The Köln Concert

Good.. random moaning was a bit odd

When I don't know an artist/album, I just hit play, no prior research. After I got done with this one, I jotted down 2 stars and then tried to figure out why it is on the list. I cannot believe that this album has sold 4 million albums. I can totally believe that it was largely improvised - it seemed like it, and not in a good way. The songs were meandering, not particularly interesting, and repetitive at times. I can get down with instrumentals only, I just need to feel something, something like Keith Jarrett apparently felt making this because it sounds like he's just off mic blowing a load at several points. 2/5

5/10 Freestyle piano jazz. The assortment of moans, groans, coughs, and hollers (much of which appears to be done by Keith Jarrett himself) is incredibly disconcerting. The music itself is fine, but I just... don't really care for it. It probably deserves a 3, but I'm not sure I can give it higher than a 2.

Awesome.

(light 8/10) Very pretty, it's very long but it does make for some nice background music.

nada demasiado espectacular, album de piano jazz, lo escuché de fondo mientras revisaba pruebas entonces tampoco tuve una atención demasiado elevada.

Have never listened to anything like this - and the story behind it is great too. Parts very beautiful, parts extremely irritating. Like all improv

Good to throw in the back round need to listen to it more in depth

9.5/10, Overall a phenomenal performance

Left me Köln

I tried. I did almost forget I was even listening to music about 15 minutes into track1. I appreciate the talent, but it's not for me.

No m gustó. Demasiado ruido como para estudiar, miy poco para escuchar normal

8.3/10

4.5* This is almost perfect, wowee zowee

If I were at a dinner party and the host were playing this album, I wouldn't be able to focus on the conversation because I'd be focused on this exquisite musicianship.

Never heard of Keith. Enjoyed.

I guess it's kind of lovely, but got very boring very quickly Never heard of it or the artist before, and found it an odd inclusion in this list. Can't fault the skill though, more of a case of not for me.

Baffling inclusion #8: Herein lies the problem with 1001 albums. There are always going to be differences of opinion and matters of taste, but the purpose of the exercise is to highlight exemplary and influential artists and records. They say this is the best selling solo jazz album of all time, whatever that means. Can anyone even name another album from the genre? It sold 4 million copies they said. That’s great, I can name a lot of albums that aren’t in here that sold more. What is the inclusion criteria?? ⭐️

This was ok background music while working, but it really didn't do much for me.

The Good: We are going to smell good!!! The Bad: This has nothing to do with water... The Ugly: Sitting in the Cologne concert hall next to smelly Germans.... First time listening to this album, even though Mr Beato hailed this as one of the albums that one needs to listen to in one's lifetime. Well, I will agree. And, though I hate to admit it, I think that having to have sat through hundreds of albums suggested to me by Mr D, and all the shit that this contained, it has trained my ear to realize when I am listening to something special. Nothing else to say... 5*

Amazing story behind this live album. It's awesome that it was improvised completely and I love the repetition in the left hand and the melodies with the right. Super genre blending and beautiful to hear. After a while, I grow a bit tired though

I liked the last movement the most, but some of it dragged a little but overall I liked it

A perfect album for a bright and cold morning - a real gem.

I’m sure that if you understood more about this type of thing, this is good, but it just seems to me like someone vaping on chords for a very long time which you know is impressive. He didn’t play like the wrong notes that were out of gear or whatever but I don’t know. Didn’t really get me that excited.

Enjoyed this one a bit. Instrumental jazz that starts with a slow burn before exploding into a very lively performance. Not to say anything of the slow burn since it is also great, but I just really enjoyed when this performance really opened up. Story behind it is neat and really puts into perspective how impressive this show was. The whole thing rest on how great of a piano player he is, and it lives up as a fun and soothing slbum to listen to.

i fuckin love jazz and the story for this one makes it even better

Doesn't do anything for me. It was probably interesting to be there, but as a record it just makes me drift away and dream of other music that really grips me...

this guy reaaallly likes piano

Just a fantastic wikipedia article. The highest selling "solo jazz" album of all time (I cannot think of another "solo jazz" album). He has an "idiosyncrasies" section where it basically says "he makes weird sex noises when he plays smooth jazz piano but he hates it if anyone in the audience coughs because it takes attention away from his moaning". He seems to try to pass for black but has recently pivoted so white it's like he detransitioned. Album is good at times just long and the idea of a tempermental solo piano performer moaning in a stadium makes me very sad.

solo piano that really strikes a strong chord between wistful cafe jazz, easy listening-ish pop, and cinematic montage music with a touch of Ghibli thrown in. highly recommend tapping into any Chick Corea / Gary Burton collab albums for a more complicated version of this one. 4.5/5 but I already have a strong affinity for this kinda jazz

Never even heard of this guy, so this will be eventful I'm Sure. Some very inspired piano playing on this. While the playing is impressive, the compositions aren't in my wheelhouse. I won't revisit this.

That was pretty magical.

all piano, engaging!

A good concert recording. The man plays great melodies and the moods swing from part to part without ever feeling forced. It stays alive for the full length. Jarrett is completely alone at the piano, yet the performance never feels empty. Ideas arrive, develop, and shift into new shapes with a natural sense of flow. Some passages are lyrical and open, others more rhythmic and restless, and he moves between them with real control. You can hear him thinking in real time, but it never turns into pure abstraction. The melodies keep returning and the emotional thread stays clear. The recording is clean and present. You get the full sound of the piano and the space of the hall without distraction. Nothing is overproduced or cleaned up beyond recognition. It simply captures a strong night of playing. The Köln Concert is a fine live document. Great melodies, shifting moods, and a performance that holds attention all the way through.

7+ / 10

I'm amazed I listened to all of this. Bored and did nothing for me. 1.5/5

I appreciate the artistry here but at a certain point you just start to zone out.

I groaned when I saw my album of the day. A piano recital!? Are you trying to make me quit the album project? Not looking forward to this at all. I don’t really like listening to the piano. When I was growing up my two sisters took piano lessons from the same teacher. I would hear the same songs over and over all day. It was God awful. The only piano players I like are rock and rollers like Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis. I don’t appreciate this type of music. I have no idea what to rate it. I guess I will give it an average rating. Three stars.

Very enjoyable. I've come back to this when the time calls for it.

Ο μπρο άφησε να υπάρχει στο δίσκο 1 λεπτού χειροκρότημα για την πάρτη του. Άντρες. 3,5 νομίζω

Bien.

Great compositions! I love singular piano tracks and this ones are great!

Played very well, but not very interesting.

This often referenced album took me multiple sittings to recognize its brilliance. My simplistic ears associate contemplative piano stressing the treble clef as New Age. That style struck me when I first heard The Koln Concert. Luckily, a used album find allowed me to become more familiar with Jarrett’s playing. By this time I had listened to far more ambient, electronic and modern classical instrumental music. As a result, I started to hear the grooves in Jarrett’s playing as well as hypnotic repetition that I find appealing. On this latest listen using YouTube’s version of the album Jarrett lays into a motif at around minute 44. I paused everything to cock an ear, then stayed with him, lost in my thoughts for the next few minutes. It is still too bright at times for my tastes, but I admire how Jarrett relentlessly plays his vision. Nothing here nods to the audience. No attempts to lock into something familiar or repeat a riff because the people start buzzing. He seems unaware of their presence, and since he hates any noise at his shows, I am sure there was no feedback from the crowd anyway. Lost in his own world, uttering the occasional moan, Jarrett turned out a set of improvisational gold.

Too slow/long

It may be good background music at a restaurant... Saw a review saying "I wish I was cultured enough..." - and i completely agree. (2.5/5)

Chill op achtergrond, werd en leip van op de voorgrond. 2,5 sterren

I get that this won’t be for everyone, but I loved it. The slight criticisms are that it could easily become background music if you don’t actively listen to it and that it’s probably a little bit too long, but I genuinely loved listening to it this afternoon.

I like Pt 1 opening number—it’s quite lovely. I was worried when descriptions said it was jazz. However 26+ minutes for 1 track is a bit much. One must be a true fan of the genre to appreciate it. But again, the music is truly lovely even if it’s not my normal listening choice. You can tell how immensely talented Keith Jarrett is.

This was nice, I really enjoyed having this on. Not really a takeaway from me because of the nature of it, but it was a joy to listen to. Felt like a treat.

The music is pretty good and it's a great story. I'd give this a 2.5, but I'll bump it up more for the story behind it

Very beautiful, this was great music to have on for a lazy Sunday of cooking. Never thought I'd rate a solo jazz album so highly

4/5

Really engaging and interesting through and through. Jarrett’s groans were funny.

pianooo. Nice for background tunes.

It amazes me (as someone who played intermediate piano at best when I was younger) that someone can sit down at a piano and improvise over an hour’s worth of solo piano work. He’s incredibly talented and the story behind the recording makes it even more interesting. The vocalizations are distracting and odd; I don’t know if that’s something he always does or his back was just REALLY bothering him. I enjoyed listening to this - went back and listened again - since I was stuck between a 3 and a 4. Going with 4 because I love piano and he clearly knows his way around one.

A break from the norm with this classical piano concert. While this is not something I would normally listen to, I can appreciate someone who put a life’s work into their craft to create such beautiful sounds. There are countless hours that went into being able to play like that and I think that’s truly what this project is about; experiencing good music that is outside my normal trajectory.

An album like this gives certain reviewers a place to expound and gush over something pretty basic. It’s fine. Yes, he plays the piano well … he’s a professional piano player. But this is no Thelonius Himself, so let’s take it easy with the effusive praise. I think his background moaning is hilariously pretentious and the whole exercise becomes very tiresome before too long. Bonus points for getting Eric Andre to pose for the cover photo.

Great pianist, clearly talented, but I have no real benchmark here. I enjoyed the listen well enough.

This was a pleasant surprise!

Loved this!

p-p-p-peak

Had never heard, or heard of, this record. Not familiar with the artist at all, but this was a pleasant surprise and a pleasure to listen to. An album I will put in more regular rotation and will listen to again. Finding the likes of this is why I started the 1001 album challenge. 7/10

Didn't know an album that was solely one instrument could captivate me. Very beautiful Piano. Impressive how he can create so many emotion with piano

4.5

The Köln Concert Keith Jarrett 1975 Genres: Jazz Styles: Post Bop, Free Improvisation, Live 1. Part I (★☆☆☆☆) -Contexto: Improvisación de unos 26 minutos que arranca con un motivo suave y descendente. Se dice que remite al timbre que llamaba al público a sentarse en la ópera, aunque es un dato contado por terceros. Pasa de lo delicado a pasajes rítmicos, con aire de gospel y folk, sin tema previo. 2. Part IIa (★☆☆☆☆) -Contexto: Primera pieza de la segunda mitad. Se apoya en un patrón repetido, casi de vamp, con energía casi rock. Jarrett suele gemir y tararear mientras toca, y se escucha en esta grabación. 3. Part IIb (★☆☆☆☆) -Contexto: Sección más larga y meditativa. Combina ostinatos graves con melodías contemplativas y tensiones crecientes que se resuelven en un clima sereno. 4. Part IIc (★☆☆☆☆) -Contexto: Bis breve y lírico, de tono de balada. Cierra el concierto con una melodía simple y cálida, sin la intensidad de lo anterior. -TOTAL = ★☆☆☆☆ (1) -Es música insoportable, para ambientar y no prestar atención, propia de un ascensor o de cafetería, y no me inspiró absolutamente nada; demás está aclarar que no logré escuchar los casi 30 minutos de la primera pieza, como así los 20 de otra, es insufrible, yo creo que hasta tocarlo debe ser la expresión del alma musical más aburrida del mundo.

It’s funny to me that probably the most famous piano album of all time is made by a man called Keith Jarrett.

Few albums I've ever listened to have done so much with so little. Consisting entirely of a solo piano concerto, this remarkably relaxing, contemplative piece was apparently created under pretty stressing conditions - Jarrett had to follow an opera and started late, while also being given the wrong kind of piano compared to the one requested for the performance. Jarrett's phrasing is utterly out of this world as his playing moves from scenic pastoral landscapes to rain falling on a window. He even finds time to interpolate the Berlin opera house's chime in a blink-and-you-miss-it inside joke with the audience. It's utterly silent besides the piano, with only faint exclamations from Jarrett to remind you this is, in fact, a lone human playing an instrument live and in real time. The best way to listen to this is to let the music pass through you, to let it disappear as quickly as it appears. The individual notes, phrases and sections are to disappear in the massive void of the opera house, just as lightning appears, impresses and disappears in the night sky. And truth be told, this album is lightning in a bottle, a landmark of minimalist solo jazz and an incredible evocative piece that stays with you long after it's ended, despite how ephemeral the concert itself might be.

I’ve listened to quite a few Kieth Jarrett albums. When he’s playing jazz standards, the playing is excellent but the music is often not that interesting. When he’s playing fully improvised pieces, on the other hand, it’s usually great. This album is on another level. If I believed in Muses then I’d swear one was channeling their magic through him that day.

Has a nervous forward motion energy that was nice for cleaning I don’t listen to a lot of solo piano work so this was a nice change of pace Knowing this was all improv?????? Is crazy crazy crazy

Right, the boy clearly kens how to work a piano. But the grunt every 10mins and the music makes me very annoyed.

I can imagine that someone hates this album, but I love it. Such a great pianist.

Unbelievable talent

Really special experience to hear this all the way through

This is those types of albums that you have to be on a certain mood/vibe/day to listen to. I feel that if you right now are not in that spot, it will feel totally off, but today I was kinda on that day (rainy day, day off) and really started to dig it! But my son was very playful after school and it threw me a bit off in the middle of the album, after playing with him (got super energetic afterwards).

Its fine I guess, he's good at piano

good stuff for mellow moods 5/5

Sleepy piano.

I go back and forth on this album. It’s a great recording but not something I’m always interested in or drawn too unlike a lot of other of his works. Usually start feeling the album into the second song and really enjoyed it on this listen

I was not familiar with Keith Jarrett and had never heard a live piano concert before. He sounded very talented and competent as a pianist. This made for some nice background music while I was getting some work done. Not sure how to rate this as it's not something I would normally search out but it sounded completely fine to my ears.

Prodigious talent in top form. The backstory on the concert is *incredible* (see the wiki).

This is fire - and the story is really cool too. I would listen to this anytime, anywhere pretty much.

"Say, what could make listening to a dude just make up piano music for a full hour? I know, let's include some random grunts and gasps of amazement and wonder, that's totally palatable!"

5/10

I was hoping for something more crazy jazz. Still a good album.

Insane, otherworldly piano playing.

- Pretty enough piano melodies that go on and on and on. - There are beautiful moments throughout, and the piano playing is great. It's nice to not have horns in improv jazz - and this is generally less dissonant than in typical jazz, thankfully. - I wish that he had had a good piano and not one where he couldn't play the high notes, etc. It feels constrained to me and relegates it to background music, though pretty amazing to produce this music from those circumstances. That said, I did get bored of it pretty quickly. - Really hate the random background vocals/scat/oooooh/whoop/grunt sounds that break through. It would be okay live, but it takes me way out of the moment on a recording - one reason I typically dislike live recordings. Also dislike all the clapping.

1 hour of the same piano jazz. Not bad but I wouldn't listen again.

Knowing the history of what happened to produce this live performance definitely helps you appreciate the skill and true artistry behind it… not something I’ll probably choose to listen to again, but a good listen

I'm sorry, what? This guy just improvised this entire thing? I think about the Fermi Paradox a lot these days, as it seems like we keep coming up with new possibilities for intelligent species to fuck themselves before figuring out how to travel the stars. You know: climate change, Skynet, civil war, Idiocracy, nuclear war, etc. Another solution: we *have* been visited by aliens. Dude's name was Keith Jarrett. Played a mind-blowing concert in 1975 where he just made up an hour of piano music on the spot and it sounded fantastic. Unreal, this.

Ah the perfect exemplar of what his project is about. Never heard of this but it was definitely something I needed to hear . While not my normal cup of tea this was interesting and something different . A piano album that is not jazz or “classical “. The only issue is 1 hour of solo piano playing, split into 4 tracks, can be a be a little long

He played this on a broken piano. Yes, he’d driven 350 miles, hadn’t eaten, hadn’t slept, was in a back brace and in tremendous pain, but I always think the most about this shitty ass piano, a tiny, out-of-tune Bösendorfer baby grand that he initially refused to play because the highs and the lows were thin and busted and the pedals all stuck. He improvised the whole thing as always, but nothing else of his quite hits the same because he made something transcendent with this unique, broken piano, forced to get even more creative about how to pull beauty out of it, focusing his melodies and modal explorations in the middle, putting his entire body into it to make the sound resonate across the whole venue, groaning in pain and passion. The limitation is the whole thing, and because of it nothing else will ever quite sound the same. A one of a kind masterpiece.

I'm feeling a 4 on this one

A little too background music at times, but enjoyable!

I recognize it’s really impressive but I hate this. I hate piano as a standalone instrument. And what’s with the weird sounds? DNF.

bleh

Beautiful piano just not my thing

I'm not deeply knowledgeable on Jazz, so I'm willing to go by the experts. But if someone can be stuck in rainy traffic for hours with a bad back, have to do a concert on a rinky-dink, out-of-tune baby grand instead of a concert-level piano, and then be surprised that they're recording this show, and then put out THIS... Well, I understand why this has the acclaim it does.

This album is pleasant but way to sleepy for my test. Not bad but not for me.

Didn't hate it.