Keith Jarrett - one of my all time favourite artists.
I can think of very few people, let alone people still living, who encapsulates the spirit of artistic genius as well as Jarrett. Not only is he probably the most widely respected and imitated jazz pianist since Oscar Peterson or Bill Evans, he is the most astonishing exponent of improvisation, this century's seen.
Most famously in the Koln concert, but in many other concerts too, he plays for about 2 hours, with one break, a pure stream of improvised music. Not only is the music listenable, a feat in itself, some of it is the most amazing jazz ever recorded. Watching the guy play is incredible. He's well known for bouncing around in his seat, pulling some pretty interesting jazz faces, and kind of humming/singing to his own music as he plays. But its all automatic; the guy's somewhere else. It's rare that you a get a musician so good technically and so willing to give the entirety of himself over to you as the audience, and just talk with music.
So here's the thing, about 4 years ago he brings out Melody At Night With You. Given his history, I buy it immediately. It's the first thing he's released for about 8 years due to health problems - that's as much as I know about this release. Anyway, it turns out, compared to his other stuff, to lack vigour and clarity. It just seemed a bit sluggish and overly sentimental. About a year ago I found out that the intensity of his performing had nearly destroyed him mentally and physically and he had been suffering from extreme and chronic exhaustion. In the year he recorded, Melody At Night With You, he had been laid up in bed for months. It was coming up to Christmas and he couldn't buy his wife a present as he couldn't physically get out of the house. That year he crawled to his piano everyday and recorded the Melody At Night With You so he could give a gift to his wife at Christmas.
I felt so small when I found that out.
Anyway, here he is playing the encore to his improvised show in Tokyo 1984. I hope you enjoy it...
I can think of very few people, let alone people still living, who encapsulates the spirit of artistic genius as well as Jarrett. Not only is he probably the most widely respected and imitated jazz pianist since Oscar Peterson or Bill Evans, he is the most astonishing exponent of improvisation, this century's seen.
Most famously in the Koln concert, but in many other concerts too, he plays for about 2 hours, with one break, a pure stream of improvised music. Not only is the music listenable, a feat in itself, some of it is the most amazing jazz ever recorded. Watching the guy play is incredible. He's well known for bouncing around in his seat, pulling some pretty interesting jazz faces, and kind of humming/singing to his own music as he plays. But its all automatic; the guy's somewhere else. It's rare that you a get a musician so good technically and so willing to give the entirety of himself over to you as the audience, and just talk with music.
So here's the thing, about 4 years ago he brings out Melody At Night With You. Given his history, I buy it immediately. It's the first thing he's released for about 8 years due to health problems - that's as much as I know about this release. Anyway, it turns out, compared to his other stuff, to lack vigour and clarity. It just seemed a bit sluggish and overly sentimental. About a year ago I found out that the intensity of his performing had nearly destroyed him mentally and physically and he had been suffering from extreme and chronic exhaustion. In the year he recorded, Melody At Night With You, he had been laid up in bed for months. It was coming up to Christmas and he couldn't buy his wife a present as he couldn't physically get out of the house. That year he crawled to his piano everyday and recorded the Melody At Night With You so he could give a gift to his wife at Christmas.
I felt so small when I found that out.
Anyway, here he is playing the encore to his improvised show in Tokyo 1984. I hope you enjoy it...
----x----
This is from one of my favourite bands, Rachel's. The vid really reminds my of Ivan's Childhood by Tarkovsky
----y-----
Godspeed You Black Emperor's Dead Flag Blues
----z----
I am my idea of you,
Carefully constructed of smoke and mirrors.
So you must be still my love:
Move
And I am lost.
---------
Merry Christmas/ happy Saturnalia 
VIEW 15 of 15 COMMENTS
a pole dancing club that plays Slayer! where's this?!!!