Keith Jarrett

Yeah, he had a real aversion to playing electric, for whatever reason...He only did it out of respect for Miles and wanting to play with him.

 

Maybe because it’s much more difficult to pluck the strings of an electric piano with his fingers? ;-)

No, seriously, I don’t know Mr. Jarrett’s reasons for preferring an acoustic grand piano, but to my ears this type of piano always sounds better.

 

He did play electric piano one more time, on Ruta and Daitya. Being just a duo album with Jack DeJohnette, however, the music is much more sparse throughout and feels pretty different. It's OK, but it's definitely not the "lost Keith Jarrett electric piano album" that one might wish for.

 

"I am, and have been, carrying on an anti-electric-music crusade of which this is an exhibit for the prosecution. Electricity goes through all of us and is not to be relegated to wires." - from the liner notes to Bremen/Lausanne (1973). so that clears that up, ha ha.

 

There's his album No End where he plays electric guitar! I've not heard this properly but I wasn't that impressed with what little I have heard.

 

His latest collection of Italian solo concerts "A Multitude of Angels" is excellent. Another favorite off the top of my head is "La Scala"

 

How is the sound compared to his other outstanding live solo albums?

 

One of my all time faves. Grab any random album of his from the 70's and you'll be very happy.

 

Keith is a special person for sure. Offers a unique perspective on music but also how to follow the magic.

I will second the one recommendation so far (?!) for My Song. Great tunes, great recording, challenging stuff that is very melodic too. And for that band in general, with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian and Dewey Redman. Whew!

On listening to Treasure Island just last evening was rather startled by how much it sounded like a record that Donald Fagen and Walter Becker probably spent a fair amount of time with. There's even a guitar player on a couple tracks.

 

One of my favorite tunes of his is "Gaucho"....

 

Excellent sound quality on these recordings.

 

Sun Bear Concerts.

 

My ex-wife had this . I need to re-buy it.

...to be honest, I've not been able to listen past the first 10 minutes of Kyoto... because it is so out-of-this-world. I could likely hear that on an endless loop for weeks and be in perfect bliss.
It. Is. Perfect.

 

Sun Bear concerts will never be reissued in a super deluxe edition, it is in its original issue a super deluxe release. I mean unless they can cough up some video footage that looks amazing, then this is it.

 

Just found The Sun Bear Concerts for £24.24 on Amazon UK. Not sure how good it is, but snapped it up. There are a few left...

 

It's very very good! But I'd like the vinyl set which is one of the most deluxe things ever made for a music release.

 

I would have loved that, but at this price couldn’t resist the CDs.

 

They sound good - the improvs are wonderful, and it's big special event set. Analog 70s is where it's at!

 

I love al his albums with The Keith Jarrett Trio. ( Gary Peacock And Jack de Jonnette)
To name a few:
Somewhere 2013
The Out Of Towners 2004
Changeless 1989
Up For It 2003
Inside Out 2001
Tokyo 96 1998 On cd

 

But the CDs sound good, right?

 

Yes, I think very much so. And there is likely only one mastering used for all countries.

 

except for the latest hybrid SACD issue in Japan which is a brand new master... on the hi-res layer only. redbook layer contains the standard master.

 

Oddly enough, I bought Keith's 'Sun Bear Concerts' 10 LP box at the old NRM in the Eastwood Mall.

 

I would think Jarrett's longer performances are better served by CD, where the music isn't split between LP sides.

 

Yes, but 40 minutes of solo piano with a break in middle is sometimes a nice thing. Not always but sometimes.

It is mainly the Japanese wood burned cover that is so attractive, plus better fidelity on vinyl no doubt.