Kith Jarrett Trio: Somewhere Before (1968)

Kith Jarrett Trio: Somewhere Before (1968)

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.

KEITH JARRETT, piano
CHARLIE HADEN, bass
PAUL MOTIAN, drums

My Back Pages
Pretty Ballad
Moving Soon
Somewhere Before
New Rag
A Moment For Tears
Pout’s over (And The Day’s Not Trought)
Dedicated To You
Old Rag

Recorded at Shelly’s Manne-Hole, Hollywook, USA, 30th 31st August 1968

Keith Jarrett: Staircase (1976)

Keith Jarrett: Staircase (1976)

keith Jarrett (solo piano)

The fourth of Keith Jarrett's solo piano albums turns inward, away from the funky, pulsating melodic inventions of its predecessors toward a more reflective, scattered, never-despairing romanticism well removed from the pulse of jazz. As such, it is paradoxically his weakest solo piano album of the '70s and also the most influential, for here is the blueprint for sensitive meandering that the New Age piano crowd took off upon in the 1980s. A studio session, Staircase is actually only one of four separately titled improvisations on this double album (now on one CD) -- the others are "Hourglass," "Sundial" and "Sand" -- but their overall moods of repose are so similar that it hardly matters what they are called. One can always admire Jarrett's lovely tone and flexible touch, yet when he gets stuck for ideas, the repetitions finally begin to grate. Maybe he really needs the stimulus of a live audience in order to get the creative and rhythmic juices flowing when flying solo.

Tracks

Staircase:

    "Part 1" - 6:57
    "Part 2" - 7:58
    "Part 3" - 1:25

Hourglass:

    "Part 1" - 4:42
    "Part 2" - 14:03

Sundial:

    "Part 1" - 8:57
    "Part 2" - 4:55
    "Part 3" - 6:27

Sand:

    "Part 1" - 6:54
    "Part 2" - 8:48
    "Part 3" - 3:21

    All compositions by Keith Jarrett

Keith Jarrett: Belonging (1974)

Keith Jarrett: Belonging (1974)

Personnel: Keith Jarrett (piano); Jan Garbarek (soprano & tenor saxophones); Palle Danielsson (bass); Jon Christensen (drums).

Song

 

1. Spiral Dance 4:07  

2. Blossom 12:11

3. 'Long As You Know You're Living Yours  6:10  

4. Belonging 2:12  

5. The Windup 8:22

6. Solstice                  13:22

Amazon.com essential recording

When Keith Jarrett debuted this largely Nordic quartet, he was in the midst of developing a U.S.-based group of the same size with heavy leanings toward the approaches of Ornette Coleman and Paul Bley (even using veterans of Coleman bands). With the Nordic band, Jarrett was better suited to play wistful, melodic vamps that got great mileage out of Jan Garbarek's wavering but mostly vibrato-free tone and the ethereal rhythmic floats supplied by drummer Jon Christensen and bassist Palle Danielsson. "Blossom" is a lengthy, smoldering ballad, as tender as it gets in Jarrett's canon and worth every minor move the group makes. And while things are fairly icy throughout the slower spots, the band slinks into a couple gospel-touched gems, "'Long as You Know You're Living Yours" and the harmonically piled, funky "Windup." All in all, this is not only one of the Jarrett high marks, it's a pinnacle for 1970s jazz overall. --Andrew Bartlett

The spine on the CD cites Keith Jarrett as the recording artist, but many regard this as a Jan Garbarek album. Jarrett was the non-Scandinavian in a superb quartet that comprised Garbarek (saxophones), Pelle Danielson (bass) and Jon Christensen (drums). Garbarek and Jarrett constantly interplay, offering melancholy, romance, sadness and emotional, musical bliss on 'Spiral Dance' and 'Blossom', and manage to groove along with the out-of-character 'Long As You Know You're Living Yours'. One of the finest moments from ECM's exceptional and now sizeable catalogue, perhaps Jarrett and Garbarek need to work together sporadically in order to spark and recharge each other.

Recorded at Arne Bendiksen Studio, Oslo, Norway on April 24 & 25, 1974.

Keith Jarrett: Nude Ants (1979)

Keith Jarrett: Nude Ants (1979)

Jon Christensen Drums, Percussion

Palle Danielsson Bass, Double Bass

Jan Garbarek Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)

Keith Jarrett Percussion, Piano, Timbales

Tracks

Disc 1

 

1Chant of the Soil Jarrett 17:13

2 Innocence Jarrett 8:15

3 Processional Jarrett 20:33

Disc 2

 

1 Oasis Jarrett 30:35

2 New Dance Jarrett 12:57

3 Sunshine Song Jarrett 12:03

"Nude Ants" is a true classic in Keith Jarrett's prolific live recordings. With his "European" Quartet, Jarrett released some very fine albums("belonging," "personal mountains"), one brilliant record("my song")before moving onto a Standards trio, more solo improv, and classical work in the 80's. But this 1979 album, recorded live at the Village Vanguard, is truly a live masterpiece. Jarrett contributes the 6 wonderful, and sometimes far-out compositions, which spring the band's amazing interplay into uncharted(but highly listenable)territories. Jan Garbarek is capable of a unique, beautiful tone or an angry snarl on Saxophone, while drummer Jon Christanson and bassist Palle Danielsson keep things funky and interesting. Jarrett is in superhuman form here, playing wild gospel, dark middle eastern, or bill evans esque chord voicings(in his own original style of course). Be warned:Keith was in a good mood-meaning there's alot of moaning, groaning, screeching and sighs here. It's not hard to ignore, and it actually proves the astounding energy of some of the tracks. "Chant of the Soil" is a menacing funk, with some great solos from Garbarek and Jarrett, and a wonderful percussion and drum duet between Christanson and(i believe) Jarrett towards the end. The energy on this one is infectious. "Innocence" is beautiful, Debussy like ballad, which shifts moods brilliantly. "Processional" is Jarrett's acoustic jazz version of Miles Davis' "He Loved Him Madly." Dark, and gloomy, this track is a group-improvisational triumph, with many different sections and interludes. Disc 2's opener "Oasis" continues the lenghy, slightly dark interplay of "Processional" this time with the music of the Middle East for inspiration. This is maybe the most complex and strange track on the album. "New Dance" is a joyful sophistacated jam, and a highlight of the album. It's also the title track if you think about it..."Sunshine Song" is homerun number 6 as compositions go on this album. Beautiful and haunting, is it a fitting closer for a somewhat dark live album. Overall "Nude Ants" isn't the place to start if you want to hear Jarrett's "European" quartet, but it is a funky, funky live album.

Keith Jarrett: Dark Intervals (1987)

Keith Jarrett-Dark Intervals (1987)

1 Opening 12:51  

2 Hymn 4:55  

3 Americana 7:05  

4 Entrance 2:54  

5 Parallels 4:56  

6 Fire Dance 6:50  

7 Ritual Prayer 7:10  

8 Recitative 11:16

Recorded live at Suntory Hall, Tokyo, Japan on April 11, 1987.

Recorded live in Tokyo in 1987, DARK INTERVALS is a somber work, as its title suggests. The eight pieces range from the hypnotic and melancholy "Opening," to the Copland-esque "Americana." This set is of a piece with Keith Jarrett's more composed and near-classical works, rather than his solo explorations which are grounded in his mix of jazz, gospel, and folk (as on THE KOLN CONCERT, SUN BEAR CONCERTS, and FACING YOU).

It's a well-linked set; all of the pieces adhere to their introspective moods and move along with a mid-tempo grace. The sound is exceptional--this could well be a studio recording for all its rich warmth, though the applause at the end of each piece reveals otherwise.

Solo performer: Keith Jarrett (piano).

Personnel: Keith Jarrett (piano).

Recording information: Suntory Hall, Tokyo, Japan (04/11/1987).

...This music is incredible. KJ didnt hold anything back when playing this (as if he ever did). these are unusually short for keith, but not lacking in quality at all. while this may not be one of keith's more celebrated works, it is excellent, and, keith himself included two tracks from this cd on his recent release of selected recordings (as ECM recently did with many of their artists). my favorite track on the cd, which also happens to be one of the ones that keith selected for the recent ECM release, is 'Americana'. this song is absolutely beautiful and im sure i've listened to it hundreds of times. i know that i've left that song alone on repeat both while in bed and while on the comp. late at night. this was some of the first KJ i ever heard on his own (i had heard him w/ miles before, but thats very different). i highly recommend this cd to anyone interested in great dark improvised piano. another great example of keith's genius and ability to utilize his masterful technique when he chooses, but, more importantly, to restrain his use and speak with fewer notes when he so chooses also. keith is a master of the keys, but doesnt use this ability for show; he is one of the most tasteful pianists to ever live and knows how to use understatement

Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette: The Out-of-Towners (2001)

The Out-of-Towners

Keith Jarrett piano
Gary Peacock double-bass
Jack DeJohnette drums

Intro - I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me
You’ve Changed
I Love You
The Out-of-Towners
Five Brothers
It’s All In The Game


Recorded Live July 2001
ECM 1900

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." 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.