Customer Reviews

Yesterdays

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Five SWINGING Stars! 'Killer' performances from one of the greatest jazz trios in history and they just seem to get better with each new offering. Recorded live in Tokyo during 2001, Japan and released as both a single CD and LP (a format that is showing some resurgence), this is the CD to get if you've been away from the "Standards Trio" for a while, as I have. Jazz poll winners Keith Jarrett (a 2008 DownBeat Hall of Fame inductee), master bassist Gary Peacock, and the incredible drum-meister Jack DeJohnette, are in tight trio configuration and highly inventive form as they dip into the bebop, post-bop, and Tin Pan Alley treasure troves.

The 'best of the best' begins with blazing performances of the Bird/Diz bop anthem "Shaw'nuff" (which went straight to my iPod) and the 9 minute exposition of "Scrapple from the Apple". If there was any doubt that Mr Jarrett had recovered from his past disability or can at least control it, these amazing performances dispel it: pushed to the max by Jack and Gary, his formidable technique is unerring and breathtaking, as are his ideas. "Stella By Starlight" is the best of the 2009 versions, and the 'could-be maudlin' "You've Changed" is transformed into a jaunty ballad by Keith's facile keyboard ideas, with a buoyant Peacock solo and tasty DeJohnette brushwork. Ditto for "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" with an effective modulation shift that levitates the song into sonic suspension. Horace Silver's "Strollin'" is superb, revealing the Standard's Trio in all of its glory. Bravo, gentlemen. My Highest Recommendation!!! Five ENJOYABLE Stars!!
(This review is based on an iTunes Plus download.
Trivia: The Standards Trio was known as "The Out of Towners" for some performances. Keith Jarrett is also a formidable classical pianist & harpsichordist as evidenced by Mozart: Piano Concertos nos. 271, 453, and 466 / Davies, Jarrett & Bach: Goldberg Variations / Keith Jarrett, respectively.)

No more surprises. No more places he hasn't taken us before. Still, beautiful. I do miss some of his gorgeous intros from the 80's and 90's. Those are remarkable. Thank you, Keith, Jack and Gary for inspiring us musicians and music lovers for some many years, over and over again.

This is a very good release, but not quite at the top of Jarrett's tree of wonderful recordings. Standouts include Strolin,Scrapple, Sleeping Bee and a marvelous version of Yesterdays. The other two ballads You've changed and Smoke, don't especially hit the spot for me and are comparatively bland. Ialso don't especially like ShawNuff which is a tad fast for my taste and doesn't benefit from the slightly odd ragtime feel to the opening expression of the melody.Also I can't quite get out of my head the weird read across from the introductory phrase (which I know is on Dizzy's original) with the opening of Abba's Money, Money, Money! (Bet that's the first time a Jarrett review has mentioned Abba--although it shouldn't be because the lovely Frieda-the brunette--was a jazz singer and the group as a whole were very musical) Stella is nice with Jarett getting in towards the end of his solo some beautiful Miles-ish lines (a few bars before he goes into octaves).Speaking of which, on Scrapple and ShawNuff it's interesting hearing him play simultaneous octave lines with both hands (can't remember the technical term.) The masters of this for me were Phineas Newborn and Oscar Peterson--Jarrett isn't quite in their league as far as this particular technique is concerned, but it's something he doesn't do very often. Finally there's You took advantage of Me. Save for one aspect , this is fantastic. Peacock and DeJohnette get into such a laser-like groove and Jarrett builds wonderfully in his solo. So where's the flaw? I'm afraid it's the stride introduction. That left hand is too choppy--a fault of so many great players who try it . Very few , apart from the generation who invented it, have mastered the necessary smoothness and glide. Oscar was one, Roger Kellaway and Dick Hyman others--and HankJones too. Somehow, despite his magnificent technique , Jarrett doesn't hit the spot. But hey! I'm being super-critical. Go buy--this is a very fine cd you'll enjoy many times over.

I have always wondered how ECM Records funds itself. Their catalog is vast, the production values are extremely high, but the appeal, in the grand scheme of things, is limited, and the commercial potential near zero. But now I think I know - whenever they need money, they simply release another Keith Jarrett set culled from their vaults and sit back to watch his rabid fans for whom he can do no wrong gobble it up.

The material on "Yesterdays" was recorded live back in 2001, but not released until now, and while it is not bad per se, the trio breaks no new ground. All three members play well, with Gary Peacock's bass being a particular standout, but there are no "must-hear" tracks or even solos. In addition, Keith Jarrett's notorious humming and moaning is far more pronounced on this record than it has been in the past. Granted - anyone who is going to listen to Jarrett in any quantity has to accept it as part and parcel of the experience, and learn to listen through it - but here it seems much more distracting than on other recent records.

For a much better example of Jarrett's post-illness trio work, I would recommend "Whisper Not" from 1999, also recorded live, over "Yesterdays" without hesitation.

I respectfully disagree with the statement "More of the same." Interpretations of Yesterdays, You've Changed, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Stella by Starlight are played with such sensitivity, so much emotion the lyrics almost jump off the page. Nothing here or on the other trio recordings is ever "the same." And there are recordings with more humming and groaning than here but I forgive you, Keith, for all of that. Your imagination, inventiveness and just plain beautiful piano playing supersedes everything else. I could not live as happily without this recording in my library.

Once, long ago, Keith was traveling through an enchanted forest. He was suddenly startled by a high pitched, whiney sound, interspersed with long syllables, such as: Nee neeneee, nene....... Oooooooohh! He couldn't imagine what this was, or why it was happening. Just as he was pondering various possiblities, a tiny troll happened to come out from under a small bridge, which spanned a nearby stream. "Hello, Keith", he said. "I'm an enchanted troll, and I have the power to enable you play wonderful jazz piano. There is a catch, though". Of course, being intrigued by the notion, he listened intently. "What's the catch?", Keith replied. "You have to let me travel with you, wherever you go, sit under the piano, and sing along with your playing. I'm really an awful singer, and I make the most annoying sounds, but you'll be playing so great, that people will listen anyway!" Keith thought about it. "Will they buy my recordings as well"? Keith wondered aloud. "Yes. You'll have a long career with some great players, even though I'll be singing with you." "Okay. I'm in." Replied Keith. And the rest, is history.

ECM reached into the vault for this live material from the "Standards Trio" - Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette, Gary Peacock - which was recorded on April 2001 in Tokyo.

The pop and swing on the uptempo standards is refreshing, but the ballads Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and You've Changed contain brilliant soundscapes, with Stella by Starlight taking the listener on a touching artistic journey. The interpretation of Scrapple from the Apple is bop that rocks.

The interplay of the trio remains illuminating along a wonderful trail where yesterday has incredible relevance for today....and tomorrow.

If you think this CD is more of the same,you have not listened very well.The releases from this trio definitely are not getting any worse.Even though I have been annoyed by the moans,squeeks,etc in the past,I didnt hesitate to pick up this CD because they are all so incredible together.Jarrett and pals seem to be in some kind of beautiful zone on these tracks.Listen closely and at least 2 or 3 times all the way through.As I get older I am appreciating this band more and more.Appreciate this spiritual,inspiring music.It is ringing out,crystal clear and sweet.

Music 4.5 stars, sonic 4.5 stars.
This is my first exposure to this trio, as I usually prefer albums with original compositions. I understand why jarret & his trio are considered to be one of the finest jazz piano trio or jazz trio.
Jarret clearly has his own personal rendition of each songs, which is no doubt distinct from anybody else's. And it is comprehensively expressed in his playing, he has this profound ability to express or to channel what's inside his mind or feeling though his 10 fingers. The result is amazing, standard songs which have been played before by many people can still be listened with joy & excitement like they are new. My biggest worry about albums consisting standard songs is that they would sound very much alike the others. But it's definitely not the case here, each song sound fresh.
His personal, distinctive rendition of songs & his expressive playing I think are two major reasons for Jarret's success. About the trio here : I think as a result from playing together for more than 25 years is that they tend to sound like one voice, so united, all players has deep understanding about each others. Their playing sound like it is based on one solid structure, where all three musicians bring their own specialities, their own creativity that complement each others' & the music itself. Simply beautiful.
Sonic of cd : great ECM usual sound, with very good transparency, good spatial differences from left to right & front to back, excellent tonal balance.

El trío de Keith Jarret cumplió 25 años de exitosa carrera.
Precisamente, el disco Yesterdays aparece en medio de los festejos y de un intenso trabajo en vivo.
Grabado en un recital en Tokio, por el sello de culto ECM, el disco pone enfasis en bebop,
sosteniendo un apego mayor que otras veces a la línea melódica estándar.
Gran calidad del sonido, siempre con esa sensación de tridimensionalidad que los ingenieros logran traspasar al disco.
Mientras más viejo el trío, mejor sus interpretaciones, me parece a mí.