Keith Jarrett recommendations

[EKE BBB]

I have some seven or eight CDs by Keith Jarrett, and I really like what I´ve heard so far.

Willing to expand my collection, I ask for your recommendations. Be sure I´ll them into account!

I´d suggest you to give three or four names in each one of these categories:

-KJ trio playing standards (both jazz standards or pop standards)

-KJ trio playing "out" stuff

-other recordings (solo piano, other ensembles...)

Thanks in advance!

[jazzbo]

You need "Changeless" for the out session (so to speak, non-standard playing).

I love "Staircase" and "Koln Concert" as far as solo material goes. Excellent stuff, though I feel that way about nearly all of it.

As for "standards trio," I think they're all excellent. . . ."Whisper Not" may be a good starting point.

[jazzbo]

If you're really feeling adventurous, try "Spirits"--an interesting effort in which Keith plays various flutes and stringed and percusion instruments.

His "Book Of Ways" harpsichord two cd set is likewise adventurous and oftren stunning. Not your father's harpsichord music. Likewise his "Hymns/Spheres" two lp set (or one cd "Spheres") treatment of pipe organ is stimulating and very different. (The two lp set has opening and concluding hynmns that are to die for which are not on the cd).

[GregK]

you need Inside Out and Always Let Me Go, for the "out" stuff. Both are outstanding, some of the best piano trio releases in years. Inside Out had a blues feeling, but Always Let Me Go is more free, with long open ended improvisations

[skeith]

I like the older stuff mostly from either the European quartet : My Song or Belonging and then the American quartet stuff on two 4 cd sets Impulse Yearrs 73-74 and 75-76 . I also love the solo album Facing You

[jazzbo]

I like that stuff a lot too, but in some senses I think of it as "The Big Warm Up"!

[neveronfriday]

[king ubu]

as Lon said, definitely this one:

And if you're in for some really nice, very personal, and simple playing, check this one out:

It contains the first recordings after Jarrett's recovery from that strange disease he was suffering of. No big improvisations, just Jarrett at the piano playing some nice songs.

ubu

[jazzbo]

Just got that "Melody" Flurin; going to have to listen to it soon!

[sidewinder]

Likewise his "Hymns/Spheres" two lp set (or one cd "Spheres") treatment of pipe organ is stimulating and very different. (The two lp set has opening and concluding hynmns that are to die for which are not on the cd).

I could not have said this better myself, Jazzbo. The 'Hymns Spheres' 2LP set is a stunning achievement, sounds awesome if you have a decent turntable (check out the resonances when he pulls those stops out) and that introductory hymn is an immensely moving piece of work.

[king ubu]

Just got that "Melody" Flurin; going to have to listen to it soon!

You shall like it, I assume! It's a very low-profile album, rather intense, actually, if you know the story of his illness that stands behind. Need to listen to it again soon.

Among the few trio discs I have, this one is another favourite:

I might be biased on this, as I got it when I was maybe fifteen, and fell in love with it instantly. One of my first jazz discs.

ubu

[sidewinder]

Channel 4 recently ran a TV documentary about Jarrett with lots of participation from him (and with input from biographer Ian Carr). There was an excerpt of the original version he taped for his wife of 'The Melody at Night With You'. Sounded stunning. Amazing stuff considering his level of incapacitation at the time. Recorded in couple-of-minute bursts apparently.

[brownie]

Not a fan of Keith Jarrett.

The only album I would really recommend would be 'The Survivor's Suite' with the Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian quartet. This one stands the test of time with my ears...

[A Lark Ascending]

These are my two favourite solo Jarretts:

I'd urge you to hear the 'American Quartet' from the 70s. A great single disc is:

But these two boxes of the Impulse recordings are outstanding:

And this one with the European Quartet is gorgeous:

Edited December 29, 2004 by Bev Stapleton

[B. Goren.]

But these two boxes of the Impulse recordings are outstanding:

I think when Keith Jarrett recorded for Impulse he was at his best. Many musical pearls in these two boxes. Dewey Redman is another reason to listen to these recordings.

[jlhoots]

Bye Bye Blackbird

Complete Blue Note

The Out Of Towners

[Guy Berger]

I'd urge you to hear the 'American Quartet' from the 70s. A great single disc is:

I think this one is a little better:

(Though if you eventually decide to spring for the Impulse box set, some of it will be duplicated.)

[sal]

I second this. Its one of my favorite box sets.....an absolute can't-miss.

[GregK]

I'd urge you to hear the 'American Quartet' from the 70s. A great single disc is:

I think this one is a little better:

(Though if you eventually decide to spring for the Impulse box set, some of it will be duplicated.)

isn't all of Fort Yawuh on the Impulse box??

[Guy Berger]

(Though if you eventually decide to spring for the Impulse box set, some of it will be duplicated.)

isn't all of Fort Yawuh on the Impulse box??

I meant to say that part of the the box will be duplicated.

[Spontooneous]

Two Jarretts I wouldn't be without:

"Belonging." I really love the European quartet. Maybe I'm crazy.

"Dark Intervals." An ECM solo disc that gets overlooked. Very intense -- and, yes, darker than most Jarrett.

[Parkertown]

As far as solo piano goes...

This one never fails to put me into a blissfull, hypnotic trance:

This one never fails to put me to sleep:

Edited December 30, 2004 by Parkertown

[EKE BBB]

I should have posted what I own so far:

-The mourning of a star

-Somewhere before

-Facing you

-My song

-The Köln concert

-Always let me go

and a CDR of one of the volumes of the At the Blue Note Complete Recordings.

Thanks for your recommendations!

[A Lark Ascending]

I'm not sure if you know Paul Bley's music very much; if not try 'Open to Love' on ECM.

It inhabits a very similar sound world to 'Facing You'. One of my favourite CDs.

From there you have another pianist with a vast catalogue to explore. Currently one of my favourite musicians.

This 2004 album makes an interesting contrast with current Jarrett:

I'm not trying to say A is better than B here; merely that Bley shares similarities with Jarrett in some places; elsewhere he goes in a very different dirrection.

[EKE BBB]

Thanks, Bev!

I know Paul Bley, though not very deeply.

So far I only have "Hommage to Carla" & "The life of a trio: Sunday" with Giuffre/Swallow.

And as a sideman, "Sonny meets Hawk" and (I´m talking by memory) he also plays on some tracks of "Mingus revisited", doesn´t he?