There have been many great jazz pianists in my life time, but when it comes to pure improvisation that is often profoundly melodic and moving, Keith Jarrett has few if any peers. Yes I know when he performs live sometimes his soul is so moved by the music that he leaks sounds and reactions, sometimes almost singing along. You just have to accept it as part of the effect the music has as it comes out of Keith. Yes, he has also done some very nice studio albums with covers of classics like Danny Boy or Somewhere over the Rainbow, the version of which can just make you cry tears of joy for what might be someday. Of the live concerts I would recommend starting with his famous Koln Concert, or La Scala, or Paris/London or A Multitude of Angels some of his south American live performances. And of the studio lps, start with The Melody the Night, and You. When I tell you that as for his live shows of original music, it is composed on the spot in many cases, and if you ask where it came from, it came from that deep well of musicality and musical knowledge that the man embodies. He is capable of moving a whole audience to tears with instrumental songs they’ve never heard before, so much emotion and pathos does Keith put into his songs and the playing of them.
Take for instance this performance in Tokyo– and notice he doesn’t even need to look at the keys never mind any sheet music.
English (US) · 