Jarrett Euro Quartet - Sleeper: Tokyo 4/16/79

[Guy Berger]

Anyway, I finally picked this up. I should premise my comments on Sleeper by saying that I was a fan of the so called Jarrett European Quartet back in the day and purchased and enjoyed both the Belonging and My Song albums.

Having listened to Sleeper my initial reaction was not so positive. While the musicianship is top notch and so is the soloing, the melody of Personal Mountains I found uninvolving. I also found the melodies on the ballads a bit too lush and some of the other tunes exhibiting borderline pop sensibilities - all of the things that the critics of this band said in the 70s but I did not agree with. I wondered upon listening to Sleeper if the moment had passed for me and this band.

I haven't heard Sleeper but this seems like an accurate description of the other two live albums, Personal Mountains and Nude Ants. In general Jarrett's 70s music had pop sensibilities (among many other sensibilities). I don't think this is a bad thing and it wasn't unique to the European quartet, but it does seem like it worked less well with them than it did with Redman/Haden/Motian. I think the grit that made it previously worthwhile was missing. (That is also my beef with "Mandala" on the My Song album.) Anyway, I still like a lot of the 1979 live material, even though Garbarek's playing on " Oasis" from Nude Ants reminds me of a dentist drill.

Edited October 3, 2012 by Guy

[CraigP]

I wondered upon listening to Sleeper if the moment had passed for me and this band.

However, after listening a bit more, it is beginning to pull me in and I am not decided yet about it.

This was generally my reaction, although I've only listened to the first disc. I don't have the previous live albums, so I was surprised at how almost riff-based the performances are; they get in a groove and run with it like a rock or jam band would. It's kinda cool but I haven't been aching to listen to the second disc.

[skeith]

The more I listen, the more I like it.

[CJ Shearn]

I haven't listened to it much either since I got it, but it is excellent. I don't have an issue with the pop sensibilities, I rather like that as I do with Pat Metheny's work, but I think maybe I'm too used to Jarrett's solo and trio work, two completely different animals.

[7/4]

I'm 7/4 and I approve of this album.