Bye Bye Blackbird

Keith Jarrett | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 25, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ecm Records
• ASIN: B0000249SI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #181,138 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Unforgettable Statement in a Medium of Jazz Trio, December 14, 1999

By 

Jonathan E. Sindelman (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bye Bye Blackbird (Audio CD)

I originally came to this site to purchase the great Keith Jarrett Trio disc "Changeless", and I was seeing reviews of various books and albums, which of course made me think about writing one after seeing so many entries of inspiration! Well, I have to say something about "Bye Bye Blackbird", in case anyone is thinking about purchasing the cd. This was the first album I came to know of the unique collective known as Jarrett/Peacock/DeJohnette. I was a freshman in high school then, and I must say it was intersting to hear Jarrett groaning and cooing. I didn't know whether to think it was strange, or just part of his way of expressing himself. But what I did know was that he was honest, and obviously meditating on someone for which he cared very much: Miles. As the years passed, I would hear and read from critics of Jarrett that his vocal accompaniments were nonsensical, and a distraction to the music...or, "If you can get past the grunts of what sounds like the annihilation of an endangered species, there's a couple of really cool solos on there...y'know? " To me these words sing the tune of bologna, and for a devoted fan - stinky bologna. "Bye bye Blackbird", as an album, is without question one of the greatest introductions to the inner workings of this trio, and offers several "trio" perspectives represented in the repertoire. Tunes which are not commonly played (by themselves, as well as with any other trio) are explored with Miles in mind, and then the highlight is "For Miles" - a work of pure imagination, and without the rhetoric from which a lot of through-improvised pieces must endure. Other than this record, I would say the best introduction to this magical group is the album "Standards, Vol. 1"; but it is THIS album which draws from source after source, giving you a journey in listening with no beginning, and no end. Who knows, maybe it'll change the way you listen to modern music all together! Another side-note which makes this album a true gem - Jarrett and Dejohnette played together in a group of Miles' (which I'm sure the die-hards don't need to hear from me).... Until a later date, keep the music alive!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Fantastic, December 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Bye Bye Blackbird (Audio CD)

This is amongst my favorite performances by the Jarrett/DeJohnette/Peacock trio. They are in peak form throughout, particularly in terms of their interplay, and the music is particularly touching for this band.

For Miles is beautiful and genius. It won't make sense, at least the parts not dominated by Jarrett's melodies, if you're not comfortable with the sort of abstract stuff that Peacock and Dejohnette did apart from Jarrett around the time. (Usually with other ECM artists, like Paul Bley.)

But it's well worth getting comfortable.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Beware of the sound!, March 7, 2006

By 

Ty-Guy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bye Bye Blackbird (Audio CD)

First, let me say I am a big fan of Keith Jarrett's trio work. I have many of them, including the Blue Note box set, and I thoroughly enjoy them. His "vocalizing" has not bothered me nearly as much as it clearly does some people. And my comments about this album are NOT about the vocalizing (although it is significantly worse than on many other Jarrett recordings).

The sound of the music itself is absolutely abysmal, in my humble opinion - VERY compressed (i.e. little dynamic range), very poor tonal quality and clarity, etc. I could go on and on. I was shocked, to be honest, as the sound of his other recordings varies from very good to excellent, and the sound of ECM recordings in general is excellent. I don't know what to say beyond this. I found no reason to listen to this music, when I have so many other alternatives from Jarrett's trio. Maybe I got a bad copy somehow? I don't otherwise know how to explain the fact that others have not complained about the sound. Maybe ECM has fixed whatever problem there may have been? This CD was recently purchased, however (winter of 05/06)