Customer Reviews

At The Blue Note: June 4th, 1994

5 star:		(9)
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There is not a finer group or trio in contemporary jazz and this work is among their best. However, I would recommend that you skip the single disc and purchase the box set instead. Jarrett, DeJohnette, and Peacock play as one over this remarkable weekedend at the Blue Note. There is a nice blend of standards and originals throughout. The recording and performances are perfect. Highly recommended...Simon

This is the greatest jazz trio, and one of their greatest recordings. I actually rarely get past Autumn Leaves. At around 12.30 minutes into the piece the three of them break into one of the greatest trio jams ever recorded. Its hypnotic. I have broken many a drum stick trying to keep up with Jack Dejonette. Peacock is impecably timed. Jarret is a genius and his capabilities range wide and far. For those starting on Jarret, this is the best introduction to his trio material.

This was my first CD of Jarrett's, and still blows me away despite having since ventured into his solo recordings. Autumn Leaves is a classic example of jazz improvisation within an ensemble, the interaction is superb.I have now purchased the full set of recordings of these gigs.

This is a wonderful example of Jarrett's unique style and approach to contemporary jazz. My first exposure to his music was the Koln Concert and a concert that he gave in Toronto at Roy Thompson Hall a dozen or so years ago. I have continued to listen to him and his trio ever since and this album, which I am listening to now as I write my review, is as fresh and magical as any of his that I have heard. On another Note, I am on my way out this afternoon to pick up the re-released At The Deer Head Inn -- another amazing contribution by Jarrett, Peacock and Paul Motian (on drums).

Keith Jarret made his first mark with "Koln Concert", the 1975 double vinyl solo piano concert CD that actually made some dents in the charts. Imagine that! (It was the same era when Tangerine Dream made the charts with "Ricochet", can you imagine it today?)

This CD gives one 70 min. set of Jarrett's 3 night stand at the Blue Note (the complete recordings are also available as a box set), and what a marvel it is. The best is the lead-off track, the standard "Autumn Leaves", a 26+ min. blow-out of the trio (joining Jarrett are Gary Peacock on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums), with bass and drums getting their due in solos, but Jarrett's piano playing is what drives this track, as elsewhere.

If you are not a a die-hard jazz fanatic (as am I), don't worry. This is music (in its most general sense) at its best. Buy it.

If you have discovered the best jazz trio in the world ever, this set is of the highest and deepest calibre and not to be missed. If you haven't found this music, this is the CD to get.

As many people say, the Standards is the greatest group in the contemporary Jazz. Moreover, if you let me, I would say it is almost our only hope in the contemporary Jazz. Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette have been creating really exciting Jazz without disappointing us for twenty years. This is simply incredible. In each album, they improvised real music based on the Jazz standards from different angles. "At the Blue Note" is no exception. Actually, since it starts from the one of the most famous Jazz standards "Autumn Leaves", you would have the feeling I mentioned above even stronger. Of course, you can hear their play of Autumn Leaves in "Still Live" and "Tokyo 96", too. Yet, "Autumn Leaves" in this album is even more impressive in two aspects. First, it really speaks and captures your attention. Although Keith is one of the greatest Jazz pianists (for me, the greatest), sometimes his play after the beginning theme is not as eloquent as his extension. But this idea does not apply to this "Autumn Leaves". He did let us hear his creation from the beginning. Second and the last, it really flows. There is no gap between the song and the extension. From the beginning to the end, it is totally controlled as well as greatly improvised by all of the three. You do not have to say "It is great but..." It is simply a great performance. If you like Keith Jarrett or the Standards, you will easily understand what I mean here.

Once again we have Keith Jarrett's "Standards Trio" in a live recording on ECM, and once again the result is a CD that is highly recommendable to anyone interested in the art of the jazz piano trio. Mixing standards such as "Autumn Leaves" (26 minutes!) with some Jarrett originals, this set sucks the listener in with its impeccable playing and unflagging good will. Wonderful, wonderful stuff, and if you want more of the same, ECM released a 6-disk boxed set of Jarrett's trio at the Bluenote, of which this disk is one of the constituents.

For reasons only known to ECM this album was released separately from the 'Live at the Blue Note' boxed set. Its the 3rd CD from that collection and whilst its not my favourite from that collection its still a brilliant album.

The album starts with a long exploration of 'Autumn Leaves'. Jarretts opening Piano statement of the theme runs to just over four minutes when Peacock and DeJohnette then join him. When I said long this runs to 26:34 and after 12 minutes or so the standard chord sequence is left behind and the trio get into one of Jarretts classic grooves. The sort of thing he might play at one of his solo concerts.

Track 2 is lovely reading of 'Days of Wine and Roses'. Jarrett starts with a beautiful solo Piano introduction which runs to over 3 minutes. Unlike 'Autumn Leaves' though, track 2 only runs to 11:30.

Track 3 is Jarretts own composition 'Bop-Be', which is probably my favourite on this album. An uptempo be-bop inspired piece which swings relentlessly with Jarrett in inspired form - eveidence can be heard in his occasional ecstatic shouts.

Track 4 runs to 20:31. 'You Don't Know What Love Is' and Jarretts own 'Muezzin' seemlessly combine. Rather like 'Autumn Leaves' this has some great moments but it is a little too long for my taste.

The last track is the shortest on the album at 5:42 and its a sublime version of 'When I Fall in Love' with Jarrett demonstrating his superb touch at the Piano.

So what you get here is essentailly a sample, 1/6 of the boxed set. My advise would be to spend the extra money on the boxed set. This isn't the best album from the set by any means (excellent though it is). However if you are really not sure, this or any of the other Standards trio albums are a good place to start.