Archive for the ‘Keith Jarrett’ Category
Keith Jarrett Charlie Haden: Jasmine (ECM Records – 2010)
As close to a direct pipeline to the heart as anything, it’s hard for music to be anything but intimate reflection of events transpiring in a musician’s life. Pianist Keith Jarrett’s last release—the stunning triple-disc Testament—Paris / London (ECM, 2009)—was, self-admittedly, impacted by the pianist’s “incredibly vulnerable emotional state,” but resulted in some of his deepest, most moving solo improvisations yet. Recorded in 2007, the year before the shows from which Testament was culled, the song choices on Jasmine—Jarrett’s first non-solo/non-Standards Trio disc in 30 years—speak to the pianist’s tenuous marital situation of the past several years. And yet, this collection of intimate, yearning love songs—recorded at Jarrett’s home in an informal setting not unlike The Melody At Night, With You (ECM, 1999)—possesses a bittersweet mix of melancholy and joy, suggesting the inherently healing power of music.
Participating in Reto Caduff’s 2009 film about Charlie Haden (Rambling Boy) brought Jarrett together with the bassist for the first time since the dissolution of the pianist’s much-heralded American Quartet. The two played for well over a decade—from Jarrett’s debut as a leader, Life Between the Exit Signs (Atlantic, 1967), through to the American Quartet’s swan song, Survivor’s Suite (ECM, 1979). Reuniting in 2007 for the filming of Rambling Boy, their relaxed rapport encouraged Jarrett to invited Haden to his home, and the result is this elegant collection of well-heeled standards, including “Body and Soul,” “For All We Know” and “Where Can I Go Without You.”
Over the course of three decades, much has changed, but some things have remained. Both players have largely become interpreters rather than composers, although Jarrett has rightfully argued that interpretation is composition. Still, their empathic approach to this ballad-heavy set—only the swinging Evans/Mann chestnut, “No Moon At All,” comes close to breaking a sweat—remains as profound as it was when they were collaborating regularly on original (and more left-of-center) music.
With no rehearsal other than, at most, running through a few changes, Jasmine’s sound—like The Melody At Night—is more direct, more immediate than most of Jarrett’s recent releases, recorded in larger concert halls. The dryness of the sound makes the warm but slightly funky tone of Jarrett’s piano and deeply wooden timbre of Haden’s bass feel particularly inviting. Recorded in Jarrett’s small home studio, it feels like it was recorded in a living room, with both players at ease, turning a group of nine well-loved, well-known songs into informal conversations, where individual spotlights shine occasionally, but are far more often about gentle give-and-take, lyrical spontaneity and nothing-to-prove economy.
Critics of Jarrett’ longstanding allegiance to solo and Standards Trio performances may be disappointed by this perhaps overdue foray outside those contexts, given the choice of material and renewal of a relationship that predates them. But they’d be missing the sublime beauty, elegant serenity and evocative resonance of Jasmine—an album that, like The Melody At Night, rests somewhere outside Jarrett’s discography, yet simply couldn’t have been made by anyone else.
(All About Jazz)
1. For All We Know
2. Where Can I Go Without You
3. No Moon At All
4. One Day I’ll Fly Away
5. Intro – I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life
6. Body And Soul
7. Goodbye
8. Don’t Ever Leave Me
Personnel:
Keith Jarrett: (piano)
Charlie Haden: (double-bass)
Recorded on May 25, 2010 – Label: ECM
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Keith Jarrett: My Foolish Heart (Live at Montreux 2007 – ECM)
Pianist Keith Jarrett’s career practically invites criticism or, at the very least, intense comment. His outspokenness, his utter seriousness of intent and the resulting love-hate relationship with the audience, even his vocalisms, evoke strong responses, both pro and con, from listeners.
As the years have gone by, expectations have continued to rise, almost to the point that no matter what he does, Jarrett will fail in someone’s eyes, and My Foolish Heart is no exception. However, the only issue that really matters is this: does he and, by extension, the trio, communicate with and connect to the listener?
ECM has released this double-CD live recording from the 2001 Montreux Jazz Festival as a sort of now-to-then comparison to the upcoming release Setting The Standards: New York Sessions 1983, which will mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of this trio in 2008. Any Jarrett release is an event and, when combined with Jarrett’s liner notes which talk about how special this performance was, practically promises a revelatory listening experience.
Revelation is, however, a very personal thing. Since this music consists of well-known standards the magic, if it is to be found, will not be in new sounds, but in the details of the performance for those who can, or desire to, hear them.
The best jazz is the music of spontaneous, unexpected creation. It requires dynamic energy and concentration plus the seeming contradictory ability to let go, forgetting all the technique and theory and just playing. In this case, what is to be played starts with the tunes themselves, with melody. A standard is labeled as such because its construction has achieved the delicate balance between the melodic phrasing and harmony that creates something unique, and being immediately identifiable and memorable.
To treat such a creation as mere changes is to violate its sanctity, and true improvisation will maintain contact, however tenuous, with the source of the inspiration. In this respect, Jarrett is masterful and there is nary a moment on any track when it is not obvious which tune is being played. The changes are respected, but so are the melody and emotional essence of the tune, with Jarrett using the musical language of conventional bebop jazz.
Bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette, acknowledged masters in their own right, obviously know Jarrett and each other extremely well. Any given performance can vary, but this one does seem to find this rhythm section in top form. DeJohnette’s famous energy is controlled but white hot while Peacock, whose solos are short but meaningful, adds a delightful bounce and verve.
The trio is playing as one and this is the joy of the performance. The surprise comes with the three stride tunes, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “Honeysuckle Rose” and “You Took Advantage Of Me,” and if anyone was waiting for a reason to gush about this performance, it is here.
Place it where you will in Jarrett’s discography, My Foolish Heart is true jazz artistry.
Budd Kopman (All About Jazz)
2- My Foolish Heart
3- Oleo
4- What’s new
5- The Song Is You
6- Ain’t Misbehavin’
2- You Took Advantage Of Me
3- Straight, No Chaser
4- Five Brothers
5- Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out To Dry
6- On Green Dolphin Street
7- Only The Lonely
Keith Jarrett (piano)
Gary Peacock (bass)
Jack DeJohnette (drums)
Recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2001 – Label: ECM
Across Rhythm 