Customer Reviews

Belonging

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the first record Jarrett made with his European quartet. The compositions are beautiful and the arrangements and playing are typically pristine. A side note: this album contains the composition "'Long As You Know You're Living Yours", whose opening riff Steely Dan appropriated for their song "Gaucho," just as they copped the beginning of Horace Silver's "Song For My Father" for "Rikki Don't Lose That Number"

While Belonging is a wonderful record, a later album with the same combo, "My Song", is even better.

I am real Keith Jarrett addict. How many people listen to six hours of improvised music...and love it all the way (KJ: the Sun Bear Concerts) - so when i read the extremely positive reviews of the album, i just bought it. The CD has just arrived in Holland, and when I saw it I thought: oops, the album is almost 30 years old...it must sound horrible. Well: it doesn't. It sounds as if it was recorded yesterday. Fresh, vibrant, clear - with some great music on it. Music that shows a different Keith Jarrett. The music reminds me of the early work of Klaus Doldingers Passport - using these strong melodic saxophone themes. It's maybe the 'European influence'. Anyway. Worthwile!

BELONGING-is the first album released by K.J.s European Quartet with Jan Garbarek, Palle Danielson and Jon Christensen. Start with this one, because lated you will discover such masterpieces like "MY SONG" and "PERSONAL MOUNTAINS"

Funky, ethereal, free, melodic, romantic, edgy...and classic. Jarrett, sharing the spotlight with Garbarek, offers a program of such variety and sheer finger-snapping lyricism that any jazz lover would be silly not to give it a listen.

The recording clarity and richness is one of ECM's finest - head and ears above most of what has come out in the last 35 years.

Garbarek, for those of you who know his more ethereal and folky work, is at his Coleman/Coltrane/Rahsaan peak here - sailing, moaning, tossing tart, lopsided and twisty rhythmic nuggets into the mix one moment, going deeply gospel or romantic the next. A tone like deep-fried ice cream.

Christenson, too - groove, experiment, agility, shading and tone, poly-rhythms - will appeal to fans of touches of DeJohnette, Erskine, Motian, Haynes and even Murray and Cyrille, but really a singular drummer. George Russell, who featured Jan and Jon in the late sixties, commented that for some reason, Norwegians seemed to swing like they came from 125th Street, but with their own kind of blues. Danielsson is a lyrical, fat-toned bassist who digs deep, anchoring driving and inspiring the soloists. An under-appreciated bassist who has a real showcase here.

Jarrett is contained, in the best sense - sensitive as ever to the songs, grooving deeply and flying - especially on The Windup, a real showcase piece alternating between the funky labyrinth of the head and the free-blow of the solos.

There is no reason not to have this album. It is a jazz watershed.

This is my favourite 70's Jazz album.
A marvellous quartet of musicians, featuring Keith Jarrett on Piano and Jan Garbarek on Sax. A wide range of styles from the Gospel influenced "Long as Your..." to frankly undefineable (but brilliant) pieces like "The Windup". Spiral Dance is another stand-out track. The key thing about this album, is that it is an entirely accoustic album, made in an era when the trend in Jazz was for more electric fusion based bands.
The musicianship is of the highest order, and the compositions are mostly written by Jarrett.
Have a listen to the samples on Amazon - unless you're a die-hard dixieland/trad fan there will be something here for you.

Jarrett recordings have always been for me improvisational jazz with a motif you can hum along to and a pocket you can tap your foot to. He does upon occasion venture forth into avant-garde bop that often makes you wonder where and what will emerge but not here. In these excursions the melody and rhythm are foremost. This is Jarrett with Jan Garbarek (sax), Palle Danielsson (bass) and Jon Christiensen (drums) at their most accessible. There is virtuosity as we've come to expect from each on their instrument.

The Windup is playful and upbeat. Belonging, Blossom and Solstice are reflective, even searching. Spiral Dance and Long as You Know You're Living Yours are memorable pearls that only Keith Jarrett could bring to fruition.

There are subtle echoes and bold challenges ... the interplay between players found so rarely these days. You can choose to listen, or you can let your mind wander and let the complexities melt into chaos or leave it in disarray. They have a home in either realm. There aren't many doing anything like this out there today and Jarrett is among the best. Belonging is a treat for those that have a taste for it.

I am amazed that nobody has reviewed this album before now.

"Belonging" is an interesting record; the first serious commercial blossoming of Nordic jazz. Ironically the name on the cover is that of an American, but this album belongs as much to Garbareck as it does to Jarrett, his solos are exemplary - moving and exciting.

Having said that, here are some of Jarrett's most complete compositions. It is probably the finest studio recording under his name.

I have actually told people that in a nutshell Jan Garbarek's solo on Solstice is why I play tenor saxophone and the vamp at the end is why I play music.

I am a jazz fan and own a large collection. This album is my favorite with a wonderful mix of piano and saxaphone.

Keith Jarrett and his BELONGING band give classic 70's jazz a kick!!! Countless radio and tv show theme music and a nostalgic trip back to when jazz was part of cultural venacular.