Customer Reviews

Keith Jarrett Concerts

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's hard to know how to describe this recording and what it has meant to me. Superlatives aren't enough. My favorite music in a lifetime of playing and listening to and loving music. Number One. My desert island tape, the one I would bring if I could bring only one. The music that has been the soundtrack to the most important moments of my life, the music I play when I am touched to the heart.

So maybe I'll just tell you the story.

Twenty some years ago, I heard this music on a cassette tape (remember those?) at someone's apartment. I loved it so much on first hearing it that this person, who I had only just met and never saw again, gave it to me. (Bill from East 72nd Street in Manhattan, wherever you are now, thank you.) I didn't know who it was; he didn't tell me and I didn't ask. The cassette tape had no label on it.

Since then I have lived with and loved this precious tape. My life has changed in the most profound ways lives can change, the best and the absolute worst. This music has been the constant. I don't know how I would have survived without it.

All the strong emotions I've had in this life found expression in the music. It's more than identifying with what Keith put into it; I've poured myself into it. You can do that, for a lifetime, with this music. To give you just one example:

When I bought my long-desired first home in the country after decades of living in an apartment in the city, and for the first time ever could see more stars than I had known existed right from my own back yard, what did I listen to on that first summer night of star-gazing?

When, after that night, I thought I had lost the tape, I was distraught; after all, I didn't know what it was, and couldn't replace it. But I hadn't lost it.

I never even heard of Keith Jarrett until a few years ago. I listened to another of his concerts, without being particularly moved by it---it wasn't anywhere as good---and it occurred to me that of course, my tape must be Keith. But it was just a thought. I didn't know for sure. Not until today, June 19th, 2003, 22 or 23 years after I first heard the music: today, through the magic of the Internet, I have, more or less accidentally, found its name.

I didn't think I'd ever know its name, but now I do. I can never lose this music, this love,now.

Others can tell you what a genius Jarrett is, how innovative the music is, how technically brilliant it is. You don't need to know this; you don't even need to know that it's Keith Jarrett. This is music to live by, to lose by, to love by, to have your children by...there isn't anything better in this world.

When talking about Keith Jarrett's improvised solo piano albums, this one is quite overlooked. This album has been out of print on CD for awhile, and is hard to find. When it originally came out on LP, it came with another concert(Munich). This is sad, when you listen how great this album is. Jarrett is almost painfully inspired, never running out of ideas. His brilliance at improvising is how he weaves different jazz styles(bop,world,avant-garde,funky gospel,modal) with endless memorable melodic motifs and ostinati. Take "Part 1" for example. It begins with a peaceful, sighing bill evans melody, gradually picking up steam moving into funky, infectious gospel. Eventually it calms down again. Jarrett stops stomping and groaning(in full force at this concert-whether you like it or not), and shows of his classical influences. By 20 minutes Jarrett is full of energy again, showing is Bartok side, plucking the strings and banging the piano with his hand. "Part 1" segues immediatley into "Part 2." I could go on and on. The point is, the man is unbelievibly brilliant, the album is enjoyable whether you're a pianist or a jazz fan. "Untitled" features some incredible piano runs over a middle eastern drone, while "Heartland" finishes the concert with some beautiful gospel. "Concerts" is the last solo concert he released that i really dig. Later albums such as "Vienna Concert" and "La Scala" although cool, are more euro-classical and minimal in my opinion, which isn't my cup of tea(which doesnt mean it won't be yours). I prefer the funky gospel, beautiful post-bop reflection, and hypnotic Indian drone of "Concerts," "The Koln Concert," "Facing You" and his greatest improvised triumph, "Solo Concerts-Bremen and Lausanne." Get all his albums though. The man is a genius, and makes masterpiece jazz albums with a band or no band in his sleep. Long live Keith Jarrett. Long live "Concerts." ORDER NOW

As a high school student in the early 80's, I remember hearing "Heartland" from this album on the radio...and being absolutely blown away. It was simply one of the most powerful, evocative short pieces of piano music I'd ever heard. When I finally bought the album, I discovered that the entire package also delivers the same kind of emotional wallop. Highly recommended, along with Jarrett's other seminal solo piano

In my review of Jarrett's Köln Concert, I proclaimed that recording as being at the top of the heap in his live solo output. Having listened to the Bregenz recording a few more times recently with renewed appreciation, I'll have admit that I've revised my opinion - this concert certainly must share that honor. It's almost the polar opposite of Köln - as intellectual as Köln is emotional - but equally intense. The crowd is barely able to restrain itself from bursting into rapturous applause as Jarrett holds the last note of Part 2, and who can blame them?

A must hear for any enthusiast in the art of piano improv. This is as good as it gets.

I visited this little opera house in Bregenz, Austria a few years after Keith Jarrett's 1981 performance and wished I had been present that evening a few years earlier to hear what I believe is his most soulful and heartfelt solo piano improvisational concert to date. It is hard for me to adequately express my feelings about this music, as I am certainly not an expert on jazz improvisation nor the piano as a jazz instrument. I only know the emotions and images which well up inside of me whenever I hear these beautiful chords and soulful improvisations. Jarrett is at his greatest here, squeals and foot stomping and all! This is a tour-de-force and a monumental moment in live music history. Don't give up after Part One if this is not your cup of tea, before hearing the inspirational "Heartland", his encore that evening. Very evocative work.

As a high school student in the early 80's, I remember hearing "Heartland" from this album on the radio...and being absolutely blown away. It was simply one of the most powerful, evocative short pieces of piano music I'd ever heard. When I finally bought the album, I discovered that the entire package also delivers the same kind of emotional wallop. Highly recommended, along with Jarrett's other seminal solo piano albums: "Solo-Concerts" and "The Koln Concert".

An excellent concert of truly vigorous atmosphere. Jarrett is at full throttle the whole through; even while serenading us with mid-tempo balladry one can feel the energy coursing ot of him. Part I, and to a lesser extent, Part II, contain some of the most joyous, pomp and foot-tapping music Jarrett has ever played; great for any occasion and snapping with catchiness and energy. Be warned however; his vocalizations are at their most blatant state on this album; if you are new to Jarrett or partial to his exhaspirations, hold out on this one until you are more accustomed to his playing style.

Even though someone in the audience is constantly coughing throughout this performance (Is it so cold in Austria at the end of May?) Bregenz Concert still remains a landmark recording in Jarrett's discography. Sometimes the amount of Jarrett's energy is so overwhelming one may get an impression he's gonna crash the piano into little pieces. This recording is not my favorite (nothing can top PARIS CONCERT) but it's undoubtedly one of the best. I wonder where did they lose MUNICH CONCERT which was originally released on a 3-LP set together with this one?

I bought this in high school. Needless to say, I didn't have many people who were willing to listen to it with me, but I didn't care. It's gorgeous music. I have the original 3 LP set, with both the Bregenz concert and the longer Munchen concert. This CD only has the Bregenz one. While it is the better of the two, I think they should reissue the entire set, or make Munchen available seperately (they did this back when it was issued on vinyl-you could either buy the 3 LP set, or just the Bregenz concert). Jarrett goes through blues, jazz, back to blues, inside, outside, every direction imaginable with this piece. It's one of his best solo piano concerts. Jarrett has always been a favorite, despite his "vocalizing" through his songs.

One of his best. Up there with the Koln Concert and Hamburg Concerts. This man is in tune with the vibrations of the cosmos. If only he would stop moaning