8/19/2019 Kind of Weird How the Köln Concert Made Keith Jarrett a Pop Star

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Kind Of Weird: How The Köln Concert

Made Keith Jarrett A Pop Star 10,998

7

John LinganFiled to: JAZZ

• KEITH JARRETT• THE '70S• POP MUSIC

2/05/15 3:26pm

The most improbably e hilarati!" re#or$ I'%e e%er hear$ &as re#or$e$ 0

years a"o( at a spe#ial late sho& i! the Colo"!e Opera Ho)se( i! *ro!t o* ayo)th*)l #apa#ity #ro&$+ It's li,ely the o!ly opera-relate$ alb)m I'%e e%erliste!e$ to more tha! o!#e( b)t that's .tti!"( si!#e *e& o* the /( 00 yo)!"

erma!s i! atte!$a!#e o! Ja!)ary 1 ( /273 &ere re")lars( either+ They'$#ome that !i"ht to hear somethi!" e%e! rarer a!$ less #ommer#ial4 a!ho)r-lo!" impro%isatio! o! solo pia!o by a 12-year-ol$ Pe!!syl%a!ia!!ame$ Keith Jarrett+Perhaps yo) thi!, that 50 mi!)tes o* )!bro,e!( o6-the-#)6 $oo$li!"so)!$s i!$)l"e!t a!$ esoteri#( i! &hi#h #ase yo)'%e !e%er hear$ The KölnConcert ( the $o)ble- P o* the sho& release$ later that year+ Perhaps yo)thi!, that a! e!tirely impro%ise$ li%e 8a99 alb)m by a si!"le m)si#ia! m)st

ha%e bee!( at best( a #)lt ob8e#t( i! &hi#h #ase it mi"ht s)rprise yo) tolear! that it t)r!e$ Jarrett i!to o!e o* the least li,ely pop stars i! history:

8/19/2019 Kind of Weird How the Köln Concert Made Keith Jarrett a Pop Star

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8/19/2019 Kind of Weird How the Köln Concert Made Keith Jarrett a Pop Star

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tha! a pia!ist sta!$i!" )p( &il$ly #o!torti!" his arms( breathi!" hea%ily(a!$ #ha!ti!" alo!" &ith his melo$ies+ His #o!#erts &ere *eats o* athleti#as &ell as #reati%e stami!a( b)t there &as a $eep spirit)al eleme!t tothem as &ell( as Jarrett ma$e #lear i! the li!er !otes *or his .rst li%e ECMre#or$i!"( the triple- P set Solo Concert!" Bremen#Lau!anne ( release$ i!/27;+ <e#lari!" himsel* to be o! a $isti!#tly )!tre!$y Ba!ti-ele#tri##r)sa$e(B Jarrett *)rther e plai!e$ himsel*4$ don%t &elieve $ can create' &ut that $ can &e a channel for the Creative. $do &elieve in the Creator' and !o in reality thi! i! hi! al&um through me to

you' (ith a! little in &et(een a! )o!!i&le on thi! media-con!ciou! earth.

This ,i!$ o* %a")e reli"io)s psy#hobabble a!$ pop-s,epti#ism li,ely .ts&ell &ithi! yo)r #o!#eptio! o* /27;( the hey$ay o* *other Earth Ne(! ( <r+=ro!!er's Ma"i# Soaps( a!$ the =a#, to the a!$ a!$ #omm)!al-li%i!"mo%eme!ts+ Dithi! a *e& years( +o(nBeat &o)l$ $es#ribe Jarrett's$ro!i!"( me$itati%e se#tio!s as Bso!i# ma!$alas(B &hile *elody *a,er &o)l$ s)""est that his m)si# e!*or#e$ a Bha!$s #laspe$ a!$ ,a*ta!s o!B%ibe+ =)t the %ery *a#t that his m)si# &as bei!" #o%ere$ i! the pop-mi!$e$ a!$ 8a99-a%erse *elody *a,er at all &as proo* o* ho& $eeplyali"!e$ Jarrett &as &ith other m)si#ia!s o* the time4 He e%i!#e$ a!$e#hoe$ the passio!ate $ro!es o* Ra%i Sha!,ar( the p)rpose*)l repetitio!so* James =ro&!( a!$ the &il$ly ambitio)s str)#t)res o* So*t Ma#hi!e a!$

es( !ot to me!tio! the pro)$ so!i# primiti%ism o* Geil o)!"+Dhi#h is all to say( the &orl$ &as rea$y *or The Köln Concert ( or at leastmore prepare$ *or it tha! mi"ht be ass)me$ 0 years o!+ Certai!ly themoo$ &as ri"ht i! the opera ho)se itsel*( &here Jarrett &as boo,e$ as the.*th sho& i! the so-#alle$ Ja99 at Colo"!e series( or"a!i9e$ by a tee!a"e$a.#io!a$o !ame$ era =ra!$es+ Selli!" ti#,ets at o!ly *o)r erma! mar,sapie#e( =ra!$es e!s)re$ a *)ll ho)se( almost all o* the atte!$ees aro)!$

Jarrett's a"e+ or his part( he too, the sta"e loo,i!" B*resh *rom them)si#al air (B as o!e o!loo,er re#e!tly tol$ the ==C+

Jarrett &as sleep-$epri%e$ a!$ harrie$ that !i"ht( a!$ his moo$ &as!'thelpe$ by the *a#t that the opera ho)se ha$ s)pplie$ a relati%ely small(poorly t)!e$ pia!o rather tha! the = se!$or*er "ra!$ that he reF)este$+E%e! a*ter a! emer"e!#y t)!i!"( the i!str)me!t s)ppose$ly so)!$e$ li,ea toy( &ith shrie,i!" hi"h !otes a!$ little pro8e#tio! i! the lo& re"isters+O! the re#or$( ha%i!" passe$ thro)"h t&o mi#ropho!es( the pia!o has a!

almost other&orl$ly so)!$( li,e it's .%e stories hi"h a!$ ma$e o* "lass+ Jarrett plays it har$er tha! he $oes o! his other solo re#or$i!"s( bashi!"the ,eys a!$ ,eepi!" lar"ely to the mi$-ra!"e !otes( perhaps o)t o**r)stratio!+ BDhat happe!e$ &ith this pia!o &as that I &as *or#e$ to playi! &hat &as at the time a !e& &ay(B he e plai!e$ years later+BSomeho& I *elt I ha$ to bri!" o)t &hate%er F)alities this i!str)me!t ha$+B

This is all ba#,story a!$ #o!te t( b)t as a! alb)m( The Köln Concert melts#o!te t( %apori9es it4 P)rely as m)si#( it e ists o)tsi$e time a!$ spa#e+ It'sa per*e#t pro$)#t o* the sha""y( sto!er '70s( b)t it so)!$s #ompletelymo$er! ri"ht !o& a!$ &ill remai! so 0 years *rom !o&+ i,e e%erythi!"ECM releases( it so)!$s some&hat #li!i#al i! a E)ropea! *ashio!( b)t

Jarrett's m)si#al ima"i!atio! is )!$e!iably Ameri#a!( spa!!i!" *)!,(bl)es( a!$ pop balla$ry+ I a"ree &ith eo6 <yer's assessme!t that B&he!

8/19/2019 Kind of Weird How the Köln Concert Made Keith Jarrett a Pop Star

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Jarrett is at his best( s!at#hes o* all ,i!$s o* m)si# o& thro)"h his &or,(b)t there is !e%er a!y se!se o* strai!( o* a #o!s#io)s e6ort to #ombi!ethese $isparate i! )e!#es+B This is as #lose as yo)'ll e%er #ome to a#t)allyheari!" a "e!i)s thi!,+ The i$eas b)il$ a!$ m)tate( a!$ Jarrett is s)#h asho#,i!"ly tale!te$ i!str)me!talist that there seems to be !o $ista!#ebet&ee! his brai! a!$ his .!"ers+

Jarrett has remai!e$ )!#ommo!ly proli.# i! the *o)r $e#a$es si!#e Köln (tho)"h his m)si# has rarely bore a!y resembla!#e to it+ He #o!ti!)e$ toplay solo impro%ise$ #o!#erts *or $e#a$es( a!$ i! the early /2 0s *o)!$e$the Sta!$ar$s Trio &ith *ello& <a%is a!$ loy$ al)m!)s Ja#, <eJoh!ette o!$r)ms a!$ ary Pea#o#, o! bass: their bo$y o* &or,( lar"ely $ra&! *romthe Ameri#a! so!"boo,( is as respe#te$ as a!y #o!temporary 8a99#ombo's( a!$ they remai! a reliable li%e $ra&+ =)t Jarrett's #o!temporary#ompositio!s are rarely so "e!reless a!$ a##essible as his /273masterpie#e( a!$ his #o!#erts ha%e !e%er re"ai!e$ that "ro)p-sLa!#e*eel+ I! *a#t( his pri#,li!ess o!sta"e pa)si!" to le#t)re a)$ie!#es o! ther)$e!ess o* #o)"hi!" ( *or e ample has be#ome !early as le"e!$ary ashis still-i!spire$ playi!"+=)t &hat a mar%elo)s( bi9arre thi!" that a! artist li,e this #a! be#ome sopop)lar( e%e! *or a mome!t( embra#e$ by people( li,e my $a$( &ho barelymesse$ &ith 8a99 besi$es+ I .rst $is#o%ere$ Köln i! o)r baseme!t( amo!"<a$'s ol$ Ps( sa!$&i#he$ amo!" Te! ears A*ter( ri!( a!$ Mo)!tai!+ I&as a yo)!" tee!a"er( i!tri")e$ by the spare alb)m art a!$ #)rio)s as toho& <a$ #o)l$ li,e somethi!" so Ge&-A"ey+ Dhe! I liste! to it !o&( I "etthe same *eeli!" I ha$ the .rst time4 I *eel stro!"er( smarter( morei!spire$+ It &or,s &he! I'm sa$( &he! I'm 8oy*)l( &he! I'm $ri%i!" or *alli!"

asleep+I! <a%i$ oster Dalla#e's /2 2 story B irl Dith C)rio)s Hair(B the)!!ame$ so#iopathi# !arrator "oes &ith his $irtba" *rie!$s to a solo Keith

Jarrett #o!#ert i! the early ' 0s+ The *rie!$s $rop a#i$( a!$ o!e e plai!sthat the impro%isatio! Bsmelle$ li,e ol$ %el%et i! a tr)!, i! a! atti#( or li,e%itami!s( or me$i#i!e( or mor!i!" NIt resemble$ &ea, s)!li"ht thro)"hi#e+B That's tr)e e!o)"h( b)t I pre*er the bre%ity o* the a&*)l !arrator(&ho's !e%er hear$ Jarrett's m)si# be*ore a!$ &ho( sober( $e#lares &ith"reat e!th)siasm that the sho& is Bp)!,ro#,+B The Köln Concert &illremai! e%er so+

Book Review: Peter Elsdon - Keith Jarrett’s The Köln Concert

8/19/2019 Kind of Weird How the Köln Concert Made Keith Jarrett a Pop Star

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Peter Elsdon - Keith Jarrett’s The Köln Concert

O!ford "niversit# Press$ %&'pp($ )%*(++( Book Review ,# hris Parker.

The Köln Concert was recorded in distinctly unpromising circumstances: eit! "arrett

was utterly e#!austed $!e !ad not slept %or o&er 2' !ours (e%ore t!e per%ormance),!ad *ust (olted down an +talian meal in an o&er!eated restaurant, and was so

un!appy wit! t!e state o% t!e instrument !e d (een gi&en t!at !e later compared it

wit! -a !arpsic!ord or a piano wit! tac.s in it , and conse uently played muc! o% !is

solo concert, as (iograp!er +an arr points out, in -t!e lower middle area o% t!e piano

using a lot o% repetiti&e r!yt!ms (ecause it is t!ere t!at suc! r!yt!ms 4spea.

and sound (est et, as arr goes on to point out, -wit!in t!is narrow con%ine, !e

ac!ie&es t!e usual state o% grace t!e inspired state , and suc! is t!e enduring

power o% t!e recording o% t!e nig!t s music t!at t!e al(ums $%irst a dou(le ;,t!en a single <) !a&e now sold 3 5 million copies worldwide

Peter Elsdon , a *a== pianist w!o lectures on music at t!e >ni&ersity o% ?ull, attempts

to anatomise t!is p!enomenon in a num(er o% ways: conte#tualising t!e concert

$(ot! widely, in terms o% *a== s 1970s reception in urope, and more narrowly, in

terms o% "arrett s ot!er dates on t!e same tour, as well as (y loo.ing at ot!er

contemporary solo piano recordings)@ e#amining t!e %undamental nature o%

impro&isation@ speculating a(out t!e reasons (e!ind t!e music s rapturous reception,

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(ot! on t!e nig!t and su(se uently on record@ p!ilosop!ising a(out recordings as

arte%acts and -te#ts @ and scrupulously e#amining t!e music itsel% courtesy o% t!e

aut!orised 1991 transcription (y u.i.o is!inami and uni.o amas!ita All t!ese

a&enues o% en uiry are intelligently $and surprisingly reada(ly) e#plored (y lsdon,and t!e (oo. as a w!ole is a t!oug!tBpro&o.ing, tig!tly %ocused and sc!olarly piece

o% wor., o% considera(le interest not only to "arrett a%icionados, (ut also to anyone

%ascinated (y t!e processes in&ol&ed in playing, listening to and mar.eting music

ac! reader will no dou(t sei=e on one o% said a&enues as o% particular interest to

!im or !er@ my own pre%erence is %or t!e speculation concerning t!e music s

popularity Cne only !as to glance at t!e comment section o% De(astian DcotneyEs

recent re&iew to see *ust !ow &iolently "arrett still di&ides opinion: admirers see !imas a uni uely inspired $and inspirational) %igure@ detractors t!in. !im grossly

o&errated, e&en going so %ar as to say !e is -to t!e music world w!at "ac. ettriano

is to t!e art world + must con%ess to !a&ing some sympat!y wit! t!e latter &iew,

!a&ing !eld a somew!at less &itriolically dismissi&e, (ut none t!e less negati&e

opinion o% !is wor. until relati&ely recently + d seen !im in concert on numerous

occasions, and (een put o%% not only (y w!at + t!en saw as t!e unt!in.ing adulation

o% !is %ollowers $many o% t!em !orrorsG not ;roper "a== Fans At All), (ut also (y

t!e grimacing and grunting t!at + considered dis%igured !is per%ormances + now seet!e %ormer reason as $almost) pure sno((is!ness, and t!e latter + m prepared to

accept $as dear old +an arr always used to insist it was) as signs o% "arrett s !a&ing

ac!ie&ed t!e a%orementioned -state o% grace t!e inspired state

And t!e reasons %or t!is con&ersionH Iwo al(ums: t!e recently issued Sleeper and

t!e solo Rio , (ot! o% w!ic! + %ound simply ent!ralling, my reaction easily summarised

in t!e p!rase -J!at s not to li.eH As wit! The Köln Concert $w!ic!, + (lus! to admit, +

!ad not actually !eard until a %ortnig!t ago (ut t!en + &e ne&er !eard Headhunters

eit!er go %igure), t!ese recordings are simply irresisti(le, s!owcasing all "arrett s

strengt!s: an unerring ear %or a wellBturned, accessi(le (ut sop!isticated melody@ an

a(ility to con*ure e#traordinary *oyousness %rom r!yt!m alone@ an ine#austi(ly %ecund

impro&isational gi%t, wonder%ul de#terity and precision o% articulation + could go on

All t!ese attri(utes, t!oug!, are instantly accessi(le to $nonBspecialist) audiences

anyone w!o is mo&ed (y music can appreciate eit! "arrett and The Köln Concert

coming at a time w!en large num(ers o% seriously dedicated listeners wereloo.ing, %or musical satis%action, (eyond t!e roc. t!ey d grown up listening to !it

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t!e spot %or a wide spectrum o% al(um (uyers searc!ing %or sop!istication not

necessarily o(taina(le %rom ram(ling, o&er(lown concept al(ums wit! gate%old

slee&es depicting incompre!ensi(le cosmic e&ents

J!ate&er t!e reason, The Köln Concert is to w!at Tubular Bells $G) was to irgin

Kecords, so per!aps (est lea&e t!e last word on t!e attractions o% "arrett s solo

impro&isations to "oe o&ano: - !is stu%% sounds li.e written music, t!e way !e

mo&es !is !armonies, !e s inside all t!e colour o% t!e !armony and t!e r!yt!m

toget!er, not *ust playing w!at !e wants@ !e s letting one t!ing lead to t!e ne#t

ouldn t !a&e put it (etter mysel%