KEITH JARRETT - At The Blue Note:
Saturday June 4th, 1994 - 1st Set
ECM 674 3195
Keith Jarrett (piano); Gary Peacock (double bass); Jack DeJohnette (drums)
Recorded live Saturday June 4th, 1994 (1st set)
In June 1994 Keith Jarrett took his Standards Trio into the Blue Note in New York for three stunning nights of music making. It is therefore most fortunate and fortuitous that Manfred Eicher decided that this was the perfect opportunity to capture the trio live and in total six full sets over the three nights was recorded. Originally issued as a six CD set capturing every note played, these recordings became pretty much essential if pricey, listening.
At the time this single CD capturing the first set of the second night was only issued in the US, however this is now rectified with its general release within the Touchstone series of re-issues, and will perhaps also now be heard by a wider audience. So with such a vast discography for the Standards Trio already available was it worth the wait, and is it worth investing in? The simple answer is absolutely! The music as one would expect is phenomenal, and captures the trio in top form. More importantly, the trio are also 'played in' having the first night of the engagement under their belt. The repertoire is as one expect from Jarrett at this point in time, and yet what is particularly fascinating is how the three musicians continue to find new things to say and ways to interpret the material in their own distinctive way, and at such length.
The opener, an perennial favourite in 'Autumn Leaves', is well documented by the pianist but over the course of an incredible twenty six minutes the group totally disassemble the tune and carefully rebuild it, while all the time swinging hard and never losing touch with the song. If Jarrett is expansive and euphoric in his approach and solo, then we get nothing less from Peacock or DeJohnette as they lay down this astonishing performance. This is also true of the other long pieces of the set, a superb 'Days Of Wine And Roses' and a sympathetic and at time tumultuous reading of 'You Don't Know What Love Is' which is segued with Jarrett's composition, 'Muezzin'.
While it must be said that this disc provides a wholly satisfying seventy minutes of music, quickly dipping back into the original 6CD Complete Recordings does leave one hankering for more. In short, if you do not already own this music then this single disc is a must have purchase to enjoy while studiously saving up for the deluxe box set with over seven hours to dissect and assimilate at one's leisure.
Saturday June 4th, 1994 - 1st Set
ECM 674 3195
Keith Jarrett (piano); Gary Peacock (double bass); Jack DeJohnette (drums)
Recorded live Saturday June 4th, 1994 (1st set)
In June 1994 Keith Jarrett took his Standards Trio into the Blue Note in New York for three stunning nights of music making. It is therefore most fortunate and fortuitous that Manfred Eicher decided that this was the perfect opportunity to capture the trio live and in total six full sets over the three nights was recorded. Originally issued as a six CD set capturing every note played, these recordings became pretty much essential if pricey, listening.
At the time this single CD capturing the first set of the second night was only issued in the US, however this is now rectified with its general release within the Touchstone series of re-issues, and will perhaps also now be heard by a wider audience. So with such a vast discography for the Standards Trio already available was it worth the wait, and is it worth investing in? The simple answer is absolutely! The music as one would expect is phenomenal, and captures the trio in top form. More importantly, the trio are also 'played in' having the first night of the engagement under their belt. The repertoire is as one expect from Jarrett at this point in time, and yet what is particularly fascinating is how the three musicians continue to find new things to say and ways to interpret the material in their own distinctive way, and at such length.
The opener, an perennial favourite in 'Autumn Leaves', is well documented by the pianist but over the course of an incredible twenty six minutes the group totally disassemble the tune and carefully rebuild it, while all the time swinging hard and never losing touch with the song. If Jarrett is expansive and euphoric in his approach and solo, then we get nothing less from Peacock or DeJohnette as they lay down this astonishing performance. This is also true of the other long pieces of the set, a superb 'Days Of Wine And Roses' and a sympathetic and at time tumultuous reading of 'You Don't Know What Love Is' which is segued with Jarrett's composition, 'Muezzin'.
While it must be said that this disc provides a wholly satisfying seventy minutes of music, quickly dipping back into the original 6CD Complete Recordings does leave one hankering for more. In short, if you do not already own this music then this single disc is a must have purchase to enjoy while studiously saving up for the deluxe box set with over seven hours to dissect and assimilate at one's leisure.
