure against free-
dom.”
“This is the opposite of what I know to be the American people,” he declared.
Fortunately for the audience, Jarrett was able to channel his passion into clear-eyed and at times utterly sublime im-
provisations at the piano. He began, appropriately, with an eruption of dissonant runs that spanned the entire key-
board, emitting rumblings that would crystalize into melodic fragments over time, then just as quickly dissolve back
into discordance. The overall impression was one of venting frustrations and clearing the slate—improvisation as
catharsis—but the song also served as a stunning display of Jarrett’s agile technique, which radiated with the preci-
sion of a classical master. Even in anguish, Jarrett retained the level of composure necessary to channel his benevo-
lent muse.
There followed a series of improvised vignettes that drew from a range of stylistic influences, many of which would
ring familiar to any dedicated Jarrett follower: a gospel blues; a propulsive, minor-keyed soul shuffle; a modern,
prismatic hymnal; a kaleidoscopic array of colorful, glassy chords. These pieces underscored Jarrett’s pension for
uniting simplicity with profundity, a gift that endows his melodies with the originality of free improvisation and the
seeming inevitability of composition.
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A deliberate colorist, Jarrett’s spontaneous compositions are often striking in their harmonic depth and shading. One
song consisted solely of sparse, quietly intoned chords that became more vivid and nuanced as they jostled for posi-
tion in the air. Another involved a series of rough, clustered voicings that rumbled, gear-like, in the lower register.
“Tough times call for tough harmonies,” he said at the song’s fraught conclusion.
The mood lightened as Jarrett closed the first set with a meditation that evoked the wholesome dignity of modern
American music, drawing generously from the work of Copland, Gershwin, Bernstein and Berlin. With its folk-tinged
phrases and soft-spoken confidence, the piece had the effect of smoothing the political turbulence that dominated the
first part of the concert. In its elegant phrases and peacefully resolving chords, the song recalled the feeling of having
overcome some great hardship, of finding solace in the storm.
Returning to the stage after a 20-minute intermission, Jarrett was greeted with a searing flash photo from the back of
the hall, a major infraction in the eyes of the pianist, who has a famously low threshold for audience “misbehavior.”
The guilty photographer was duly reprimanded. “Respect other artists,” said Jarrett. “It’s not even about me.” He then
used the moment to pivot toward another criticism of the Commander in Chief. “Our President doesn’t even know
what respect is.”
Save for the occasional sneeze, the audience remained in silent thrall for the second set, and Jarrett seized the moment
to explore a more impressionistic aesthetic. He resumed the concert with a drone of deep, undulating piano rolls that
coalesced into a minor-keyed statement of headstrong defiance, and followed that up with a piece based on the repeti-
tion of four-note and three-note phrases. Pastoral and dream-like at first, the mood slowly darkened as Jarrett’s right
hand ventured into more ominous harmonic territory in the upper register.
The final song of the second set demonstrated Jarrett’s versatility. The piece consisted of jostling bebop lines that
tumbled atop each other as if rolling down a hill. As the song gained momentum, disparate voices would emerge from
the tumult, giving the impression of multiple jazz pianists having a conversation. This continued across three or four
minutes before coming to a crisp conclusion, in which all strains of thought seemed to arrive at the same conclusion.
Jarrett was called back for two encores, during which he thanked the audience profusely. At one point, just as Jarrett
was about to retake his seat at the piano, an audience member called out, “We love you, dude!” Jarrett, as if pricked
with a pin, stood up and returned to the microphone. “I have to respond to that,” he said. Many in the audience ex-
pected a scolding.
Instead, he simply restated his gratitude. “I love you, too,” he said. Then, addressing once again the specter of Trump,
he proclaimed, “We deserve better than this.” And with that, he closed the concert with poignant reading of “Autumn
Nocturne” that received rapturous applause. Even the pianist was emotionally moved.
“You are,” he said before departing the stage for the last time, “the first audience that made me cry.” DB
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