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PIANO |
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Koln
Concert Probably Jarrett's most famous
and well-known solo piano work, this single CD is in many people's
collections. Recorded in 1975, it features brilliant improvisational
work that utilizes the piano's full range and creates many beautiful
textures. Probably your first stop if you're new to Jarrett and want
to sample his extensive improvised piano work. |
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Solo
Concerts: Bremen & Lausanne This nearly
two-hour recording (2 CDs, originally released as 3 LPs) documents
a two-part concert in Bremen , Germany, as well as a concert in Lausanne,
Switzerland. Jarrett's playing is inventive and technically brilliant
here. This is the recording that first made him famous for his solo
piano improvisations. |
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Facing
You Though this is a studio recording,
it is completely improvised, much like one of Jarrett's concerts.
Recorded and released in 1972, this is the premiere Jarrett recording
for ECM, produced by Manfred Eicher. Jarrett's work here draws a
lot on jazz and gospel, something that can't always be said of his
more recent work. An absolute classic. |
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Vienna
Concert Jarrett himself considers this
to be his finest solo piano recording. This performance has the feel
and structure of a classical piano concerto, and though it is entirely
improvised, it is a very symetrical and well-conceived improvisation.
The second half is a bit looser, and overall this performance does
rank as one of the pianist's best. |
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Sun
Bear Concerts Recorded in 1976 in five
Japanese cities (Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo, and Sapporo), this was
originally released as a 10-LP box set. Now a 6-CD set, it is an incredible
repository of pianistic exploits from the peak of Jarrett's early
period. Though it's expensive and will take the listener some time
to assimilate, the performances here are nearly all exquisite, and
none is the least bit boring or repetitive--quite an achievement. |
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The
Melody At Night, With You There are those
who will argue that this recording, done in Jarrett's home studio
in 1997 as he struggled to overcome chronic fatigue syndrome, are
not up to his usual standard. That is perhaps true, but these are
unusual performances for Jarrett in that they are all brief, and all
based on standards with little ornamentation. The result is hushed,
nearly ambient, and exquisitely beautiful. |
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La
Scala A two-part, very lyrical performance
that demonstrated quite clearly that in 2000 Jarrett was back. Though
not the same pianist as he had been during the '70s and '80s (how
could he be?) his improvisations have grown in both scope and structure,
and this is a triumphant recording. |
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GROUP RECORDINGS
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Fort
Yawuh Fort Yawuh
is one of the "American" quartet's best efforts, a series
of live performances that demonstrate the many different aspects of
the group. This is a really essential Jarrett album and a side of
his music you don't get to hear on his numerous ECM releases. For
those with some time, money, and interest, the two collections The
Impulse Years, 1973-74 and Mysteries:
The Impulse Years 1975-77 provide access to all
eight (including this) of the American quartet's albums, most of which
are domestically out of print, and they are well worth the money.
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Belonging
The first recording by Jarrett's "European"
quartet, which he led simultaneously with his more experimental, freer,
"American" quartet. Featuring saxophonist Jan Garbarek,
the music here takes American gospel and roots music as its basis,
often with very stunning results. |
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Survivor
Suite Another triumph for the "American"
quartet, a group that was capable of producing a wide array of sounds
and textures. There's free jazz as well as music that is light, soft,
and comfortable. Well worth checking out, both for Jarrett fans and
fans of small group jazz of the period. |
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Nude
Ants The "European" quartet
live at the Village Vanguard in 1979. Great performance by a band
at the top of its form. |
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Spirits
You'll either love or hate this recording.
Jarrett plays 18 different instruments, using multi-track recording
and overdubs to create his solo venture. Much of the music has a
Native American vibe, though other inspirations are apparent as
well. There are those that would argue that this paved the way for
much New Age music, but it is much more complex and richly textured
than much other New Age material. |
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Mysteries:
Impulse Years 1973-74 Includes the albums
Fort Yawuh, Treasure Island, Death and the Flower, and Backhand. |
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Mysteries:
Impulse Years 1975-77 Includes the albums
Shades, Mysteries, Byablue, and Bop-be. |
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STANDARDS TRIO
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Whisper
Not This two-disc set was the Trio's triumphant
return following Jarrett's late-'90s bout with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Everything is in place here, with the group exhibiting its near-psychic
ability to think as a unit. Stunning performance, and a must-have
for all jazz fans. |
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Standards,
V.1/Standards,
V.2 Keith Jarrett went into the studio
in 1983 with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette and recorded three albums
worth of material (the third, entitled Changes, features
original material rather than standards), thus beginning the (so far)
20-year legacy of the Standards Trio. |
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Tribute
Jarrett and the trio play a series of
dedications to the jazz masters who originally performed these tunes,
including Sonny Rollins ("All the Things You Are") and Bill
Evans ("Solar"). |
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At
the Blue Note This box set (six discs)
documents the group's three night stand in 1994 at the legendary
jazz venue. Stunning performances with the emphasis, as it often
is, on standards. Sure, it's expensive, but you get your money's
worth. |
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At
the Deer Head Inn Jarrett returns to the
site of his first professional gig in Allentown, PA after 30 years,
bringing his inventive trio along. Features performances of "Bye
Bye Blackbird," "Basin Street Blues," and "You
and the Night and the Music." |
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Inside
Out Jarrett, Peacock, and DeJohnette perform
trio improvisations, much as Jarrett has done throughout his career
on solo piano. It is obviously more difficult for three people to
completely improvise a program of music (save for the encore), yet
this group makes it sound not only easy, but also beautiful. |
