The Köln Concert

It's scored more about the lore behind the album than the actual album it's self. A series of unfortunate events befell this show and the fact Jarrett was able to perform is a massive miracle.

Long solo instrumentals aren't my thing, but you can throw this on as background music and be pleased with yourself

It started off real nice, then it started to get a bit tedious after a while. I didn't even really like it as background music.

2.5/5 rounded down

Even iets heel anders. Een kale piano. Na een tijdje luister ik niet meer actief en wordt het wat gepingel. Prima op de achtergrond. Maar dit was een concert. Met publiek. Pfff...denk dat ik dan wel even was weggezakt.

Not my bag really. Can appreciate the technical accomplishment for sure, but didn't really connect.

I try not to let meta biographical considerations influence my judgment of music, but every time I hear this, I just shake my head in awe: the dude was hungry, sleep-deprived, and playing on a out-of-tune practice piano with badly-working pedals. And it was almost midnight when the concert got started. The way Jarrett is able to take all that and just go with it and manipulate the piano in the middle register is just amazing. And those little moans and wails throughout, adding just the right touch of soul to it all. It all melts away into such a sublime beauty that could be the soundtrack to monarch butterflies migrating. Look up! Look around you!

Kaunis levy, tullen kuuntelemaan lähitulevaisuudessa usein. 4/5

He sure can play that piano! But I still don't think I would ever choose to play this one again. Just doesn't hold my interest for over an hour.

Keith Jarrett is a jazz pianist from the USA. This is a live album, recorded at the Koln (Opera House) in Cologne in 1975.

Before heading out on his own, Keith played with the likes of Art Blakely and Miles Davis.

The story behind this album is a fantastic one. Before the show, Keith requested a concert grand piano be supplied for him to play the concert on. There was a misunderstanding with the venue, and a baby grand piano is all that was provided. Not only that, it was the baby grand that the venue had as a strictly "rehearsal instrument". The piano was worse for wear, being slightly out of tune, and having pedals that didn't always work as they should. Keith was also having severe back pain (he had to play the concert in a back brace) so much that he couldn't sleep, and was severely overtired, and before the concert, the restaurant he went to screwed his order up, leaving Keith only enough time for a few bites before having to leave to play the show. So tired, hungry, and with the wrong instrument, he went out, and now unable to play the setlist he wanted due to the smaller, subpar instrument he was provided, improvised 66 minutes of flawless music on the spot!! I am not necessarily the biggest jazz fan, but this story of perseverance in the face of hardship is what music is all about. This album wholeheartedly belongs on this list, simply because of that story!

Even the music he managed to play was amazing, though! Not something I would gravitate to every day, but absolutely stellar work. Keith was a master of his instrument!! I really enjoyed today's listen, and the story that went along with it!

Favourite songs: Koln Pt. II C

Least favourite songs: Koln Pt. I (just because he spent the first 10 minutes noodling about on the piano, I'm assuming trying to figure out what worked and what didn't on it)

4/5

The music has its moments, as does all of Jarrett's ever improvisational style, but perhaps the most interesting thing about this record is the story surrounding the circumstances of its recording. Certainly says something about the triumph of the creative spirit in the face of adversity.

Talented? Yes! Backstory? Yes! The reality of listening to an hour of live improv piano solos? Maybe in the right setting, late at night with a whiskey in hand, sure, less so on this particular Thursday morning.

Absolutely incredible

Have never heard of this concert or Keith Jarret, really enjoyed this on first listen, then after listening about the story of the live show and this was improvised blew me away, this really is a masterpiece and deserves the full 5 stars.

Meh. Very nice, very impressive, but just doesn't move me in the way that guitars and vocals do.
Interesting story behind it though, with the wrong piano being brought, and then needing tuned, and then ... just read the Wikipedia page!

Now this is jazz I can get behind. The first track is absolutely gorgeous. I wasn't paying close attention at first (jazz is usually background music to me), but about 4 minutes in I found myself drawn in and captivated. I ended up transfixed the entire time. Beautiful track.

The second track is outstanding also, and I love how there were so many unique motifs on this album. Too many jazz albums sound like "more of the same." This album was constantly evolving and flowing. Mind-boggling that this is mostly improvised.

I spent the day playing this album on repeat and kept finding new moments that surprised me. This is what jazz should be. Outstanding.