2. music
  3. 1266097712

Share thoughts on Keith Jarrett

Last night, I saw Keith Jarrett performing solo at the Symphony Center. Tremendously emotional concert with four encores. Now, this is why I'm posting: The person who I was supposed to attend the concert with, informed me, on Tuesday night, that she couldn't go. "No problem", I thought: "Who wouldn't jump at the chance to see Keith Jarrett live", a performer who I consider to be right up there with the likes of Davis, Monk, and Coltrane, all jazz elite and all household names. It took me two full days to find someone who even heard of this guy. I'll continue to hold him in place of high esteem regardless of the comments I get here, but I'm curious: Am I incorrect to place him so highly, or are their others who find his relative anonymity amazing?
phaelon
63 responses Add your response
etbaby
138 posts
 
Keith's improvisation of music is erratic and the substance of his material s very inconsistent . I fell in love with his music after listening to the Koln Concert. It has been down hill since then. Sometimes the material he plays is dead on but mostly he is off. Over the last 30 years I can count only two albums that he has made that are very good and maybe 10 that are less than average at best. The more he plays the less interested I am in his music.
waltersalas's avatar
waltersalas
952 posts
 
Well, he's very prolific, and there are different phases of Jarrett's work, just as there were with Miles (and no, I don't put him on the same level with Miles). I do like his recordings on Impulse in the 70s with Dewey Redman and Charlie Haden, and more recently, his long running trio with Gary Peacock and Jack Dejohnette. Some very good stuff there.

Of course, there are lots and lots of solo recordings, and though I do enjoy listening to them from time to time, I also have a hard time focusing enough to tell them apart. But I'd recommend those trio recordings, as well as the Impulse records, to anybody who is interested in jazz.
xiekitchen
821 posts
 
To me, Jarrett is a true original. No one plays piano like he does, tries the things he does, and bold about it... now weather you LIKE what he does is another matter. A few recordings stand out for me, "Arbour Zena", "Luminessence" and "Nude Ants"... from the late 70's. In the same category as Miles? hmmm... there were times, for me, when Miles wasn't in the same category of Miles.. :)
mattybumpkin
590 posts
 
Isn't he the guy that does those Subway commercials.......;-)
mitchchavis
87 posts
 
Keith Jarrett is in my opinion one of the best jazz musicians of his generation. I've enjoyed his music from Koln Concert to present and he never ceases to amaze me with his artistry. I would love to see him in concert and plan to if he ever comes to Portland. I listen to jazz more than any other genre and of the many superb musicians most of my listening is spent with Miles Davis, Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett. He's a truly great artist IMHO.
jfz
570 posts
 
I personally think he is a wonderul musician. He's not popular (or known) the way pop or rock musicians are, but he is probably the most popular jazz musician today - if one measures popularity in terms of how big a venue a performer can fill.
cmalak
681 posts
 
I am a big fan and for sure his ECM recordings are phenomenal. I think he is very well known within the relatively small niche of jazz afficionados. But beyond that circle it will be hard to find folks who are familiar with him, let alone Tomasz Stanko, Charlie Haden, Dave Holland, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, etc...These are hardly pop sensations but very well known in the world of jazz.
tpreaves's avatar
tpreaves
2,686 posts
 
Very talented but too slick sounding for my tastes.Reminds me of Al Jarreau.No were near the likes of Davis,Monk or Coltrane.
Post removed 
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
I personally love his music. And yes some of his ECM recordings are stellar on LP and CD...Up there with Miles etc? I don't know...but who cares...just listen some more :)
newbrook
82 posts
 
He was out of the business for a while so he's making a comeback of sorts. I understand he was ill for a while but is better.
bozsiujj
14 posts
 
His recordings (with ECM especially) are SUPERB! Try some!
kjo
45 posts
 
I think he's great.He's a hall of famer in my opinion.I have never seen him in concert but it must be something special.I have trouble finding people who listen to jazz regularly in general - not one person at work and only two friends that I can think of off the top of my head.
Log in to respond
More to discover