Keith Jarrett c/d.s/d

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An unsurpassed genius of piano improvisation, or self-indulgent jazz-wankster? And what, besides the Koln Concert, is worth hunting down for the novice?

― stevo, Wednesday, 26 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

his playing with Charles Lloyd (e.g. on Love-in, Dream Weaver LPs) is great. not heard any of his own albums besides The Koln Concert

― m jemmeson, Wednesday, 26 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

search: vienna concert. the bit where everything just becomes clear after 40 mins or so is, well, amazing. my friend tom used to make everyone sit in silence for ages before that, saying "the good bit's coming up in a minute". this used to irritate the fuck out of us, but i could see his point.

― toby, Wednesday, 26 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I like In Front more than Koln Concert. That title track is so beautiful, moving through all the different sections. If you really like Koln Concert might I suggests Vert's Koln Konzert, an interesting electronic deconstruction of same.

I like every Standards Trio recording I've heard by Jarrett, too. Those are worth getting. Jarrett is a melodic genius all right. Classic, though go ahead and destroy the vocalizing.

― Mark, Wednesday, 26 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Bremen/Lausanne and Sun Bear are also good (the first is a two-CD set, the second a mammoth six-CD box), but probably not for novices - Vienna, Koln or La Scala are good starters for solo Jarrett. The trio recording I play most often is the oddball "Deer Head Inn" with Paul Motian standing in for Jack DeJohnette. Very little grunting on that one, thank goodness - parts of "Whisper Not" are ruined by Keith's vocalising.

― Andrew Norman, Thursday, 27 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Search: 'Live Evil' by Miles Davis, prob the best available record of Jarrett's tenure w/ the early seventies Miles band. It offers a rare chance to hear KJ playing electric keyboards. 'Bye Bye Blackbird' by Jarrett's 'Standards' trio (w/ Jack DeJohnette and Gary Peacock) is a v. nice trib to acoustic Miles; I also like 'The Cure' (not a trib to Fat Bob) by this group. 'Changes', an improvised alb by the same trio, is one of Jarrett's best, and their 'Standards Vol. 2' contains my favourite KJ composition, the lovely 'So Tender'. 'At The Dear Head Inn', recorded in the small club where Jarrett got his first break, replaces DeJohnette w/ Paul Motian. Motian also played in Jarrett's first 'American' group, along with Charlie Haden and the v. underrated sax player Dewey Redman (father of the far less interesting Joshua.) Motion and Charlie Haden are all over 'The Mourning of a Star', probably KJ's 'freest' alb, where he acquits himself pretty well on sax, flute and percussion! From the same period (early seventies) there's also an interesting duo alb with vibes player Gary Burton.

I find most of the solo piano improv stuff meandering and self-indulgent (tho' of course parts of 'The Koln Concert' are v. beautiful). By contrast the studio alb 'Facing You', KJ's first solo piano rec, is full of exquisite minatures.

Destroy: 'La Scala' (where KJ's vocalising and classical borrowings are esp. irritating), 'Staircase' (v. v. boring), and any of the records he made w/Jan Gabarek.

― Andrew L, Thursday, 27 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Distroy The Melody at Night, with You. I don't think it's a very good idea to make a record when you're experiencing chronic fatigue.

― Andy, Thursday, 27 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Talking about albums above, when I said "In Front" I of course meant "Facing You." "In Front" is the first track on "Facing You", probably my favorite Jarrett piece.

― Mark, Thursday, 27 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ta for the response everyone. Recommendations noted and appreciated. Only just found out Jarrett is of European-American descent, which with his dark looks + afro came as a suprise. Currently struggling my way through 'In the Light' (2nd hand vinyl in suspicously mint condition), glad no one recommended it. Vert's take on 'the koln concert' is a good call Mark - gLITCH-Jazz- a big fave. Also learnt the BBC played 'The Koln Concert' on Radio 1 as 'appropiate music' when Diana died! Anyway Jazz-Classicist piano players are a bit of a departure for me so thanks everyone for the sign-posts.

― stevo, Friday, 28 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I like all the things I've heard, i.e. Koln, La Scala, Survivor's Song, the trio live in Japan, Whisper Not, and yes, The Melody at Night, With You.

― Josh, Saturday, 29 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

One word: Changeless

― Mr Clam, Sunday, 30 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

ten years pass...

Should I see him live? even the crappy seats are $50+

― Luomas (admrl), Monday, 5 March 2012 21:47 (thirteen years ago)

yes

― ಠ﹏ಠ (diamonddave85), Monday, 5 March 2012 21:57 (thirteen years ago)

i bought expensive tickets for the trio this past fall and totally spaced on the date ):

― ಠ﹏ಠ (diamonddave85), Monday, 5 March 2012 22:03 (thirteen years ago)

just don't try and take a photo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB9mMABRM0c

― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Monday, 5 March 2012 22:58 (thirteen years ago)

This one's my favorite cut from the live trio album (which was also released on DVD):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ7D5rv2iQM
You just have to ignore that vest I guess.

― japishco, Monday, 5 March 2012 23:13 (thirteen years ago)

why the sad face

― http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/195836283765954576_BP2n7jKw_f.jpg (admrl), Monday, 5 March 2012 23:23 (thirteen years ago)

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