The Köln Concert

It was a nice listen and I wouldn’t consider this generally bad in any way but this is not quite my music taste which is completely fine it was cool to listen to something else from time to time.

I am not a big piano fan

Köln, January 24, 1975, Part I - Live

Mwah

This has no soul no life . This is not the best breakfast I’ve ever had

Haven't heard of him. You know, I'm always happy to get some jazz album and have it playing in the background while I do other things. But this album wasn't even good for that. It just didn't make me feel anything, nothing sounded interesting. The funniest part was, I assume, Keith going "ohhh aaah" every so often 2/5

I guess.

04/10

Obviously skilled, but not a super enjoyable experience. More structure and dynamics would be appreciated.

Boring

Is it good piano? Yes. Do I enjoy listening to solo piano? No. 1 Minute of recorded clapping at the end, thats funny.

c'était sympa mais c'est pas mon style puis en une chanson (de 20 min) on a un peu tout écouté mais ça reste beau

The guy is talented but I could only listen to the first song which seemed like it went on forever.

technically impressive

Hm

Day839 - it was enjoyable background dinner music

Inoffensive jazz piano music. Nice background music, but makes for dry listening. If I played piano I might have more appreciation for this.

Solid, too long. 2/5

Sounds like an especially competent department store pianist

This is undoubtedly the work of a musical prodigy, being able to improvise 40 minutes of piano. Sadly I am too stupid to understand musical prodigies.

Ain't nobody got time for that Will catch up Too long

Doesn’t do much for me

It was ok. I thought it would be good for a long drive But not really

good stuff. kinda zoned out sometimes but whenever he hit his stride, those passages were pretty fire!

This got a 2 because the piano playing is impressive. But I am never going to want to sit and listen to this album start to finish. Background music at a dinner? Maybe.

I liked it. In some parts it gets a little monotonous, but overall it's good.

It was all improvised amazing

Pianomusic, well......ill try again with wine on the beach during sunset

not for me

no esta mal, pero no es algo que escucharia ni agregaria a mi playlist

Good? Look I don’t hate it..but it’s not easy to love either..I mean I’m all for piano..and the expertise really shines through..I mean this whole thing was IMPROVISED?ona broken piano?? Amazing..but still..after a while it becomes repetitive..although..if u play..close ur eyes..and really really pay attention to every note..u will enjoy it..and it is super peaceful..but man overall…it’s good..not great or amazing,.but good..

Objectively, a nice piano improv concert. Subjectively, I’m not into it and I zoned out halfway into the first track.

Pretty but elevator music

Good but not really my thing

album #20 in the name of billy joel - sing us a song piano man!! love the story behind this but i'm afraid i am not the target audience lol. ꩜ album rating: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ꩜ number of albums left to review: 1,069 ꩜ number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 9 ꩜ albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 3 ꩜ albums from the list I won't include on my list: 14

I liked learning about this more than actually listening to it. I can appreciate the idea of a fully improvisational concert. And it seems like people really love the clanging and banging, I cat say I felt the same.

I can appreciate that this is an impressive feat, with the piano having distinct character and key leitmotifs. However, it's just too long and the piano is never played gently, which just isn't my preference. Not to mention the parts are up to 25 minutes long. It's just too long to listen to. I didn't like it, but I can appreciate that is a key piano album

I don't know if this good or not but it bores me too much to care. 2 stars or D.

Impressive! Was it all improvised? Or do he compose it?

Did not do it for me. The piano itself sounds off to me in this. The music is nice sometimes, but most of the time feels pretty stock. It’s like royalty free background music.

Not that great.

Long, so long

plinky plonky

I know how amazing it is that it was all improvised, but I still can't help but feel I'm in an elevator.

I hated this so much. Incessant pounding in the first three pieces. Enough to drive one one insane. I'm sure he's a very accomplished musician but I'm not a fan of piano music and I really don't get why anyone would want to listen to this.

Meandering and sometimes furious piano music. Not sure what else I can say. It was alright.

I was ok to long tho!

This is loved by a select few people. And I am not one of them.

This put me in mind of music by an artist named George Winston that my parents use to listen to. I believe this style of music is rather pejoratively called New Age Jazz. Apparently there’s nothing new about it. The wiki talks gleefully about the “8 minute vamp in D major” or the “12 minute vamp in G and A”, and I think, “my god how boring!” And I wasn’t wrong. This isn’t a terrible album to have on in the background of a pleasant dinner party but it’s not music to pay attention to.

The piano was interesting and fun. However, each song too closely followed the same path and I began to lose interest pretty quickly. Nice stuff, not for me.

OK, die man kan piano spelen... maar je kunt ook teveel piano spelen... het verhaal achter het concert was boeiender dan het concert zelf

The Köln Concert. Not bad.

I hate rating albums like this. Yeah he's very talented, but it's boring af to me.

Yea. Good piano or whatever.

Very talented player but I didn’t particularly enjoy it.

-chill music -nothing crazy -good background noise

If I wanted to hear an hour of uninterrupted piano I'd just sit in my brother's living room.

quite but boring

His composed sections are beautiful. Last song is great. His noodling is sparse and masturbatory. It's like SIMs building music but worse.

No me copó tanto. Buena idea, no gustó tanto

I don't think I really enjoyed this album, but it's nothing to do with the pianist himself. I just don't think I really enjoy music that's just one instrument. There was a bit of a jazzy tone to the music, but not enough to really make me like it.

Pleasant as background music.

This may betray my lack of ball knowledge regarding solo piano compositions and albums, but this didn't resonate with me a whole lot. Jarrett is obviously a master of his craft as a pianist, and it is impressive this was essentially just a freeform vamped performance, but it gives elevator music. Hey, at least it was a nice soothing listen while I worked.

1: Part II b 2: Part II a 3: Part II c

It was ok - but only as background music

"Bro, I'll just make it up as I go" is no way to make an album. It's truly uninspiring music. He is a talented piano player but it's so repetitive. No thank you.

Nice album. Peaceful.

I get that the story is cool and I’m sure that someone who likes this music would appreciate it more but it just wasn’t for me.

Impressive? Yes Enjoyable? No Albums like this are so hard for me to rate. There's no question that Keith Jarrett is a talented musician, but it was largely background music for me (and annoying at times, to be honest). I suspect I would give 5 stars if I saw this live, but it just doesn't hold up as a recording for me.

Its apparently 100% improvised on an apparenly subpar piano....whilst this makes it more impressive, it doesnt make it more attractive to me either. Sorry super talented guy, tis a 2 star from me despite the fact Im pretty sure I heard you c*m several times during the performance.

Nice piano music but just feels a bit long and like background music

Stäm mig

Very accomplished playing, completely inoffensive and great for any piano enthusiast. Just not for me

The majority of this album sounds to me like boring, directionless piano noodling, like if you gave a chimp a keyboard that was incapable of playing out of key. While Jarrett is clearly a talented pianist, the few moments on this album where he appears to be playing with intention aren't worth slogging through the rest of the aimlessness for, and truthfully I'd rather listen to elevator music. This probably hits differently while doing drugs though.

This was clearly a very well performed piece of music showcasing an impressive improviser, but it’s not really my thing. The backstory of this concert is fun and makes the performance even more remarkable, but this kind of long form piano music was never going to much for me. Nice as background music.

It's beautiful playing, but 1 hour of piano noodling is too much for me

Jajajaja Sicher schön komponiert und blablabla. Aber für e album klöpp cha mir da nöd migt ere guete bewertig belohne. 2 kölsch uf das

pretty solid instrumental album. would rate 2.5/5

Well if you don’t like the sound of piano keys, you will hate this album, especially if you don’t like jazz. It is artsy fartsy, It is pretentious, it is “show-offey”, but it’s also relaxing and calming. It’s so above my pay grade i definitely can’t appreciate the intricacies and nuances of this album cause quite frankly it puts me to sleep. It’s just all one note (figuratively) and it’s so dry it might as well have a Ritz logo on the cover. But it is obviously the work of a genius pianist, so I can’t say it’s a waste of time, it just wasn’t for me personally.

aaaaaaaaaaaa

The story behind making this recording happen is more interesting than the album. Keith is amazingly talented but an hour of solo piano gets stale after the first few minutes.

Really hard for me to enjoy an hour long piano recital

Listening Notes Best selling solo piano record of all time I can appreciate the level of musicianship on display but not one I feel the need to revisit Standout Tracks N/a (A live performance broken up into four parts) First time? Yes Will it go into your rotation? No

Mal was ganz anderes, glaub das wär gute Lese musik

Tinny clangy

J'ai du mal à comprendre l'attrait. Ça reste de l'improvisation confuse, souvent mal placée. Il y a une énergie, mais le rendu est brouillon.

Another album I'm not sure I needed to hear and/ or an album I will never listen to again. I'm sure Mr. Jarrett is a talented, accomplished musician. But to me this sounds like that one person who always finds the piano at a party and decides they need to play for everyone. 2 stars for talent.

A lot of jazz records have great stories behind them, but 50 years removed from that era, it’s tough to find a way into the music itself.

This was an album I listened to before I died. Personal enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5

Keith mate I know you are really good at piano and everything, but I don’t really enjoy this kind of thing

No doubt he’s a supremely talented pianist, but an hour of listening to an improvised jazz piano solo just isn’t for me.

Previously unknown. Again, didn't dislike this as much as I expected. Wouldn't listen again.

я взагалі люблю інструментальну музику але цей альбом ну взагалі не зайшов

Easy listening, harmless record. Personally, I prefer the La Scala concert. Great to listen while studying or working.

Me hubiese gustado que hubieran más instrumentos. Está ok.

Started slow but got better as it went along. Impressive as a show of musicianship, but the music itself left me rather cold.

eh

Just okay

Idk not really for me

Blergh

Is he making mouth noises while playing?

Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Naja, gibt mir nicht viel.

Listened on 12.30.25. It’s okay. Not really any distinct sounds that really stood out. Felt like it’s one of those albums you listen to once and are done with it. Wasn’t bad, I just probably would never choose to listen to it again out of my own volition.

haven’t listened yet

Relaxing concert pianist 2.5

I used to think more of this album when I was less experienced and had less confidence in my own taste

Ok un piano seul pendant 1h, c'est non.

Album #7 Keith Jarrett: The Koln Concert Nothing bad about this album, really, just not my thing. The context in which I heard this album is probably ideal for a first-time listen. I was coming back from my 10 pm Philosophy exam, on my birthday, in a snowy yet moderate weathered night. As I rode the subway, a man dressed in an all-white pristine suit with a ponytail and a massive scar across his face, looking straight out of a David Lynch movie, began to dance. Almost seeming as if he were too listening to the piano playing of Keith Jarrett, he would slide when the subway bounced, and spin when it stopped. I’ve seen a lot of characters on the subway, but this guy almost seemed mythical, too put-together to be crazy, and too eccentric to be normal. He almost seemed to gain energy when the piano picked up, and slow down when it stopped. However, this brief amusement would turn out to be the high point of the album for me, which could also be due to part 1 clearly being the superior part. Overall, I feel as though there was a lack of truly expressive moments. I’m not claiming to know how to play better than Jarrett, nor am I saying I even understand just how impressive this improvisation was; just that I tend to enjoy music with huge payoffs. Part one is, in my opinion, the closest we get to that, but parts 2 and three tend to get a bit repetitive. This is the first album of this kind I have heard, so I’m not able to critique it for what it is, but simply what I wish it were. That said, there wasn’t really an unenjoyable moment; it remained pleasant throughout, though I wasn’t a fan of his occasional moaning. If it kept the momentum of part one and maybe trimmed a little fat, I would prefer the performance more, yet it is no doubt an impressive album and one that I feel I could grow to appreciate as I diversify my tastes. But for now, aside from the brilliant part 1, I don’t know how much I’ll return to this one. Best Tracks: Part 1, Part 4, Part 2 Worst Track: Part 3 Score out of 10: 5.5

Looooong songs. Appreciate the creativity of the genre.

Ome Keith rammelt een uur lang op de piano en ondertussen hoor je hem klaarkomen. Dat eerste vind ik wel prima voor een keer, dat tweede had van mij achterwege mogen blijven. Ik wil dit eigenlijk een 2 geven maar ik ben gezien m'n recente historie bang dat ik dan bezorgde berichtjes ontvang met de vraag of ik nog oké ben. Ik krijg momenteel nogal wat albums waarbij ik me zit af te vragen of en wanneer ik ze buiten deze lijst om nog eens zou gaan draaien, maar ze zijn zo typisch dat ik dat maar moeilijk kan beantwoorden. Ik ben oké, maar toch 2 sterren. Een lange zit. Wel een sappige Wiki zoals je in bijna alle andere reviews op deze site al hebt kunnen lezen.

Not bad music to have on while cooking, but I won’t be revisiting this. Some parts were interesting but overall was not into it.

Mal was neues Klavier. Nun ja es iost Klavier Ohne Gesang hey, wem es gefällt

it's a jazz album....on piano.

I really enjoy jazz but I am not super familiar with specific jazz albums. As a result, I've been blown away by pretty much every jazz album I've been assigned on this site (seriously I think they've all been 5 stars so far). When I saw that this was the best selling solo jazz album of all time, I must admit my expectations were high. But I quickly realized that what I love most about jazz is absent from this album. The interplay between musicians, the dynamic of different instruments speaking to one another, inspiring a new direction and then bringing it all back together. This is just one guy exploring themes on his own. And while it's cool and undeniably takes incredible talent, the end result is that it's just...boring.

Not for me. Boring

Given the write up about this being a double album I expected it to be a lot longer than a shade over an hour - and only four tracks. This is a completely forgettable album. Fine as a bit of piano background music - although not keen on the live aspect (clapping and cheering gets in the way of the ambiance). But this is certainly not what I’d consider a “jazz” album and am amazed it was the best ever selling solo jazz album in history (or atleast for the time). It’s more just a classical piano piece - and an unobtrusive one at that. Tempted to give it a 2, but given the jarring clapping and the general forgetfulness of the entire album it’ll could end up with a 1. That said, it’s not dire like some albums have been… hmmm… maybe back to a 2 then.

Just flowed over me - nothing captured my attention

Boring. Elevator music. Didn’t hate it. Would never play it.

Background music.

Pleasant enough background music but I wouldn’t consider dedicating much time to listen.

At least it’s just a piano

I love jazz and I play the piano so this should be a shoe-in for me. Trouble with piano-only is that it's a percussion instrument. it's jarring, it puts me on the same level of system alertness as death metal but there's way more to pay attention to in death metal. bravo but not something I could enjoy

Very impressive. Very boring. The piano version of overwrought singing, in my opinion. Fewer wibbles for me...

It’s good but all the self congratulatory “ohhh uh” and woo orgasmic sounds in the background are goofy. Change your shorts.

Sounds like shopping at Von Maur on a busy Saturday. It’s nice while you’re in the shoe section but after a while your nerves have had enough.

I love piano but this was a little too experimental for me. I'm a classical girly

I'm sure the skill present is very impressive but the bloody endless piano and the odd little grunts just got on my nerves

Very good technical playing. Not melodic enough for my taste.

I hate live albums

I'm going to be honest, I didn't like this very much. But I recognise that it might not be my genre and music, and most likely other people would consider it to be good. The problem is that I found it to be very boring. I guess it could kinda work like ambient background music, but even then I'd rather listen to something else.

not my type of music

Four songs, one hour and six minutes. This isn't bad in the sense that it isn't just a melange of noise and found sound, but it feels li9ke background music. This is like the music from the "Romantic Classics" CD series sold on late night TV. The sporadic shouting while he's playing easy listening music is great. There's nothing unpleasant about this, it's just hard to imagine how far up your own ass you have to be to suggest this album belongs on this list. It's just Keith Jarrett and a piano for over an hour. After learning a little more about Keith Jarrett, he sounds like a real peach. I cannot imagine going to a concert where the performer is actively discouraging any crowd noise, including coughing, while he moans his way through his music.

Piano!

Nice piano music but a bit one dimensional as a result?

I’m sorry I can only say: This is impressive as hell and this is kinda pretty so many times, before the fact that this is boring and that I’m bored becomes impossible to ignore It’s an hour of piano music. God

not my cup of tea

Okay. Lots of piano. I get it. And I like the piano. I even tried learning at one point. But that’s too much.

yawning

A very pleasant double album of live Jazz Piano from the talented Keith Jarrett. It's just not my cup of tea, but I wouldn't switch it off.

Piano heavy.

Calming if a bit unmemorable.

Reading a bit about this album on Wikipedia, I understand why it's on the list. But this album is just not for me.

Not a fan of his style. Lot's of very heavy banging on the keys. The audience noise is also quite distracting. Almost like the concert was for a small audience, but they were encouraged to randomly whoop and hoot, and never clap.

Why does this man have to be groaning so much. I kept thinking there was a weirdo next to me on the street as I walked through NYC. Otherwise, I liked it fine.

I appreciate the talent behind something like this but just can’t get myself into instrumental jazz despite the several I’ve already had on here.

Not a fav. Kinda monotonous

Im too much of a heathen for this i think. Sure keith isn't arsed about my opinion, and rightly so. Keep up the tinkling keithy boy

Nice bath music

Piano

I listened to the first 26-minute song on my drive to work and kind of assumed I got the gist.

Kül.

Another one for the "fine" bin. Not my cup of jazz.

2- Stars (4/15)

i dont wanna listen to 30 minute songs with no cohesion :(

The music itself was enjoyable, but I didn't hear anything particularly impressive or inspired,

Talent for sure, but just too repetitive to be enjoyable

Best Track - N/A

Gute Klavier Stücke aber meistens nicht meins. Maybe fürs lernen oder so gut

Inte alls min grej, tyvärr.

Not my cup of tea

75/1001 Keith Jarrett - The Köln Concert Heart before? ❎ Revisit? ❎ It's quite clear the guy can play piano and there's a melancholy that I enjoy from the music. However, there was never enough variety to keep me interested for the full hour and six minutes of the record and just became background music.

Day 26 This album has a really interesting story behind it and the guy is clearly very talented but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me at all, glad I’ve heard it but very unlikely I’ll listen again. 4/10

First one i feel bad about giving two stars. The man can tickle the ivories, I just dont think i have a trained enough ear to enjoy it. I like jazz piano mixed in with other instrumentals quite a bit, but just having the piano for over an hour, i really didnt engage with it at all

Nice background music

Man plays piano for an hour. It's cool ig. Understanding the context of how and why it was improvised gives it a few points but realistically I was bored throughout the whole thing. Nothing wrong with it but just not something I could ever say I enjoyed 4.1/10

Okay

I just can't understand it, I guess. But I totally respect the quality and importance.

Started out interesting but got boring after a while.

There's nothing wrong with a bit of piano music, and this man can certainly play the piano. But a 67 minute piano solo is too much even for me. Come on guys good or bad let's get things back on track. From that you would expect a 1, but the man does have talent 2.

With jazz being one of my least enjoyable genres, and with this being a ‘live’ album too, I feared the worst. But I found it just a little bit enjoyable. The backstory to it is quite remarkable. 2 stars to respect the technical competence and for not making put my giant wotsits in my ears.

Not being a massive jazz fan, I was unaware of Keith and I've therefore obviously never heard or heard of this before. So I did a little research and found a great article in the Guardian about two films being produced about and explaining the story behind this live concert recording and it's pretty fascinating! https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/10/koln-concert-keith-jarrett-jazz-masterpiece-piano So, it almost didn't happen save for the work of two diligent piano technicians and the 18yo promoter swearing in his face. > I went face to face with Keith Jarrett,” recalls Vera Brandes, “and I said to him, ‘Keith, if you don’t play this concert, I’ll be fucked. And you’ll be fucked too.’ The first 4 notes he plays are also a repeat of the 'jingle 'that the theatre play to instruct patrons to seat themselves and he develops the motif through the piece. A live piano album is always going to struggle with me though, it's something i'd much rather watch live and in this case... something I'd much rather watch one of those 2 films of. I feel much of the reason this is here is in the lore of how the concert happened rather than in the music itself, as good as that obviously is.

My first piano concert. In the right setting this is good background music but I don’t think I would put anything in my normal rotation.

Meh

No private session used for Spotify. Talented piano player, but not my thing. Maybe if someone was over and I wanted background music that might impress them, but that isn't my thing either.

This album is like the start of a roller coaster, when your cart is getting hauled to the highest point, leading to the drop. You’re excited to get to the top and swiftly plummet into the actual ride, but this part is taking ages. Initially you’re filled with excitement, but as a couple of others on the ride with you start to groan impatiently, the thought does cross your mind that this is taking quite a long time.

I'm gonna sound uncultured, but it's so boring, it's not popular music in any way. I should appreciate the talent I guess

he’s very good at piano i just do not like this kind of thing

Honestly I gave this a try but something about didn't hit for me.

Can I get your name? Thank you. Ok, I see you're here for 3 nights, perfect. Can we get a credit card for a damage deposit? We will just put a $250 hold on your account until you check out, then lift it. Great. Yes, it's a very nice piano. I'm glad you're enjoying it. Enjoy your stay!

The context behind this album is interesting, but the album itself is solidly fine. I listened to it in its entirety and I don't ever need to do it again. 2/5 stars.

Supreme talent, but doesn't get away from it saying....very little.

Nice but went on a bit

Deeply underimpressed.

Good jazz but got super repetitive

Piano album, it’s good as an instrumental and for relaxing purposes.

Nice. Totally not for me though.

Love piano and recognize skill but too jazzy for me

Look... as something I'd see in a Jazz lounge, sure... as an album to listen to literally ever, absolutely not.

Good for falling asleep.

This guy is clearly an incredibly talented pianist, however, if I had attended that concert, I certainly would've fallen asleep.

Not for me

2.5 maybe

Fine as background music but it’s outrageous to me that this is considered a classic album. It’s elevated elevator music.

Probably a great piece of work for what it is but I need more than just piano.

Can appreciate but an hour of jazz piano is not my thing

Ok as background music but not for me.

It was helpful to read that this concert was completely improvised from beginning to end, which is incredibly impressive in context. Jazz isn’t my thing, when things really locked in, I could appreciate it.

Talent may be impressive but the output isn't. If I wanted piano, I'd go classical

Good for what it is I suppose, not my cup of tea. It was fairly enjoyable to have on in the background while working, but probably not something I’ll revisit.

Love the music, although a bit too virtuosic at times. What I can't stand is his singing along. Really distracting. Maybe can't hear through speakers at regular volume, but through headphones it jus souds ridiculous!

Not for me. Not worth a one though as it's obviously great in its genre

4/10 - well produced/mixed. It’s a musical journey to nowhere. I love piano and I like jazz, but this didn’t do it for me. Is it important? I dont know. there are lots of jazz albums more singular and more coherent.

While I recognize good musicianship this didnt do anything for me. The lack of other instruments or vocals made it too long and skippable for me.

Just can’t get on with jazz….

Oh

yawn 2/5

it certainly wasn't bad but it also wasn't memorable in the least

It was cool, didn't catch me.

Ok

Rockin ja klassisen koulutuksen suhde ei ole antinominen.

I’m not sure why this album is a must listen but I suppose it is for the improvisational stylings of Keith during this hour long concert. It is not bad but not anything I would listen to again

This album is a solid 2.5. Right down the middle. It was good and the story is fun, but no songs really stand out to me. It was background noise for most of it. Insanely talented piano work tho. Actual review....2.5. Liked songs: The album was solid

It's a 5 for somebody

Super impressive but not really my thing tbh

I really wasn’t expecting much from this album, being a live jazz record. Although it’s still not something I’m going to actively seek out, I did still find myself enjoying it more than I anticipated. I’ve said this for other jazz albums before, but it’s that nice kind of jazz instead of the weird kind that can be quite difficult to listen to. It was probably longer than I’d have liked it to be, but jazz-enjoyers are weird, so maybe it’s just right for them.

This was nice, and Jarrett is clearly a very talented pianist, but I can only appreciate this album insomuch as I can recognise those talents. I would Listen to this to focus at work or read a book, but I wouldn’t listen to it for the music - if that makes sense. Also the crowd in this recording is annoying. ⭐️⭐️

Jazz piano like this is kinda like eggnog. A little is ok and enjoyable. An hour straight is like you've drank an entire carton of nog, you're queasy and you swear never to touch the stuff again.

1. koln 1 - 3 2. koln 2 - 1 3. koln 3 - 4. koln 4 -

Impressive. Probably much more impressive in person

Not my thing

Piano-ness

Thing about improvisation is... you haven't rehearsed, have you? So how about I pay for a ticket if it's good. There's no one in the world I'd go to watch improvise, and I certainly wouldn't be so presumptuous as to set up recording equipment. Like hearing a friend noodle from the next room kind of hoping he'll stop quite soon.

This feels like classical music to study and relax to. I guess I didn't hate it?

My heart sank when I saw 70s and jazz together again! However this album is pretty timeless and not very jazzy! It is pleasant to have as background music, although it sometimes did wander into a naff movie score. Slightly put off by the random gasps from the artist.

Not my type

It's probably really good piano playing but I'm not a musician so i feel like i dont have the ear for it. The random audience noises are hilarious

It’s a piano concert…

The Köln Concert might be legendary in jazz circles, but to me it just sounded like any other piano recital. Sure, it’s technically impressive and has its moments, but overall, it was just decent background music. Nothing I’d actively throw on or revisit. I get why some people love it, but it didn’t do much for me beyond filling the silence.

He’s obviously very talented. Just not for me. At all.

Pretty fucking boring

Pleasant piano plinkering. The performance is positively plonkers. Maybe a bit too free-form. Would prefer it to be more melodic. I can hear especially one guy yeling in the background... Might be the performer, or someone in the audience. I thought I'd enjoy this one, but it's kinda disappointing. 2/5

Too long, very good pianist. Was great for emails but I’ll never think about this again.

Piano, idk how this one was influential

Background music

One of the greatest concerts I ever attended was a piano improvisation by Terry Riley in the Whitla Hall. It was gentle, hypnotic and very moving. An hour of harmonically simple, but beautiful music never to be repeated. As impressive as Keith Jarret's playing is here, I wouldn't describe it in the same terms. Jarret's stylistic range is broad and, while the transitions from mode to mode are masterful, the whole is a remarkable jumble. He grunts and moans, like Glenn Gould, another furious brain. He races through a thousand ideas, but not to arrive at any particular place. Never gentle. Never hypnotic. Never moving the listener because it is always itself in motion. Of course, I wish I had a modicum of that ability. But if this sounds like criticising something for what it's not, rather than what it is, I completely agree. This is a live performance, not an album, and, where I there, I would experience it differently and perhaps I would be as affected as I was as Riley cycled through all those Is and Vs. As an album, it is buoyed more by its story and its audacity, than by its musical content. Still, for story and audacity alone, it warrants a 2.5-ish. I gather from a quick perusal of the Wikipedia page for this concert that there is quite a bit of mythologising about it, taking in the physical and emotional state of the performer, the story of the little piano that everyone underestimated, and of course the fact of a live solo jazz piano record that sold millions of copies. I am glad this music has all this fascinating backstory because it needs it. It’s very nice. I would be happy to eat at this restaurant and I would tip the performer. A lot of the time the left hand is purely hypnotic. In the right there are sweet and tasteful dashes of melody - creating classy ambience for you and your date. If conversation isn’t flowing there are distractions and prompts to be had as well. Ooo this chunk is very fast, isn’t Jazz fun? Oooo this chunk sounds like Rachmaninov. Do you like classical music? No? Me neither really. What music do you like? Rap? Oh fuck off, Rap isn’t music. It’s just the same two bars of music over and over again and some dude talking. Aye granted that’s a bit like what this fella’s doing but this is jazz, I think, so he could do something else if he wanted - and he might - and there’s all sorts of thinking going on here; probably, I haven’t been listening. Sorry if I was rude about the music you like just then. Rap can be fun. I know all of the words to Rollin’ by Limp Bizkit… 2/5

Gave up on it.

Never heard of him. I was initially shocked that Part 1 has over 8M listens and Part 2C has over 10M listens. While pretty at times it sounded like someone noodling around on a piano for an hour to me. A 26 minute song, come on. This may be more appreciated by people who play cause it was lost on me. But I don't appreciate jazz either so this was a big miss. Not my thing but he's obviously good at what he does and has an audience. 2 stars for that but not sure what, if any, influence this has had on anything that came after it.

It's nice, I guess? I don't get it.

Do you think the audience lightly caressed their private parts, been so aroused by the "avantgardistic masterpiece" being played in front of them? Like I truly wonder why they cheered like Jimi Hendrix just gave the performance of a lifetime through an ouija board. This is like a guy playing the piano for one hour. That's it and for my money I would've booed him if I was there.

I thought I was going to like this more. And I did like some parts. But I felt like it was just stream of consciousness noodling with no real structure to it. And that annoyed me after awhile

Not really my kind of music -- I just don't think I understand this kind of jazz or have the patience for it.

impressive, sure, but boring

This is definitely the most unique album I've gotten so far. A one hour, 4 track modern solo piano concert it was not necessarily outside of my wheelhouse, but I did not connect with this music. Felt too "contemporary" in that sort of messy kind of way. It actually kind of hurt my head. Especially Part 3. Or rather part 2B. The 4 tracks were Part 1 and Parts 2a, 2b, and 2c. "2c" was the least offensive. Even pleasant at times. And not surprisingly by far the shorter piece at 6:56 and that includes over 90 seconds of applause at the end. A Duke Ellington song came on after and it was similar, but so much easier to listen to.

Nope, the vocalizations suck. Takes me out of it. Kudos for the talent and the improvisation. But nah, I don't want moaning in my piano jazz.

Not my style. Very boring

This music bores me like no other but if you're a jazz enthusiast you will appreciate that there's over an hour of classical piano jazz music on this record so there's that

Fine, just not my thing. I can appreciate the technical proficiency of it, but to atonal/improvisational for me.

Surely great in his field, but cannot listen to 1 hour of this :/

can not find it in my heart to care enough about this

Obviously a skilled pianist, this album was really just not for me. I found it to be boring and a little repetitive. I can see how other muscians would be inspired by the musicality though.

Love all the instruments. Great music to fall asleep too. Very soothing

not really my thing

It was okay as background music. Not my fave genre. 2/5

Was dreading this listen but found it enjoyable. Maybe it was just the mood or what I was doing at the time but I didn’t hate it.

peaceful background, not top 1001 tho

Found myself bored pretty early on. Just don’t really want to listen to an hour long solo of any instrument. Bet it would sound great in a waiting room though.

The piano playing is absolutely superb, but an hour of solo piano improv, it’s just background music.

Ok I guess. Not sure I'm into 25 minute long improvisational pieces.

piano.

Bom, mas depende muito do estado de espírito para

Bit too much piano for me. Pleasant enough though if you just want some background music.

Okay. Jazz piano. Just not my vibe.

Decent background while writing code

Guys got chops i cant lie, pretty situational listen tho. Best track = Part II A

Boring one. Listened for another list. 1.5/5

Eh...he's a very talented piano player and accomplished improvisor. I just...don't want to listen to two hours of piano wankery.

While I appreciate the talent needed to play this music it is not my style.

Ok

Background noise. Not sure why it’s on this list. 2.5 stars

Yeah, this is actually pretty good but 66 minutes of piano noodling is too much. 2.0

I will probably be really into this in like 10 years time but this for me doesn't rise above what I'd hear in like a waiting room or elevator. Not feeling it.

Cool, a happy sounding piano album. No lyrics just a mix between Charlie Brown songs and silent movies. For its musical category, it’s fine. For anyone who i’d care what they thought about a certain group or album. Hard pass

Enjoyed this more than I would have expected. I like that it's improvised essentially around a sub standard piano. Maybe great creativity springs from adversity and spontaneity. Working around several discomforts and problems, a snap shot of what was going through some ones brain there and then.

Nuda

I hope you like piano, cause that's all you're getting. As a non jazz piano aficionado this bored me a bit. It felt like something they'd be playing in a hotel lobby.

This is a dude playing a piano for an hour. He's very good at playing the piano and I am sure when I have house parties my friends would be impressed at how cultured I am for enjoying this type of music. Unfortunately, I am a caveman and this is the sound of a dude playing a piano for an hour. Sure, put this in the book because it is important in a way that I can't enjoy. I've heard it, I am not cultured enough to pretend to like this, and now we can all move on to the next album.

Hmm, not really for me. It put me to sleep, but I think that I appreciate the complexity of what he is trying to do.

2.5/5

As a fellow instrumental head this is so cool and this guy apparently is praised by many. It all blended together for that hour but it’s definitely a 1 time listen. Which brings it down heavy to like a 2 for me I know I said it’s a 5 but I just can’t see a revisit but it’s beautiful how the piano speaks to itself so elegantly

I just can’t get behind it. I’m not a big piano guy. There’s not much to delve into with this record.

It seemed like an eternity.

Piano album. Not much else to say other than he is very good at the piano.

No words, just piano freestyle. Talented but just not something to play whenever

He's good at piano. What do you want from me?

Loved reading the background and the first part had me convinced it was the all-timer the book claimed, but it fizzled out soon afterward. Still good!

Four million people bought this? Why?

Not for me

It’s ok if you like twinkling and tootling. It’s not if you don’t. I don’t.

Listen, I appreciate a bit of piano as much as the next pretentious git but wtf was this. It wasn’t bad, just never ending. I feel like there was nothing he did in parts 2-4 that wasn’t already in the first 26 minute long song.

pianist, nice but not my jam

idk not my cup

It's a piano concert... probably fantastic among those that enjoy them... but never been something I've enjoyed listening to. 2/5

Talented pianist, I don’t know anything else about this, but I enjoyed it.

Yeah, Can't say I have ever listened to a solo jazz piano album. I didn't hate it but I probably also wouldn't come back to very often.

2/5 not because the music is bad - it's certainly not - but as an album, it doesn't work for me. This kind of music should be heard live, and a recording can't do it justice.

trotos

Well. Very good. Highly original, exactly what you’d want from a classical piano album I would imagine. Problem is I’m not much of a classical fan, so I wouldn’t usually listen to this. Each piece goes on a bit too long for me as well, but you can hear the talent in the music, it’s just too sophisticated for me.

Just a load of piano to be honest. He's clearly very talented, but not really for me. If I wanted to make a film about a lovely hotel lobby, I'd call Keith for the soundtrack (and I imagine he'd be insulted and say no).

I don't like piano music

Not my bag baby