The Köln Concert

nice background music

This is some nice piano and it help me get a lot of work done

Beautiful jazzy improv, what's not to love?

El álbum "Keith Jarrett: Köln Concert" es un registro notable en el mundo de la música. Grabado en 1975, destaca la destreza del pianista Keith Jarrett en una noche de improvisación en Colonia. Una serie de infortunios marcaron esta grabación aun así la ejecución es prolija. La fusión de elementos de piano clásico y jazz crea una experiencia musical interesante. La ejecución de Jarrett es enérgica y muestra su maestría en el piano. Su técnica es innegable, y su capacidad para crear momentos etéreos marca la dirección del concierto. El álbum se enfoca en escalas mayores que transmiten una sensación de serenidad y emoción. Jarrett juega con la tensión y el alivio de manera hábil a lo largo del concierto, manteniendo al oyente comprometido. Si bien es accesible para la mayoría de los oyentes, es una experiencia que podría no repetirse con frecuencia debido a su singularidad y profundidad. "Köln Concert" es una muestra de la habilidad y creatividad de Jarrett.

Lekkere dagdroom music

A concert recording... from 1975. Hard pass. Pleasantly surprised, it is a dude playing piano pretty well. No obnoxious crowd noise.

Beautiful album - great songs. 4/5

I love this album. There’s so much emotion in it. You can hear him going where the piano leads him. Also, that is an exquisite sounding piano. This album accomplishes everything you’d hope. It, first and foremost, entertains, as it is undoubtedly enjoyable. Secondly, you have the technical stuff, like production, arrangement, instrumentation, and structure, which are all fantastic. Lastly, it makes you think as all good albums should. Makes me wonder if music is any less of an art if it’s created on the spot instead of being composed beforehand. In this case, I don’t know how Keith could have done any better except for maybe having a little more time to create bits that spread the album out a little more so there’s more versatility and range. Otherwise perfect in my book. 4/5

I’ve never been much for jazz piano, and with little background info the first part of this concert felt unremarkable. But upon reading about the significance of this album, the out of tune piano, Jarrett’s late arrival, his few bites of pasta, and his playing changing based upon the condition of the only instrument he was able to rely on- this quickly changed to a remarkable show. Jarrett’s playing, while something that I am admittedly not well versed in, was beautifully improvised and transcends the classical jazz piano that one would expect with a number of grooving “bass lines” coupled with his wandering right hand.

Good album.

Ok piano

Good background music and performance. Not life changing or anything though.

At first I was like "oh great, piano for 68 minutes", but I stuck it on while I got shit done and was like "day-um, this is good stuff".

takie pykanie na pianinku. Ani muzyka klasyczna, ani filmowa - nie wiem co to 3/5 max

Solo jazz piano album? Yes please.

First Keith album. Jazzy piano. Not my thing but gave it a listen

A great listen from end to end, very impressive.

Lovely album.

Beatiful music and a lot of atmosphere. Gets a little boring imo thoughwith only piano over the full album length.

Wow. Learning about the piano conundrum made this all the more enjoyable. I’ve never to listened to anything like this before but I love it.

its spa music. smooth, relaxing, inoffensive.

The making of this album is way more interesting than 60 minutes of “vamping”

Interesting story about this live performance. Performance was an overall enjoyable listen… but I could not get past the person audibly moaning in the recording.

Not my thing

The virtuosity on display is pretty amazing! A strong album that takes you on an instrumental voyage. Liked it a lot!

Jaunty soulful album. Didn't fully resonate with me but I liked it a lot still

Ya like jazz? Ya like classical music? If so, then listen to this.

Really enjoyed this. Will be revisiting it in the future. This is live!? What a show that must have been. Listening to this while working is an absolutely blissful experience.

Interesting but got old since its over an hour. Good to listen to with other things going on. I would listen to more by this artist

Not my style

A beautiful work that falls flat in some places. After looking up the history of this concert though, it makes sense as only the middle keys of the replacement piano worked. A beautiful piece of art.

Not my cup of tea. It was alright, but I’ve heard other piano concertos that I would rather listen to.

Enjoyed this. I'm glad I heard the music before reading about the back story. The imperfections only serve to emphasize the improvisation and I couldn't work out whether the infrequent calls made by the artist during the performance were from euphoria or annoyance. Having read the story about the piano, I'm sure both. I would be happy to add this to my collection and check out his other work.

Was not familiar with Keith Jarrett. Perfect album to have on in the background at home or work.

impressive but not my jam

Really good piano performance. Nice variations in each piece. That said, it's just not my thing. This one is a pass from me.

Listened during a nap, made it pretty wild.

Not into classical music at all and the songs were so incredibly long I kept skipping them halfway through due to boredom. But I could tell it's a masterpiece, just not my thing.

Reading through the background on this makes me really appreciate the talent. That said I don't see myself revisiting this except maybe as background music. Even then the random moans are a little distracting

Great live performance.

Ух, как же он стонет 8/10

Klaviermusik.

Good

Nice relaxing album

Listenable. Nice for background.

I like it, but it fades into the background after awhile 3.5/5

It’s just nice piano for an hour.Complete background music.

mesmerizing

very cool, very diverse for a solo piano album

Awesome album, great story behind it.

Serious piano overload. I would love to listen to this album with a piano player. I feel likes it’s so technically brilliant that it’s a bit lost on me. Can’t help but admire the shear talent and passion. Incredible!

This is beautiful music. I really enjoyed it. I had heard of the artist but for whatever reason thought he was some sort of "soft jazz" type deal, which is of course completely wrong. A nice find in the 1001.

I just couldn't quite connect with this.

It's a lot of piano lol. A little too much for my uncultured brain. I could see getting into it more if I trained my brain to listen to it better.

A fun introduction to Keith Jarrett, nice for on the subway or cooking dinner

Starts slow but ends up taking you on a journey. Apparently best selling solo jazz album of all time!

Rewards a close listen. It can drift into becoming background music, but Jarrett will inevitably play some phrase or melody that will grab your attention and bring you back into the moment.

Goes beyond jazz and classical. This is the sound of pushing through frustration while exploring within limitations.

1. At last I get to listen to the full length Barry Norman theme. 2. This is the music played in Mel Gibson’s retirement home. 3. This album was better when they had Jarrett’s original song titles: “Sharon at the Rodeo”, “Miles Cut Yr Hair”, “Where’s My Currywürst, Vera?”, and “Tony, Get The Wheels!” This is obviously a powerful performance in its idiom, a record beloved by many, and a demonstration of what a virtuoso can do under what were apparently crappy circumstances. This is not something that was my jam today, but ended up being decent company for the hour before we went our separate ways.

Quite a dramatic backstory to this helps the music come alive beyond what you hear initially. I was going to make a crass analogy with my history of Doordash breakfast orders, but Jarrett's performance is too good for that. Embraces the best of both "jazz" and "classical", and makes me imagine catching this live would have been the '70s equivalent of seeing Liszt at his peak, man. Listening to this at a high school football game, where nothing happens repeatedly, may have enhanced my appreciation somewhat; think less, but see it grow. Another one that makes me glad I'm doing this project, good stuff. If you're interested, the burrito I salvaged was pretty great too.

It's pretty impressive how captivating an hour of just solo piano improv can be, music is weird. Enjoyed this a lot though, he manages to put so much emotion into his playing, and knows exactly how to build intensity throughout these long pieces. Again, the fact that this was all improv is incredibly impressive, deserves a high rating just for the technical ability on display.

Dette var ganske kult! Digger at man hører han nynne og lage litt lyder en gang i blant, det styrker på en måte det virtuose - musikken bare strømmer ut liksom

"The Köln Concert" by Keith Jarrett is a testament to his exceptional talent as a pianist. Recorded in 1975, this live performance is a remarkable display of improvisation and musicality. Jarrett's piano work is nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing his technical prowess and creative depth. The album's production captures the intimate ambiance of the concert, allowing the listener to feel as though they are in the room with Jarrett. However, the extended improvisations can occasionally feel meandering, which might not resonate with all listeners. While "The Köln Concert" is undoubtedly a remarkable showcase of Jarrett's skill and creativity, its free-form and lengthy nature may limit its appeal to a specific audience. For those who appreciate virtuosic instrumental piano music, it's a must-listen, but others might find it challenging to engage with over its duration.

Real boring

Calming, nice blend of classical and jazz piano. Must be in mood for lots of piano

Delightful.

Just fine background music.

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

Obviously a great talent, but that doesn't make it an interesting album.

Technically superb, listened to it twice to try and take it all in, although unlikely to listen again in future

Didnt finish the first track

Excellent playing. Very chill.

Just really boring and tinny. It doesn't know if it wants to be jazz or classical, but there's not really anything interesting to listen to here. Might be okay at the lowest volume in a coffee shop and by lowest volume, I mean muted.

It's improvised ????! It's soooo fucking cool, smooth yet so upbeat at the end of the first part. What an awesome listening

didn't listen

Epic, absolutely loved it

Beautiful jazz piano, love the vocalizing

4.5

The background story of making this live album is quite fascinating. I'm not really into improvisative piano music (coming from a family full of classical musicians incl. pianists) and while Jarrett's talent is amazing this albums feels a bit incoherent and directionless because of its free style. I enjoyed listening to it but admittedly I'll never be someone who understands and loves jazz music that much.

I had no idea what this wa and liked it a lot

sure i guess

Apparently no one had ever improvised on piano before 1975

i’m not going to lie this is very much not my thing. good music for background listening i think, but i am simply not cultured enough to appreciate this properly and this is a Me problem. it is impressive, and beautiful, but not something i would pick up to listen to again

Just gorgeous, in addition to being just a massively, monolithic and sui generis performance – it's hard to imagine a more impressive achievement. It swings, it rollicks. It ponders, wonders and wanders. One feels quite grateful the show wasn't cancelled, and would be interested in an oral history (including audience impressions) of this grand evening and wholly memorable affair.

69/100

Not my jam

Fascinating back story, left to perform on a rehearsal piano, rather than the grand piano he expected, Jarrett abandoned his planned set and improvised for more than an hour. Interspersed by his on yelps as he surprises even himself. Still, interesting more because of his technical virtuosity and the chaotic circumstances behind its creation.

Brilliant. Was not expecting this to be so captivating.

Cool piano performance. Does get a bit boring though.

Jarrett really jams despite the awful circumstances of this concert. It's pretty impressive. I didn't at all mind the long length of this live album.

Good skills by Keithy-boy here

baita som, clássico e tals, pianao muito bem tocado né tcha

HAIKU REVIEW Drifted away with mesmerizing piano like a waterfall

The ability to improvise something that sounds so carefully crafted, with every chord and melody spending virtually no time between conception and existence and yet still sounding like it's exactly where and when it's supposed to be, is an incredible talent.

приятный альбом в начале был

I couldn't make it past the second song, this has gotta be some sort of torture 😭

Yeah, good piano but just not my vibe, a bit too dramatic and stressful.

The solo piano is nice for about 30 mins, and then I needed a break. DNF

Happy to have read the story behind this concert and recording prior to starting. I would be interesting to be able to hear an identical performance with correct piano. I dug further into the life story of Keith Jarrett and continued to be impressed. The background info, the fact that most of the music is improvised, and bad luck of Jarrett's evening make this album a must listen album. The moaning was weird though.

I don't know what this is. There is something about it that is deeply appealing in the same way that other experimental artists like Battles, Silver Apples, and Can are. But this has soul in a way that those groups do not. The live, acoustic nature of this recording makes it so human.

wow 5*

Very cool!

Definitely not what I was expecting, as I wasn't familiar with Keith Jarrett at all. I also find it misleading to label this as a jazz performance. From my perspective, this clearly seems like a performance of contemporary classical music, with slight jazz influences. The only other jazz aspects here is in Jarrett's past experience and that full improvisation is typically associated with jazz. Be that as it may; Jarrett's playing and compositions are fantastic and recording quality is sublime and in no way behind studio quality. This is a wonderful record and deserves its popularity.

While very impressive, this is not something I’d likely listen to again. It does seem like the kind of thing that would be more interesting live, but I don’t particularly think this live recording gives that feeling as it ends up sounding about how I’d imagine a studio recording would anyway.

Interesting concept and story behind this album/recording. Not something I would normally listen to or really enjoy. Was good to have on in the background and that's all I can really say about this one.

Sublime

Very interesting finding out that this is all improv. Wasn’t really that into listening to just piano for over an hour but also didn’t hate it.

Keeping consistent with my relationship with jazz, this is very nice to listen to, but I am humming none of it.

As a current learner on the piano, I am in awe of Jarrett's touch and feel. This isn't sturm und drang playing for the most part, but a quiet virtuosity, the odd tasty flourish showing through the cracks in the paving. Funny, it's also quite hard to categorise this. The Köln Concert straddles classical, jazz and easy listening in equal measures. Perhaps it's a little too easy on the ear as it can fade into background music at points. Still, a pleasant experience.

Osaahan se soittaa. Minä vaan en ymmärrä arvostaa tällaista.

Vaati kyllä aika paljon kärsivällisyyttä, että jakso kuunnella loppuuna asti. Ei huono, mut liikaa

Already owned this. I really enjoy listening to this album.

This was one of those albums that I had never heard before, but absolutely need in my life. Keith Jarrett's improvised pieces are unclassifiable. They are clearly rooted in classical music, but have an unstructured feel. The use of certain chords and chromatic notes give the music a modal jazz feel while other parts show rock and blues influences. Jarrett's characteristic vocalizations are peppered throughout which only add to the extemporaneous nature of the recording.

I hated this one. The moaning, the extended clapping, the aimless improvisation that felt like it went nowhere for lengthy periods of times. I clearly am not the audience for improvised jazz

Literally impossible to pay attention to

an HOUR????

Good but too long. Alfa backstory to this story.

Good enough to earn its length. I didn't appreciate his moaning or the clapping bt audience. the actual music was fine. The second half was better.

Extremely beautiful but much too long (just like my butt cheeks)

meh

Didn’t listen, was half hour classical music pieces and not the exact vibe for the day

very cool

Förvånandsvärt mös

Haunting, melodic and utterly transcendent. Although, would it be sacrilegious to say it reminds me of build mode in the original Sims game? 8/10

zzzzz

there are some bits where he settles into a melody for 2/3 minutes at a time and it’s some of the best music out there

ok

"The Köln Concert" is a live recording of solo improvisations by American pianist and composer Keith Jarrett. It was recorded at the Opera House in Cologne, Germany by 18-year old Vera Brandes at 11:30PM following an earlier opera performance. Jarrett began his career with jazz drummer Art Blakey and also worked with musicians Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Jarrett's requested piano was not secured for the concert and he famously used a smaller baby grand piano which forced him to played differently. The album became the best selling solo album in jazz history and best selling piano album. It also cemented his reputation as the top pianist of his generation. The album has two parts with the second part having three sections. "Part I" starts with a vamp (repeating musical loop) with improvised material layered within. That's pretty much what Jarrett does throughout the performance. He goes to just improvising then back to the vamps and improv. He adds yelling as well. The pace picks up at the end. Lovely. "Part II" is a similar format to "Part I." "Part II a" has more of a rolling vamp and he adds funk. In "Part II b," the improv has a spiraling feel. He closes the album with "Part II c" and a straight six-minute improvisation. This album is quite compelling. Never boring. The variation of the vamps and improvisation for over an hour is impressive. His yelling adds emotion. An album everyone needs to hear if just one of the parts.

Despite enjoying piano, this did absolutely nothing for me. Found it too smooth and dull to be jazz (how on earth is it classed as jazz?) and not structured or atmospheric enough to be neo-classical. Just found it really really dull and disappointing

I'm not one for solo piano music and so apart from isolated sections I didn't find this very engaging. Trying to appreciate it for what it is, I thought it was fairly linear, with few changes in tempo or style. While Keith is clearly a very talented musician I needed more variety to keep my attention for the hour. Wouldn't come back.

Pleasantly enjoyable and never grating. Relaxing. Nearly fell asleep with it. Smooth, melodious. As a wise soothsayer one said, "if could choose any instrument to be a master of, it would be the piano."

It's quite nice and chilled out piano music. It's nice as background but I wouldn't listen to it again.

All very pleasant. I do like piano music, think of I could choose any instrument to be a master of, it would be the piano. The live recording of the concert made me feel like I've had a glimpse into a world which I wouldn't have experienced otherwise. Bravo He looks like Howard Moon on the cover. Probably won't listen again, but glad I did!

hmm, 3

Beautiful piano jazz. It just does not do much for me apart from being good background music. It gets a 3.5/5. Fav ‘track’: Pt. II B

I should say this first: he's a very talented musician and this is very impressive. Okay, now: what are we doing here? Where is the arbitrary line between classical performances (not allowed) and this? If I need to listen to an album of live piano music played on a stage before I die, shouldn't it be Bach? And if there is no Bach, leave this off. Weird rules, weird inclusion. Best track: I'd be lying if I said these didn't all blend together for me

one of the most emotional albums I've ever heard, it has a lot of contrast between moments of delicacy and moments of explosion, great dynamics, a masterpiece!

A 60 minute piano improvisation that never felt forced or incohesive. A very strong change of pace from the typical sort of music I listen to.

3rd July 2023 Listened twice in the day while working from home. Went to see Indiana Jones with Ollie in the evening. Loved this. Jazz piano that doesn’t sound like it, sounds like a Pixar soundtrack.

If there was a visual novel about elevators this would play in the main menu. That being said, I mildly enjoyed it

first half was uninspiring, third song was good and then it fell off again

Veel muziek is associatie: waar ken je het van, waar lijkt het op, welke geschiedenis heb je ermee? Dit album kende ik omdat er een stuk uit het eerste deel in een Italiaanse film zat (Caro diario). Man rijdt op een scooter minuten lang door een desolaat landschap in een zweterige buitenwijk van Rome met kotjes, vuilnis, fabrieken, braakliggend terrein, om uiteindelijk uit te komen bij het vervallen monumentje voor de vermoorde filmmaker Pasolini ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaZfXfW6qxA ). Pas jaren later kwam ik erachter dat die muziek geen werkstuk was van de filmcomponist, maar dat het van deze plaat kwam. En o ja, verder had mijn Parijse vriendinnetje deze in de kast staan. Over herinneringen gesproken. Als je er geen voorgeschiedenis bij hebt, is dit album misschien enkel een hoop getingel. Maar jemig, wat een virtuoos, alle kanten op vliegend pianospel, kennelijk grotendeels geïmproviseerd. De zaal zit vol, de pianist neemt plaats, en laat het ter plekke op zich af komen wat er eigenlijk uit zijn handen komt. Die avond in Keulen in 1975 was het dit. Een warm bad van muzikale vrijheid. Waarbij de ironie is, dat er later bladmuziek van is gemaakt, zodat het nu ook door anderen uitgevoerd kan worden (Ralph van Raat speelt Keith Jarrett, 15 oktober 2023 live in Paradiso). Voor mij een muzikaal monument, al snap ik dat je hem niet even in de auto afspeelt. Maar voor alle goede muziek is er een juist moment.

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.

Ik start dit op zaterdagochtend, met weinig verwachtingen. Het opent als een poppy track, wat me doet denken aan Jackson Browne of Fleetwood Mac. Al snel begint hij wat te improviseren lijkt het. Ik hou toch meer van een bepaald stramien qua songstructuur, een bepaalde houvast. Maar onmiskenbaar is gelijk de virtuositeit. De man is geen pannenkoek. Bovendien is de stijl best wel rocky en bluesy, absoluut niet klassiek, dat bevalt me wel. Ik krijg er steeds meer een glimlach van op mijn gezicht. Al is het wel aan de lange kant. Maar omdat ik in een goede bui ben, zal ik 4 sterren doneren.

Transcendent.

Outstanding. Extemporised piano for an hour, apparently on a practice baby grand in poor condition because the roadies set up the wrong piano by mistake, not the concert grand he'd asked for. You'd never know. Fabulous stuff.

4.4 - I wouldn't put this guy in the pantheon of GOAT jazz pianists alongside Art Tatum, Erroll Garner, Ahmad Jamal and Thelonius Monk but I do appreciate his crystalline clarity and the constant flutter of colors throughout this performance. Mostly it tracks somewhere between "film score for a 1970's Dustin Hoffman movie" and "Mr. Rogers explains how crayons are manufactured." It's the type of record you'd hear playing at your favorite indie bookstore.

The first song is an epic and made for a great listen. The second two kind of fell into the background for me. And the final was a nice closer. Far from a close listen or analysis on my part, but my general take was this was a very enjoyable piece of piano. Kind of strange to hear him grunting with effort or effect at times, but otherwise high quality stuff that I don't know how to properly review. So on the feels alone this is a soft 4.

I... I wish I was cultured enough to can. But unfortunately, I cannot. I am an uncultured swine who cannot discern anything other than competently played piano. I'm going back to Slayer.

DELICIOSO pra ouvir estudando, impossível fora desse caso

Concierto para piano. Me ha gustado. Un 4.

Precioso, sobre todo la primera canción.

There's only so much you can do with just a piano. But God damn it, if Jarrett doesn't do it all here. Great improvisations that go from eclectic jazz to sweeping balladry to rocking blues. The story behind the titular concert is quite interesting too. But as I said earlier, there's only so much you can do with just a piano. As fantastic as he is at his craft, I started to get a little bored as I neared the hour mark, missing the interplay of other instruments. An extended improvised solo can be impressive, but it can also grow wearisome. After hearing this album, I now rank Keith Jarrett amongst the best pianists of his time. But I don't necessarily feel compelled to listen to this recording again.

Interesting album but after a while it feels like noodling

Nice background music for a 4am morning in the cold on a full moon night

I'm impressed... but an hour of piano music isn't something I'd ever choose to listen to.

Klimper. Gut und hörenswert, aber nicht das Über-Album, zu dem es gerne hochstilisiert wird. Jarrets eigene Einschätzung, das Album sei zum Soundtrack verkommen, trifft es ganz gut.

Werkelijk prachtig! Alleen is twee uur aan enkel piano iets te veel voor mij

Classic

Du bon piano, mais une heure juste de ça ça fait un peu lassant, ça devient un peu comme un bruit de fond. Je m'attendais à de quoi d'un peu plus jazzy aussi (dans le sens plus de syncopes). 6/10

impressive piano, but not interesting me

I don't think I'd ever choose to listen to this but it is pretty good.

The first 20 minutes of this and the last 15 or so are really good! The middle I could take or leave, but I still really liked the album. The story makes it something else, and it's always great to get introduced to new instrumental music.

Very good, but kind of boring overall.

So chill, he's a brilliant player and honestly love this album.

Nothing like listening to a man tickle the ivories for an hour. Good stuff.

I wish I knew more about piano to give this a more credible review. But this was by far the best solo piano album I have ever heard. It even tops Peter Griffin's performance in Family guy when Lois would force him to get absolutely buckled because it was the only way that he knew how to play piano.

This was extremely enjoyable to have on in the background whilst working. Once I'm all caught up on these albums I'm gonna listen to some of his live stuff with Miles Davis.

I’m sure this is great I just don’t really know why. Maybe it’s a if you get it you get it? I can’t do what he does and I liked all of it, but I just didn’t get why it’s special

I’d never heard of this but it’s incredible. It’s not just jazzy noodling, but he develops themes and pays them off beautifully.

Technically very impressive but just not my cup of tea

boring

Fenomenal concert recording. I am pretty much speechless, whatever happened to Keith Jarrett on that faithful day in Cologne was amazing. Looks like from now on I will be on a hunt for a vinyl version of this concert.

I liked this for about 10 or 15 minutes. After that it was just sort of banging on the piano for another 50 minutes. It's not bad. But a little monotonous.

While it is overlong, this album simply demonstrates a great musician with his back to the wall, who comes out fighting. The record works beautifully as a late-night relaxation, or first thing in the morning. Brilliant, timeless playing.

Listenable.

Wow! Improvised genius. What a gorgeous piece of music. Obviously not something I'd have listened to at all without this list, but this entranced me all day and I managed four listens. I'm not sure how frequently I'll listen to it again, but I will. Usually that would mean 4 stars, but for being different and for the obvious brilliance of the musician and recording it's an obvious 5.

pop melodies in jazz setting works for me

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

I do like some Keith Jarrett, but not my fav

Another new artist for me here. Only 4 tracks. I'm thinking jazz? Maybe just a pianist. Wow, I guess he played with Miles Davis for a time. Damn he's good! That was nice. It was relaxing.

Now I need to listing to more Keith Jarrett solo stuff. I love the piano sound, and reading the story of how this concert came together made it sound even better.

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yeah, it’s perfect background music, that’s how I feel is best to listen to classical as a genre

The story behind this album is insane and this dude is a god tier musician. At the start I wasn't exactly sure what to think. I was laughing a bit cause it sounded like some dude was cumming in the audience but it turns out it was the guy cranking the piano. By the end of of it I was really enjoying it. Not my go-to music by any means but Keith's craft is worth admiration. If you're a piano player you're probably losing your mind over this. Score: 90 - Bonus points for insane artsmanship Art: 60

It's 1 hour of pleasant piano music. Very talented musician, this reminds me of building houses in the Sims 1.

I wasn’t expecting this. So much passion and excitement from a piano

I happened to listen to a podcast all about the making of this album, which was fascinating. The album itself, a little less than fascinating in and of itself. But then again, jazz is not my bag. Still glad I’ve listened to it. (The podcast was Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford, episode called “Bowie, Jazz and the Unplayable Piano” if anyone is interested.)

Perfect on its own way especially considering the backstory of circumstances leading up to the concert. Couldn't listen to this every day but when I do listen - wow!

Truly a magical hour of music. There are certain musicians who cannot make a mistake while improvising. The connection between their feelings and the music they play is direct. Jacob Collier and Herbie Hancock immediately come to mind as other examples. Jarrett obviously also possesses this skill. Listening to music like that will always be a treat. There’s a reason why this became the best selling solo piano album to date.

i cannot believe this performance is entirely improvisations. it’s hugely impressive technically, and just good to listen to. really great

I really enjoyed this. Nice change of pace.

I hadn’t really listened to an album like this before—and the fact that something like this can exist, with genuinely ear worm Melodies and brilliant variations on themes, while being IMPROVISED, is just mind blowing. The first part especially, just due to the novelty and the scope of what I was hearing floored me. However, the charm did begin to wear thin by the latter second part, where I just ended up more impressed than musically satisfied. Still a triumph, and an essential listen.

Highlights: "IIB" I try to avoid any argument for an album from backstory, but the main justification for me would be that someone can claim it's *what* you're hearing. In this case, you're hearing a master performer adapt to create something for a specific difficult object. That's more of what John Cage had in mind than whatever industry gossip tells you about an artist's mental state or personal life during an album's production, or even its political climate and public reaction. I don't have the musical knowledge to nail down specific revelations this album could give us. Maybe we could say a characteristic of Davis alumni was searching for continuity without decisive key centers, and this is one more adventure of that kind. I wonder how Jarrett feels about the success of this album. A lot of its success is a conversation starter from its backstory about constraints and suffering in artistic process, and my main takeaway is question as well: if an artist sees fit to take up improvisation, do they accept that one day their greatest work will just move through them athwart all their intentional career?

Emotional. Sprawling. Epic. An improvisational feat!

I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. It's all a bit flowery and very busy at the moment, a few minutes into the first track. This last track sounds like Elton John should start singing soon (I like Elton John). This is not the Jazz I like, but it's alright. 3 / 5 stars.

Beautiful

Background music I guess. Had to break it up though. No one's got time for pianisting for an hour sorry old fella.

Yeah look someone with as little musical knowledge as me ain't qualified to write about this. Multiple times throughout this id forgotten it's just a dude on a piano. I was left in awe every time I was brought back to that reality. To think that people can create hours of music like this, of what I presume is unwritten? Is just so wild. I listened to this whilst grinding out Orthos in the lab and it still took me to places. Fav Track: that bit where he was stupendously rapid on them keys

Sometimes a piano instrumental record hits just right for me, and sitting in the soul-sucking office today it was what I needed to get me through. Really enjoying the flowing and flourishing passages that recalled for me the environmental narratives of Lubomyr Melnyk. Even heard a bit of Joe Hisashi in there - Jarrett's influence seems wide-ranging. Hard to intellectualise something like this without any music background to speak of but I can grade it in how it created narratives for me, recalled sensory experience and developed emotions, and I think this did all of the above pretty well. Fave track: Pt. I

Happy to come across some more records I hadn't really had a deep dive into before - had this on my radar before but never found an opportunity to sit with it and give it a proper listen. Such precision playing and creativity beyond comprehension to construct an hour long improvisation like this. It's easy to get a bit lost in the sound and have it become background noise, and there are those moments of laughter or cheering or groaning that snaps you back into reality and makes you remember this guy is playing live and everything is right off the dome. Overall, I'm not sure it blows me away in the same way some of the other jazz entries have, but still a great listen. Three and a half. Fave track: Part II

i like piano but this was just ok I wasn’t wowed or anything

Extraordinary improvised piano music. The album is like watching an extraordinary creative intellect just ticking over. It feels like having a great idea every few minutes. Extremely rewarding, beautiful stuff.

Extremely well done, talented, I’m sure really inspirational for people but I’m not going to listen to it again

Moans and groans throughout made me laugh. After enough time solo piano music becomes just background music no matter how talented the pianist is. Enjoyable background music though

Not much to add, one of the most perfect pieces of music ever created. Extra-ordinary to think it was all improvised. On tracks one and two you can hear someone composing in real time.

The amount of talent on display here is jaw-dropping. To be able to improvise a full hour concert that holds the attention throughout is nearly unbelievable. Another I might want to by on vinyl. 4/5

I hadn’t heard of this album or this artist before, but I enjoyed it more than I expected I would.

a pleasant, “time pass me by” piano album. not my thing, but well done and executed live. smooth and clean. not too tacky, over done in its light jazz format. it is fine.

Jag önskar att jag också kunde spela piano så!!! De va nice att ha i bakgrunden när man läste.

I owned this album 30 years ago in the form of a pirate cassette tape from Bali - which demonstrates a certain status. I guess it is jazz in the miscellaneous sense. Anyway, I was happy to hear it here.

After about 20 minutes, I considered skipping the rest of the album simply because I had gotten the feel of the album and because such lengthy improvisation isn't my thing. But I not only wound up listening to the whole thing, I went back and played it again! Wow.

Wow...very nice piano.

Calming I guess

Refreshing. Not the type of genre I would ever listen to but after the dross of the last 10 days if was nice to hear something talented. First track was the best, but the other were pretty good. 3.5*

I really enjoyed this. If you haven’t read the Wikipedia article for this album, do yourself a favour and read it. Probably more of a 4.5.

largo

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!

Très partagé sur ce disque. Mais au final cette improvisation de plus d'une heure reste impressionnante et parfois très belle. Je pense que plusieurs écoutes m'aideront, mais au bout de deux, je suis déjà plutôt emballé

Amazing album. Incredible that it is live and improvised. The artist can be heard reacting to his own playing (humming, singing, shouting). Perfect album to work to or to relax.

Good album. Loved hearing Keith Jarrett sing along at points.

I mean it’s good I guess?

A pretty mind-blowing piano jazz album. The fact that he is improvising every track while playing on an old, barely in tune piano makes it even more so. You can hear Jarrett himself singing along with his improvisations and it just adds more to this live concert. Beautiful music really. Best Tracks: Pt. 1; Part 2 A

While impressive as an improvisational piece, this is at the end of the day simply an hour of piano playing. Inspired as it may be, this LP opens a whole can of worms about list inclusion when it comes to more classically-oriented pieces – if improvisational piano is worthy of 1001, aren't at least 100 other classical pieces with inspired performances or innovative designs?

This is miles outside my wheelhouse and realistically I'm unlikely to come back to it, except possibly as background music. BUT I thought it was good. Aside from the obvious musical ability required not only to play this stuff, but to improvise it in front of a live audience, I was impressed by the way he seemed to switch between several different styles - only a couple of which sounded like 'jazz' as I know it. I find solo piano can be quite meditative when it's slow and sparse, but the rhythmic, repetitive nature of some of the other sections was equally hypnotic in its way. Also, bits of it reminded me of the Breath of the Wild soundtrack. So that's good.

The moaning 🤣

belos pianos e muito bem improvisados, mas uma hora é foda

Very zen, good to put on in the background for chill work or to zone out to. Would listen again

Cool music to do my performance review to. Will keep this one in the back pocket for doing mentally taxing tasks and self reflection.

Nooo

Great, and the story behind the concert is very interesting

Nice background music, won't be listening to it again, wasn't grabbed by it and it made me feel nothing.

3.5

Þetta var vel áheyrilegt og oft ánægjulegt, einstaka sinnum töff. En berstrípað píanó er bara ekki mitt uppáhalds hljóðfæri.

5 might be a bit high but I gave it that score because it was so unexpected but yet still an amazing record. I was blown away by the depth of feeling in this amazing jazz album

Piano new wave sort of jazz.

8/10 it was really cool to imagine being there in the cocnert hall for this, amazing talent.

8/10. This was really pretty, may return to it in the future.

Definitely enjoyable but it’s a lot of just piano. It’s crazy to think about the talent it takes to improvise so freely on the stage. 7/10

The hyperactive son of Gershwin.

Great if you like this music, but purely instrumental wasn’t for me

I read up on this album while I was listening to it. I mean, it's piano for over an hour, sometimes have to do something else while an album is playing in the background. The story behind this night, and how it all got stuffed up from pillar to post, is quite amazing. the fact that this went ahead in the first place, and was recorded, is a minor miracle. As to the album itself. Well, given that it is an improvised performance, it is very clever. And the guy can obviously play, and the show was sold out, so there were plenty of people at the time who knew him. And it became the biggest selling album of its kind ever at the time of its release. But... did anyone else feel like they were in an elevator for an hour? Or, more accurately, that you were on hold on the phone for an hour? Because that is what I ended up getting out of it. Sure, it's clever, it's smart, and I couldn't do it. But in the long run, I felt like I was just waiting for it to end to get to where I was going, or get the answer to the question I had asked. Enchanting, but not for a repeat performance.

Hyvää kamaa erittäin! 4/5

Täähän oli hieno. Pitää kuunnella joskus sunnuntaiaamuna tai vastaavana uudestaan.

Kaunis levy, tullen kuuntelemaan lähitulevaisuudessa usein. 4/5

So so awe struck by this album. The improvised notes on a broken piano was a pure virtuoso performance of a talented master. Wish I could have heard it live. WOW

What a story! Happy to have had this brought to my attention here because I don’t think I would run into it anywhere else.

Masterful expression, done wordlessly. I am moved and impressed.

I was pretty reasonably impressed with most of this. There were a few moments that were a little "lobby music" for me, but I did enjoy listening to it!

Very good for a live album, very good for a Jazz album, and very very good piano. It starts to drag at times, but quickly overcomes that hurdle by switching moods completely. All in all I really enjoyed listening to this cross faded as hell.

Don’t give me Live Albums come on now.

Never heard of Keith Jarrett before, and I was impressed with his music. I wouldn't say that I'd listen to this music regularly, but it was enjoyable for what it is. Very cool to experience.

Very good pianist - too long, too jazzy in places.

Good music, unlike anything I've ever heard. Like a Jazzy Ludovico Einaudi. It certainly doesn't sound like it's from the 70s.

I can see the appeal but kinda boring

Favorita: -Köln, January 24, 1975, Pt.II B-Live

The idea that this was largely improvised is astounding. Amazing performance.

Very few people could make a 2 chord vamp for 20 minutes sound interesting and Keith Jarrett is certainly one of them. I've had a hard time getting into his playing in the past only because of how annoying his vocalizations are but thankfully they were very minimal in this.

respect the medium and the craft, but piano-led music is just not for me.

great work listening

Interesting mix of classical and jazz beautiful instrumental pieces great easy listening Can see how someone would enjoy this but not my cup of tea

Puedo apreciar la técnica involucrada y el talento en exposición, pero no pude "entrar" en el disco. Poco a poco se fue transformando en música de fondo

Spellbinding. Not a piano fan. Not a free-form jazz fan. Never heard of Jarrett before. Now I’m a fan. There’s enough here for me to use this as adjunct to anaesthesia for major surgery. Make no mistake - I want my heavy drugs as well.

I encourage anyone who is about to listen to this record to also read about the story leading up to this performance. Absolutely ridiculous circumstances surrounding the show that really puts the songs in a different perspective. The music itself is great as well. Impressive improvisation throughout. Also surprising to me that a solo piano free-improvisation record became a best seller.

Delightful and totally out of my normal comfort zone!

You can hear quite a few people on the recording just awkwardly grunting or going ‘yeah’ when the jazz is just too good and honestly same

Perfect

complete masterpiece of solo piano improvisations

Seeing this album on the list surprised me. I haven't listened to Koln in about eight years... In fact I'd almost completely forgotten about it and the life I was leading before the bright lights of Warwick uni took me to the Midlands. The record has a special place in my heart because the first girl I had a proper crush on and, crucially, also (briefly) dated showed me it. She was from one of the fancy schools in Bristol, could hear a song and play it back on the piano immediately, and got with me on sixth form results night. We then went out for about six classy weeks together. It was mega. Well, until she broke up with me on an indie club night on a boat. I had to wash up in a Brewer's Fayre for about ten hours the next day, I've rarely been more broken. The record itself is as good as I remember it. The opening section is maybe the finest solo piano performance around. It's all an improvisation and grows organically, in ways other pieces can't. Keith uses the whole piano, his feet and voice to occupy the place of an ochestra. The grunts and groans show you he knows exactly where he's going and how much he's feeling it. Perhaps most importantly for neo-classical music, Koln is a perfomance that's also very listenable. Jarret goes wild on the keys at points but also pulls back, giving the piece and audience space to breath and take it all in. I'd give it a five, but then again, Hettie also said I didn't kiss her enough when we split up in Thekla. You can't have your cake and eat it Ms Piano Girl. 4.5/5

Enjoyed this actually. The piano sounds bloody lovely. Won’t ever go back to it like but a pleasant listen.

Love a bit of piano. I am such a laymen though and whilst appreciate this music, songs that las longer than an episode of the Office is tough with just headphones. I feel I would enjoy this more to some imagery.

this album and the story behind it are absolutely insane. Keith how

nur klavier sonst nix :( teil 1 anstrengend, A & B aber cool

People that call it Köln in an English sentence are generally wankers. No Überraschung that this is jazz, then. Lots and lots of jazz piano, nothing else außer the occasional jazz wanker going "ohh!" in the crowd als the pianist was sehr interesting spielt. Maybe those same people would call it a Meisterstück. 2/5.

Beaitiful improvisational jazz piano, completely tonal and accessible with crazy impressive moments and reoccuring motifs. The grunts are bothersome but can be mostly ignored. Plenty of dull moments, especially in the latter half as the audience starts to tire, but there are still displays that pull me back in.

Can’t say I particularly enjoyed this but it sounded nice.

i like it, especially the last song

Very good

Lotsa clapping

I'm always searching for a good bedtime jazz piano album for my children, and i think I found it thanks to Kieth Jarrett. There are a few audible "ohhhs" from the artist throughout this live album of four tracks. The stats are insane: best selling jazz piano album ever, the wrong piano was delivered and had to be tuned last minute, the concert started at 11:30pm, you can hear Keith Jarrett laughing during some songs giving it a "real feel", 5 stars by about every publication out there, tickets were $1.72. Solid. I loved it. This is why I'm doing the 1001 albums, to discover new and unique stuff. JRL are listening to this one before bed from now on.

Woah. Improvised?! How exciting! How have I never heard this guy?

An hour+ long piano improvisation ... why is this an album? I guess for people watching live it could be interesting to observe music being created in real time. Listening to it now, I can appreciate the artist's skill and ideas, but it is just boring.

Nice enough background piano music, good background noise

This was great, I've gone back and listened to albums I've missed. Good concentration music. Bit weird to hear the bloke groan and vocalise because he's so pumped playing the piano, but otherwise very listenable.

I listened to one track, the first one. The 26 minute long one

That guy sure did play that piano

I wouldn’t have known this was improvised if I hadn’t read up on it. It’s an entertaining story and explains the moaning! Would definitely listen to this again.

Nice music to work to.

One hour of solo piano improvisation is not my cup of tea. It’s ok as background music.

This album is quite remarkable. Oh to be one of those people who saw this live.

The speed and precision of play is remarkable, but the way the music soars and Jarrett’s vocalizations add the joy. He is IN IT. Great recording (listened on Apple Music lossless), too.

Not much of a Jazz person but this really kept my interest. The story behind the recording is very interesting as well. I might even listen to this again.

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.

A long way removed from what I’d ever listen to.

Actually quite captivating for just an hour of piano. It made it onto the 'work facilitators' playlist. I'm not sure the grunts were necessary

Maxed out my piano based ratings

I enjoyed the bit where it went “ding-a-ling-ding-ding-a-ling-ding-ding-a-ling-ding-dong”, accompanied by periodic grunts. Think I listened to this 7 times over in the end. Mad that it was improvised

That’s some expressive piano, son. Gets so much across with one instrument. Struggling to think of anything else like it. 4.5/5

- piano = nice but boring 😕

Begendim

Het eerste nummer kon me nog bekoren, tijdens het 2e begon ik boosheid te voelen en woede tegen het eind. Afgezet voordat ik mijn laptop uit het raam flikker!