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Track Listings
| Disc: 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Part I - Salle Pleyel, Paris | |||
| 2. Part II - Salle Pleyel, Paris | |||
| 3. Part III - Salle Pleyel, Paris | |||
| 4. Part IV - Salle Pleyel, Paris | |||
| 5. Part V - Salle Pleyel, Paris | |||
| 6. Part VI - Salle Pleyel, Paris | |||
See all 8 tracks on this disc
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| Disc: 2 | |||
| 1. Part I - Royal Festival Hall, London | |||
| 2. Part II - Royal Festival Hall, London | |||
| 3. Part III - Royal Festival Hall, London | |||
| 4. Part IV - Royal Festival Hall, London | |||
| 5. Part V - Royal Festival Hall, London | |||
| 6. Part VI - Royal Festival Hall, London | |||
| Disc: 3 | |||
| 1. Part VII - Royal Festival Hall, London | |||
| 2. Part VIII - Royal Festival Hall, London | |||
| 3. Part IX - Royal Festival Hall, London | |||
| 4. Part X - Royal Festival Hall, London | |||
| 5. Part XI - Royal Festival Hall, London | |||
| 6. Part XII - Royal Festival Hall, London | |||
Product Description
Review
Three CDs containing two concerts’ worth of solo, wholly improvised piano music lasting two hours and 42 minutes. The bare facts of Keith Jarrett’s latest release for ECM may appear a little intimidating, but the music is truly exploratory, deeply felt and often very moving.
The first concert, recorded in Salle Pleyel, Paris in November 2008, is a rich, dark affair. The first two parts appear to gradually rise up out of roiling lower registers. It’s a little reminiscent of Chopin’s Preludes, whose darkly romantic sketches were described by Robert Schumann as “... ruins, individual eagle pinions, all disorder and wild confusions”. The comparison is leant weight by the circumstances in which the concerts took place: the pianist describes in the CD’s liner notes how these concerts served as sink or swim lifelines he threw himself after his wife of 30 years had left him.
Part III briefly spells out a gentle, forgiving melody that’s almost submerged by ringing notes as though Jarrett refuses the thought of clemency. Part IV is chaotic, notes spilling out in darting, thrilling runs shadowed by Jarrett’s freeform glossolalia. The effect is almost frightening in its physicality and forms a pivotal moment for the concert. Parts VI and VII lighten the mood and introduce a welcome sense of space and light. VII is shot through with hard-won benevolence and reaches for a glory that Part VIII deftly sidesteps with up-tempo note clusters and sudden pauses.
The second concert, recorded at London’s Royal Festival Hall a few days later, begins in similarly sombre territory, but Jarrett goes on to perform a much more varied set than Paris. Part II is fierce in its sudden, oblique attack while its strongly rhythmic basis drives the music forward. Part III is notably gospel-infused and celebratory while Part IV is the most delicate so far comprising waterfall-like high notes. Overall, the concert seems to lack the narrative cohesion of the first disc but it remains a pleasure to follow all the same. --Colin Buttimer
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Jazzwise, (Stuart Nicholson), October 2009
(5 stars) Fascinating...an occasion charged with electricity, with Jarrett delivering at the very top of his form.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
54 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Firstly, although very familiar with Jarrett's work (over 40 years),I did not attend either concert. However, the reason for my title is that how this set appears to me, a monumental one and a half hours at London with Jarrett at his best, with a shorter, and for me less satisfactory concert in Paris. The 5 stars are awarded for the London concert alone.
These concerts were recorded whist Jarrett was still recovering from his second wife walking out on him, and was not mentally that strong. Perhaps the stress, anguish, and emotional turmoil was the driving force to create such emotive music. Both concerts follow the Radiance style insofar that the improvisations are broken into sections, 12 for London. It starts with a melancholic piece, and moves through a more abstract section, rhythmic, almost blues based pieces, pulsating moods, beautiful pieces and culminates with a piece with a touch of gospel in the theme.
I love Jarrett's trio work, but his solo concerts are the diamonds. The impact London has made on me is enormous on the first play, with some of the most intense, emotional playing I have heard from him for a long time - it's an absolute joy!
Unlike most Jarrett albums, there is an informative booklet with a 5 page essay by the man himself talking about why he moved to sectionalised works, rather than the mammoth length pieces he used to perform, the effect that producing such works has on himself, and his marriage break up - it really sets the scene.
Although not relevant to the music, I am delighted that the set comes completely in cardboard,(3 wallets in a slipcase), as not only is it environmentally sound, I abhor those plastic boxes, well done ECM.
These concerts were recorded whist Jarrett was still recovering from his second wife walking out on him, and was not mentally that strong. Perhaps the stress, anguish, and emotional turmoil was the driving force to create such emotive music. Both concerts follow the Radiance style insofar that the improvisations are broken into sections, 12 for London. It starts with a melancholic piece, and moves through a more abstract section, rhythmic, almost blues based pieces, pulsating moods, beautiful pieces and culminates with a piece with a touch of gospel in the theme.
I love Jarrett's trio work, but his solo concerts are the diamonds. The impact London has made on me is enormous on the first play, with some of the most intense, emotional playing I have heard from him for a long time - it's an absolute joy!
Unlike most Jarrett albums, there is an informative booklet with a 5 page essay by the man himself talking about why he moved to sectionalised works, rather than the mammoth length pieces he used to perform, the effect that producing such works has on himself, and his marriage break up - it really sets the scene.
Although not relevant to the music, I am delighted that the set comes completely in cardboard,(3 wallets in a slipcase), as not only is it environmentally sound, I abhor those plastic boxes, well done ECM.
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have been anticpating this release since reading the concert reviews. I was not lucky enough to get to the London show as it was sold out before I knew of it. These 2 concerts have got to be amongst the finest Keith Jarrett has ever recorded. I have pratically all his output on vinyl or CD but I am amazed at the invention and quality of what he produces here. The Paris recording may appear as a bonus disc but I love it and have played it through about 6 times already, as I have the London discs. So much variety and invention. Wether playing contemplatively or discordantly he comes up with some astonishing music, and incredibly all improvised. Difficult to pick out highlights as it is a total listening experience.
The London concert is as most seem to know amongst the finest he has ever done, and going by the sleeve notes KJ too. His personal circumstances surrounding the concert bring out music of staggering depth and feeling. I am left breathless after each listen. The second disc of London parts VII-XII blows me away.
If you are a fan you will buy it anyway an if you are new to his music get it too listen with an open mind and be amazed. Most people would cite the Koln concert as his best and more accessible, but I find this more rewarding in the long run. At 64 he is still coming up with fresh ideas, long may he do much more as he obviously has much more to say with the power of the the piano at his fingertips.
The London concert is as most seem to know amongst the finest he has ever done, and going by the sleeve notes KJ too. His personal circumstances surrounding the concert bring out music of staggering depth and feeling. I am left breathless after each listen. The second disc of London parts VII-XII blows me away.
If you are a fan you will buy it anyway an if you are new to his music get it too listen with an open mind and be amazed. Most people would cite the Koln concert as his best and more accessible, but I find this more rewarding in the long run. At 64 he is still coming up with fresh ideas, long may he do much more as he obviously has much more to say with the power of the the piano at his fingertips.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After managing to bag some back row tickets at the London concert, I was keen to get my hands on this CD!
Jarrett's odd grumbles with the audience, for which he has made a name for himself, are completely forgiven in my opinion taking into account the magic ambience he created that evening!
Every time I hear this album, small subtleties emerge that I quite obviously must have missed while trying to get a glimpse of his fingers through some binoculars. I agree with previous reviews in that the Paris concert, to me, seems slightly inferior and almost a "warm up" for the London concert with some ideas presented in one and developed in the other.
Thoroughly recommended!
Jarrett's odd grumbles with the audience, for which he has made a name for himself, are completely forgiven in my opinion taking into account the magic ambience he created that evening!
Every time I hear this album, small subtleties emerge that I quite obviously must have missed while trying to get a glimpse of his fingers through some binoculars. I agree with previous reviews in that the Paris concert, to me, seems slightly inferior and almost a "warm up" for the London concert with some ideas presented in one and developed in the other.
Thoroughly recommended!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A matter of parts
I took this album first as a download, just when I was beginning to understand the limits of downloads. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Deep Reader
Tee revelationay Keith Jarrett
I am a jazz fan of long standing but I went to the London concert having sampled Keith Jarrett's music hardly at all and I experienced a pleasant revalation in finding out how much... Read more
Published on 19 May 2010 by Mr. V. Lawrance
Magic!
London, Part I: The music of cosmic beauty, played by an extraterrestrial, wonderfully recorded. If you want to extract yourself from reality for a while, for whatever the reason,... Read more
Published on 13 April 2010 by N. Trifunovic
A Testament to brilliance
I loved this album. The London Concert is outstanding, Paris less so but still terrific.
I have only discovered Keith Jarrett in the last 3 or 4 years. Read more
I have only discovered Keith Jarrett in the last 3 or 4 years. Read more
Published on 16 Jan 2010 by Peter Down
Amazing Jarrett - poor show ECM.
Well of course I haven't heard the CD yet. (as I write on 1st September 09) But I was at the London show. It was quite a remarkable concert by any standard. Read more
Published on 1 Sep 2009 by Vapallia
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