22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Six albums with great music, March 14, 2004
If you like Keith Jarrett's music and especially his work with the Standards Trio, you'll love this box set consisting of 6 albums recorded on three consecutive nights in the summer of 1994 at At The Blue Note in New York. The albums are beautifully recorded, and in my opinion the sound is even better than their studio recordings. The drums are very much in front in the soundscape, so it's easy to hear all of Jack DeJohnette's creative playing.
Another reviewer for this box set said that "There's also unparalleled "attitude," "ego," "self-belief," and a canny sense of self-promotion." I can see what he means, but if that makes for better music, why does it matter? I think that Keith's attitude, ego, self-belief and so on contributes to the music in a way that the music is more recognized in the improvisation process. What I mean by that is also what Keith himself writes in the linear notes: "[The music] must be let in, recognized, and revealed to the listener, the first of which is the musician him/herself. This recognition is the most misunderstood part of the process (even by musicians). It is a discrimination against mechanical pattern, for content, against habit, for surprise [...]. It is like an attempt, over and over again to reveal the heart of things." Though this recognition part of the improvisation process is practised among all other great jazz musicians, I think Keith has his skill fully developed. And if you're going to hear these albums or some of them, you have to be open, because if you're not, every ballad is just going to sound like it always have been; if you're open, on the other hand, you can hear how the trio constantly tries to "reveal the heart of things."
What I favour before the other albums by the Standards Trio is the variance of the playing. In spite of the fact that these 6 albums were recorded in a weekend, the trio never bores you. It's incredible how creative and imaginative they can be.
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great jazz , great engineering / sound , great song choices, January 14, 2005
If you have never heard of ECM records , then the first thing to mention would be that all the releases have wonderful engineering . I'm not a recording engineer , but if I hear an instrument recorded and I feel that what I'm hearing is a realistic approximation of that sound , then I'm very happy .
This aspect helps you to enjoy the music and all its dynamics .
This set has no fake 'echo' on it - it's a faithful recording .
This trio , like all great groups , have been working together for a long time - about 20 years .
At that stage , the connection goes beyond personal and takes on a whole deeper significance.
Keith is an inspiration to piano players .
Gary is a bassist who is always ready to react , yet you can tell he is always feeling the music .
I'm a drummer and if you enjoy the sound of one of the best and most creative people alive today playing a drumkit , then this is the set to buy , as the drummer Jack is the sort of player that makes me smile .
The music will jump out at you - in a good way .
The trio is wonderful - it's a shame to think that some people think of jazz as a background for their dinner parties .
This is not that sort of record .
May I suggest you make the single CD with selections from this box your first purchase , then progress to this if you like the single CD . I took a chance on the whole thing and am very happy I did . Keith does make noises while he plays - I'm not that keen on it myself , but if I could play the piano like him , then it wouldn't really matter .
No wonder it won jazz magazine Down Beat's Album of the Year in 1996 . Listen and enjoy .
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
his best work, October 12, 2000
Finally, the Blue Notes Sessions box set is avaible in the States (I had to get mine from Germany). The earlier one disc release did not do justice to this collection (in fact, in my humble opinion, the 1st set on June 5th was the best and should have been released instead.) What you have here is Keith Jarrett at his personal best, together with Peacock and DeJohnette, the trio goes through numerous jazz standards and a handful of Jarrett originals. Keith keeps the moaning to a minimum and seems to play every set like it is his last. A truly wonderful listening experience. Check out On Green Dolphin Street, Autumn Leaves and My Romance in particular. Trust me, it's worth the money!
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