Customer Reviews

ECM Touchstones: Standards Live

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One of the best yet that I have heard from the trio. Jack Dejohnette is at his best and does not miss a beat. He keeps a steady beat but adds a generous fill in the most appropriate times. This album was rated in Drum magazine as one of their top 50 cd's for people who are looking for some unbelievable drumming. check it out

I cannot write a review of this album. My aim in writing this is simply to persuade you to listen to it.

I bought this vinyl in 1986 with two Bill Evans albums ('The Tony Bennett and Bill Evans Album' and 'Paris Concert Vol 1' - both recommended) from HMV on Oxford Street in London. I was a big Oscar Peterson fan at the time, and I wasn't impressed initially by this first introduction to Mr. Jarrett. Grunting I was used to - whining though? You must be kidding!

Still I had enough of an ear to hear something interesting in his rhapsodic solo introduction to Stella By Starlight. I'd never heard anyone make a piano sing like that. I just played that passage over and over - not really interested in the rest of the album.

I can't really remember at what point I started really hearing the music, following the solo lines like stories, appreciating the integrity of each performance, and of the trio itself. It was at least twenty years ago.

As a work of art it is perfect. It transcends the musicians, the material and the genre. I am not uncritical of Keith Jarrett or any artist: he has major and minor works. But occasionally there is a confluence of craft, inspiration and occasion that produces something immortal. You have nothing less than that with this album.

so far i am interested in good music and in fact in a good sound..... this album matches both, recorded in 1985 it is still a milestone in interpretation, musicality and not at least in sound... probably the best version of stella by starlight a great album

A recent reissue by ECM (for the label's 40th anniversary Touchstones series), this 1987 release chronicles the pure joy of three accomplished artists who are putting amazing brush strokes on a canvas of jazz/pop standards.

The interplay between Keith Jarrett (p), Jack DeJohnette (d) and Gary Peacock (b) is nothing short of phenomenal on the material recorded on July 2, 1985, in Paris, France, at the Palais des Congrès Studios de la Grande Armée. Stella by Starlight and Old Country are impressive, but Jarrett is especially brilliant on Falling in Love with You; there is a wonderful happiness heard in his work, with DeJohnette and Peacock subtly filling in the soundscape.

A logical extension of the earlier studio releases - Standards, Vol. I and II - the trio has set a foundation that propelled them into challenging explorations of sound and vision in the ensuing years.

keith plays like a pig here- he practically wastes peacock and dejohnette, they are allowed nothing else than the opportunity to accompany jarrett's yowling and over-indulgent right-hand lines. for some serious piano trio playing, check out mccoy tyner's early albums for impulse, bill evans' live at montreux, chick corea's now he sings, now he sobs, anything by paul bley with gary peacock, or keith's own first albums with charlie haden and paul motian

Like the title says...a half-dozen jazz/pop chestnuts done live, before an appreciative Paris crowd, by virtuoso pianist Jarrett and bandmates Jack Dejohnnette and Gary Peacock.

Things get a little too cute at times; the audible groans and grunts, even through the prettiest songs, sound more like indigestion than intensity. Moreover, "The Way You Look Tonight" here lacks the jauntiness of Errol Garner's version. But Jarrett's consistent dives from introspective, near-classical playing deep into be-bop groove, plus tight ensemble playing (Peacock and Jarrett toe-to-toe on an airy "Falling In Love With Love," a fine version of Nat Adderly's "The Old Country," DiJohnnette's popping drum solos throughout) wins the day. A fine album for those just beginning to enjoy Jarrett or jazz piano in general.

"Standards Live" is a 1985 Standards Trio album, the first live recording with standards only as far as I know. In 1983, the trio's Standards 1 was released, which got very fine reviews. This recording is of an okay overall quality, but if you don't like Jarrett's muttering, I'm afraid to say that this live set includes a lot of that.

That aside, "Standards Live" is actually one of the better recordings with the trio. They begin with 'Stella By Starlight', and one immediately feel the compasion and enthusiasm of the three of them on that particular night. It's as if they want it to be as special as possible. The third piece, 'Falling In Love With Love', is my favourite. Jarrett really shows his creative side, and the others follow up - the final minutes of the piece in particular is very good; the applause is faded due to its length. 'Too Young To Go Steady' is a ballad, but not the usual Standards Trio ballad. It's sort of wamp-like and groovy, and that's definetely a positive change in my opinion. From the 7th minute onward of that song contains some of the best and most creative music on the album. 'The Way You Look Tonight' is played in a fast tempo, which suits it very nice - it also includes a monster drum solo!

On the whole, "Standards Live" is not like any other of the albums by the Standars Trio I have heard. It can be catagorised somewhere between the two studio albums and the Blue Note box set. The only negative side of it is the not-top-notch-quality, but it's not a big problem at all.

Amazing jazz but would be much better without all the yowling (is he okay?). Because yowling seems to be part of the Keith Jarrett jazz experience this was my first and last Keith Jarrett purchase. Check out something by Bill Evans. Make the yowling stop! Please!