Pianist Keith Jarrett's career practically invites criticism or, at the really least, intense comment. His outspokenness, his utter seriousness of intent as well as the resulting love-hate human relationship alongside the audience, fifty-fifty his vocalisms, evoke rigid responses, both pro as well as con, from listeners.
As the years accept gone by, expectations accept continued to rise, almost to the indicate that no affair what he does, Jarrett volition neglect inward someone's eyes, as well as My Foolish Heart is no exception. However, the only number that actually matters is this: does he and, past times extension, the trio, communicate alongside as well as connect to the listener?
ECM has released this double-CD alive recording from the 2001 Montreux Jazz Festival every bit a form of now-to-then comparing to the upcoming publish Setting The Standards: New York Sessions 1983, which volition grade the twenty-fifth anniversary of this trio inward 2008. Any Jarrett publish is an lawsuit and, when combined alongside Jarrett's liner notes which verbalise almost how exceptional this surgery was, practically promises a revelatory listening experience.
Revelation is, however, a really personal thing. Since this music consists of well-known standards the magic, if it is to live found, volition non live inward novel sounds, but inward the details of the surgery for those who can, or wishing to, hear them.
The best jazz is the music of spontaneous, unexpected creation. It requires dynamic unloosen energy as well as concentration summation the seeming contradictory might to allow go, forgetting all the technique as well as theory as well as only playing. In this case, what is to live played starts alongside the tunes themselves, alongside melody. H5N1 touchstone is labeled every bit such because its structure has achieved the frail residual betwixt the melodic phrasing as well as harmony that creates something unique, as well as beingness forthwith identifiable as well as memorable.
To process such a creation every bit mere changes is to violate its sanctity, as well as truthful improvisation volition hold contact, yet tenuous, alongside the source of the inspiration. In this respect, Jarrett is masterful as well as at that topographic point is nary a minute on whatever rail when it is non obvious which tune is beingness played. The changes are respected, but therefore are the tune as well as emotional essence of the tune, alongside Jarrett using the musical linguistic communication of conventional bebop jazz.
Bassist Gary Peacock as well as drummer Jack DeJohnette, acknowledged masters inward their ain right, apparently know Jarrett as well as each other extremely well. Any given surgery tin vary, but this 1 does look to detect this musical rhythm department inward transcend form. DeJohnette's famous unloosen energy is controlled but white hot piece Peacock, whose solos are curt but meaningful, adds a delightful bounce as well as verve.
The trio is playing every bit 1 as well as this is the joy of the performance. The surprise comes alongside the 3 stride tunes, "Ain't Misbehavin,'" "Honeysuckle Rose" as well as "You Took Advantage Of Me," as well as if anyone was waiting for a argue to gush almost this performance, it is here.
My Foolish Heart is an anniversary publish celebrating 25 years of the Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, as well as Jack DeJohnette trio's traveling as well as performing together despite the rich as well as varied private careers of its members. Recorded inward 2001 at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Jarrett held the tape approximately the vest until what he felt was the correct fourth dimension for publish -- whatever that means. The bottom trace of piece of job is, listeners are really fortunate to accept it. The official alive offerings past times this grouping accept e'er been crystalline affairs of deep swinging communication, no affair the material.
Not only is My Foolish Heart no exception, it is mayhap the touchstone past times which the others should live judged. Almost 2 hours inward length, the programme is comprised only of jazz as well as popular standards -- showtime alongside a tough, limber, punchy version of Miles Davis' "Four" lasting over nine minutes. That the music begins similar this, therefore utterly strident as well as swaggering, sum of lyric conception as well as energy, is almost argue plenty for purchase.
The inherent commitment to the music is non measured: it's total. There are few -- if whatever -- groups inward jazz that accept been together for such a long time. And at that topographic point are few groups novel or onetime that are fifty-fifty capable plenty to create exercise such a wide-ranging selection of the repertoire: from the championship rail as well as "Four" to "Oleo," "Straight, No Chaser," as well as fifty-fifty "Five Brothers"! But the selection of cloth is only the wrapper. What's within it is non only the history of jazz but history inward the making, because these 3 test beyond all mensurate non only the vitality of the cloth but also the necessity of the trio interpretation of it, as well as indeed what is possible: bop, difficult bop, post-bop, swing, as well as hither fifty-fifty ragtime, played alongside all the seriousness as well as joy it demands.
The readings of Fats Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin'" as well as "Honeysuckle Rose" as well as Rodgers & Hart's "You Took Advantage of Me" are wild affairs, beautifully executed, sure, but played alongside the requisite emotion that novel interpretations require.
On this set, these tunes accept been brought out of history, out of the canon of milquetoast sweetness every bit diversions for the role of entertainment, as well as out into the acquaint every bit revelatory statements inward harmony as well as rhythmic as well as lyric invention. The interplay betwixt Peacock as well as DeJohnette is utterly dynamic. The way these 2 non only complement but also challenge 1 some other creates a feel of residual that allows Jarrett room for flying -- non into his ain quirks every bit a musician, but into the entire universe of jazz. Peacock as well as DeJohnette solo a lot here, alongside in-the-pocket contributions to the melodic panorama of the music.
The ballads, too, such every bit the frail reading of Sammy Cahn as well as Jule Styne's "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry" as well as the curious but spot-on selection for a ready closer, Cahn as well as James Van Heusen's "Only the Lonely," are read alongside such sensitivity as well as confidence that overly reverent interpretation (a trap for whatever thespian who risks bloodlessness) is impossible; the nature of "song" is kept every bit the trio offers these renditions alongside deep emotion as well as a singer's feel of infinite as well as elegance. Over thirteen tunes, this band offers to a greater extent than surprises, delights, as well as jaw-dropping musical acumen than fifty-fifty fans believed possible.
As Jarrett writes inward his liner notes, "There was no other black when nosotros felt that nosotros had to (almost literally) pick out handgrip of the audience past times the pharynx as well as milk shiver them into hearing what nosotros were doing." Perhaps they were distracted past times heat, bad sound, as well as lighting problems -- Jarrett speaks to these twice inward his notes -- but perhaps, until they reached the ragtime segment of the ready that demanded a waking response, they were only floored past times the swinging intensity alongside which the ready began.
Whatever the reason, this document is a mindblower from start to finish, as well as at that topographic point are moments when all yous tin exercise inward answer is human face at the box slack-jawed as well as wonder if what yous only heard actually happened. It did as well as it does, over as well as over again. This ready is a magical, wondrous minute inward the life of a trio when it all comes pouring out every bit inspiration as well as mastery.
Place it where yous volition inward Jarrett's discography, My Foolish Heart is truthful jazz artistry.
Track listing:
CD 1
1. "Four" (Miles Davis) - 9:09
2. "My Foolish Heart" (Ned Washington, Victor Young) - 12:25
3. "Oleo" (Sonny Rollins) - 6:37
4. "What's New?" (Johnny Burke, Bob Haggart) - 7:54
5. "The Song Is You" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern) - 7:43
6. "Ain't Misbehavin'" (Waller, Harry Brooks, Andy Razaf) - 6:41
CD 2
1. "Honeysuckle Rose" (Razaf, Waller) - 6:45
2. "You Took Advantage of Me" (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) - 8:54
3. "Straight, No Chaser" (Thelonious Monk) - 10:05
4. "Five Brothers" (Gerry Mulligan) - 6:36
5. "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry" (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne) - 11:09
6. "Green Dolphin Street" (Bronisław Kaper, Ned Washington) - 8:18
7. "Only the Lonely" (Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen) - 6:15
Personnel:
Keith Jarrett – piano
Gary Peacock - bass
Jack DeJohnette - drums
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