Good question Jim. I think it’s because of a few reasons. I must say I like the American quartet better than the European because I enjoy Dewey Redmans playing where Jan Garbareks leaves me cold. I also like Jarret better playing originals than standards. But still most of Jarretts Impulse! output is not my kind of stuff. The album Fort Yawuh to me is a perfect example of the inconsistency of his works. The title track on that record is amazing, the rest of the album not even close to that level. What I like about the Survivors Suite is:
1. It’s consistently good from the beginning till the end.
2. The composition: it’s catchy and exciting in every way.
3. Everyone’s playing: Haden is great, Redmans in fire, Motian solid as a rock and Jarrett is playing very good as well. I hate it when Jarrett is doing that fiddling endlessly. Not sure how to describe it in English. He does it a lot on his solo outings. He keeps playing all this note and I have no idea what he’s trying to say or where he’s going. He does not do that here. His playing has an excellent structure all throughout.
4. the Eastern feel of it. I am sensitive to that kind of thing.
5. A bit lame from me but still: not a lot of yodeling, groaning, squeeking, barking and other vocal qualities by Mr. Jarrett on this. I just can’t stand that.
The combination of these things makes The Survivor’s Suite a ‘70’s jazz favorite of mine.