Keith Jarrett

Keith Jarrett on vinyl: improvisation without a net

In short: Keith Jarrett (born 1945) is regarded as one of the most important pianists in jazz. After spells with Art Blakey, Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis he recorded for ECM from 1971 – above all his freely improvised solo concerts made him famous. He also performed in quartets and duos, on organ and with orchestras. The Vinyl Room currently has 8 Keith Jarrett records.

What makes Keith Jarrett special?

At his solo concerts Jarrett sat down at the piano without finished pieces and invented the music in the moment – “Solo Concerts: Bremen / Lausanne” (1973) is an early example, and “Staircase” shows the same freedom in the studio. “My Song” (1978) with Jan Garbarek on saxophone is lyrical and song-like by contrast.

Among the more unusual records are “Hymns / Spheres”, recorded on the baroque organ of Ottobeuren Abbey, “Invocations / The Moth And The Flame” with organ, saxophone and piano, and “The Celestial Hawk” for orchestra, percussion and piano. Plus the duo “Ruta And Daitya” with drummer Jack DeJohnette.

From our stock

First pressings

Records by Keith Jarrett

→ ECM Records · Jack DeJohnette · Free improvisation · Jazz on vinyl

FAQ

What are Keith Jarrett’s solo concerts? Concerts at which he improvised freely at the piano without prepared pieces – for example on “Solo Concerts: Bremen / Lausanne”.

Does Jarrett also play organ? Yes, for example on “Hymns / Spheres”, recorded on the organ of Ottobeuren Abbey in Bavaria.

Who plays with him on “My Song”? Jan Garbarek, Palle Danielsson and Jon Christensen – his “European quartet”.

Which records do you have? Editions from the seventies and eighties – 8 records in all.