The Köln Concert

Blown away by this, the making of story is nuts and the music itself really taps into something incredibly pure, going to get a vinyl copy and have another listen

I used to live with a jazz pianist who LOVED Keith Jarrett. I've heard this album more times than I care to remember. I cannot stand Keith Jarrett. One star. Done.

nice , v piano

The CEO of the company I used to work for was in the middle of a midlife crisis that lead to the end of his marriage and him eventually getting kicked out of the business by the board made the entire company sit in silence and listen to this record once

The album is really strong. Then I go and read the background on how this concert almost didn’t happen, and it’s truly magical.

unexpectedly nice, coming from someone who never ever listens to purely instrumental work

Fuck you AI -- you think you can make music like this but then there's something about a human being making musical magic. Can we go back to this please? I really liked this one. Fun to listen to a fall or winter evening (except I am listening on a blistering hot summer day)....pretty solid nonetheless. Did not know the backstory until now. I am going all in on this one.

The story behind this album is incredible. For starters Keith Jarrett was sleep-deprived and had a terrible back pain. Then the opera house had mistakenly provided a small, baby grand Piano that was in terrible shape. Initially Keith refused to perform as he needed an imperial grand. They managed to convince him to go out there since the entire venue was sold-out and people were waiting. He went out there and completely improvised one of the greatest jazz-performances.. To this day, it remains the best-selling solo jazz album of all-time. It is emotional, intimate, raw and grand when it needs to be. I would want to go back several times so that I can fully connect to it and try to lift the curtain behind it at least a little bit. For me the best piece is Part I followed by Part II b.

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would

a live piano concert! read in the wikipedia page that he did not receive the requested piano he wanted but got a mediocre one instead and had to improvise most of the show to make it sound good. i like piano music so this was fun but like. wouldn't listen to it again. but you have to respect his skill.

Really enjoyable to listen to. We loved the random shouts and whoops.

My absolute most favourite album of all time ever!

The first time I listened to this album I tried to put it on as background music and it pissed me off. I think I was just trying to focus on something and it kept pulling my attention away. For the second listen I decided just to listen to it and found myself really enjoying it. There were definitely parts where my attention wandered, but there were also parts I thought were beautiful. Could probably have done without some of his vocalisations, but they didn’t bother me too much. Fav song: Köln, January 24, 1975, Part I Least fav: Köln, January 24, 1975, Part II b

Amazing album succession this week - three great records in as many days, in three completely different genres. Yesterday was a descent into Hell orchestrated by a devil. Today is a journey to Heaven by one of the most ethereal artists ever. Keith Jarrett is a god. His solo piano improvisations are insanely creative and soulful, with a unique subtlety no one has even come close to imitating. Although I don't fully agree with the album pick (I think the 1992 Vienna and 1997 La Scala concerts are superior records), this one is still a radiantly beautiful work that transcends the ordinary definition of jazz to become its own particular genre. Probably not easy to get into if you're not familiar with it, mainly because this kind of album requires your undivided attention. It must absolutely be listened to without interruption, preferably in a quiet setting or with good headphones. It's great that these concerts have been recorded, since each Keith Jarrett performance is a unique, non-repeatable experience. I had the privilege to see him perform in a huge auditorium some 25 years ago, and it was indeed breathtaking. Easy 10/10.

Such a mythic concert ! so mythic that we all know fidderent versions of the thing , Did he start improvisingng on the auditorium bell chimes? or the church nearby? ;-p . One thing for sure, Keith Jarreth's impros are masterpieces.

Imagine improvising one of the greatest piano albums of all time, on a piano that sucked no less...........

Not much to say, not sure the significance of this album but the piano playing sounded good.

Sería mucho mejor invertirle más tiempo a esto después.

long as fuckkkkkk and just Piano Tunes. not for me

I’m sure he’s great but I find these all piano concerts boring after a while.

Not sure why, but this just didn't do it for me. It felt all over the place. I'm sure there's a genius behind the work, but this is me ranking the albums for me, so 2.

This album from now on has a special place in my heart. It sounds amazing—the piano work, the passion, the improvisation, and everything all around came together perfectly, without a doubt. But for me, the reason is deeper than that. I have multiple favorite albums; some I have memories with, and some spark my mood or make me dance. But this one felt like more than that. When I read its backstory yesterday on Wikipedia, I thought to myself, 'Well, this guy went through shit,' and I didn't think much of it at first. But back on the generator, I saw the most-liked review under it, which said: 'This album speaks to overcoming hurdles, being present in the moment, and being open to spontaneity; a variety of chaotic events led to this and it could have resulted in a cancellation or even a performance ruined by the limitations of a specific instrument. But instead, these events occurred, Jarrett agreed to play, and his musical genius flowed, allowing for this unique masterwork to happen, something that would not be readily replicated even if one tried.' That's when it finally hit me. This album transcended me musically. It sparked the idea that complaining about not having enough resources, time, or motivation shouldn't weaken my ability to achieve greatness. That mindset is what holds me back, causes me to procrastinate, and makes me so lazy that my goals look like a mist. Looking at this masterpiece of an album—the best-selling solo jazz act ever, a Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, and a National Recording Registry selection—and realizing its existence was caused by a logistical error, exhaustion, and struggle, yet working through all those hurdles gave it birth... it's truly outstanding. Not just in the general consensus, but personally, inspiring me to do better in my life. A 5

Good album. Kind of hard to jam to a 26 minute song, but it’s still a good album. Probably a 3.5 for me.

Some piano jazz stuff.

This is great. Timeless. Could be from any decade and it would rule. Amazing background music, too.

one of the best-selling jazz piano albums all time.

Mega dobry live, swietne impro, chce zgłębić tego artystę

Revisit

I know this has some sort of mythical status and the background story to the piano used in the concert and the improvisation that took place is now legendary but that doesn't make it necessarily an all time classic IMHO. The first and last pieces stand out but for all the talent on display, this mostly leaves me a bit cold. I've tried several times but it's not my bag, and I generally like piano...

3.5

Muy diferente a lo que suelo escuchar, sin embargo me encantó! No conozco éste género lo suficientemente, pero me impulsó a escuchar más.

Not bad on a broken piano!

I got multiple projects going and the repeats are starting to pile up. I didn’t know this album existed a week ago and now I have listened to it 3 or 4 times in the last few days. It’s become a favorite, a treasure and part of the albums that I know I will return to on my own. It really does benefit from multiple listens. 5 Boolean: yes absolutely. This right here is why this project is worth while.

Great music to study and work to

Beautiful. Really enjoyed the improvisations of this brilliant pianist.

Good listen.

Another album I need more time with. Definitely will revisit. Great story and great piano playing.

Piano improv that speaks to me

This is the boringest of the boring. Borings start at 3 stars. There are 4 tracks here, so we will deduct 0.5 for each song that I thought was boring. Track 4 was the only one i slightly enjoyed so that leaves us 3 - 1.5 = 1.5 Rounded up to 2 stars.

Wow, what a beautiful improvisation with a great backstory! Really enjoyed this. For me it would be improved if there were less coughing and moaning, but I guess they have their place in the story of bad back, a worse instrument and a creative genius.

Interesting story, not a piano connoisseur to judge it on the performance itself, but it was a variation

Amazing Jazz piano. I love live music. If you don’t enjoy this album, you know you don’t like jazz piano by itself.

This was pleasant; but not for me. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, it was quality, but I just felt like I was forcing myself to listen to this one.

Captivated from the first few notes

no me gustan escuchar este tipo de álbumes

The story is amazing. The talent is amazing. Its not really my thing but I can appreciate how good it is and I am happier for knowing this and hearing this.

Wonderfully pleasant classical music. I don’t think I have a refined enough taste to give a more detailed review but I liked it. Very impressed that this is all improv, which bumped my 4 to a 5

What a nice surprise.

Great dinner music!

Really impressive when you consider this is a love improv solo piano album that clocks in at over an hour. Maybe I'm not sophisticated enough for this but it's also as exciting as that sounds. Good but hard to appreciate, especially without context.

i like piano n its very nice but js piano 4 an hour str8? idk man

Truly beautiful music - Even more so when you read the circumstances in which this was recorded. It makes you wonder how this album would have sounded were the correct piano present. It does not sound at like a live recording (especially with 1975 technology) until you hear the occasional foot stomp or vocalization. That being said, this is great background music for me. This is not an album I would choose to sit and listen to.

I had never heard of this, and went into it cold without reading anything about it. I found it delightful! I fretted over it being some weird jazz noodling, and there's a little bit of that, but overall it was very nice to listen to.

phenomenal first song, which is 50% of the album

I mean its smooth listening like praise the talent

20 minute long songs but only 4 songs very interesting but just instrumental i want the voice of overwatch voice acters

4 songs and its an hour long 20 min songs with no words i have no words anymore

I very much enjoyed listening to this, though I don't know when I would want to go back and listen again.

Fantastic. Really enjoyed this. I need to listen to more Jazz and Classical

J'ai applaudi en même temps, c'était fort et beau

What an amazing gem! Somehow I have never heard of this album or of Keith Jarrett as a soloist before today! And man- this really is an amazing recording. I guess I am a prime audience for it. But yes! Thank you 1001 album generator- you keep me coming back. The good far out weighs the bad. I’ve listened to this twice already. I mean - 5 Boolean: YES so so glad I was introduced to this album before I died

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.

Listened to on my Apple EarPods. Forget me just not being a major listener of live performances, this album, 'The Köln Concert' by Keith Jarrett, is not only a live performance but an improvisational piece, performed for a little over an hour long on piano alone. This creates a really interesting piece of music to listen to, as beyond just the content performed, the mastery of improvising it within the conditions presented helps it shine even brighter. There is no other way to describe Keith Jarrett's playing than masterful. The way that he can balance both hands going off independently, one typically holding down a strong bass rhythm while the other goes away at the main melodies, or otherwise just going crazy all over the keys, creates a piece that feels very full even though it is a solo. In particular, I liked the opener track the most, which also ran at the longest time of nearly a half hour. The movements in energy and vibe create this sweeping piece that is accentuated by Jarrett's own building confidence while playing, as his mind becomes totally interlinked with the music that he performs. This is heard in his little vocalizations of what he's playing, the exhausted, breathy relief pushed out after a particularly strong section, and the feet stomping that makes the whole thing feel alive and electric. Part II B, the third of only four tracks, also makes a strong impression with it's more epic, emotional feeling. It has a very measured beauty to it, especially as it starts expanding a little over halfway through, as it moves through complex changes that, like the first track, feels like pure storytelling. There is just a true majesty in Jarrett's playing, which finds technical mastery in compliment with creative wonder, drawing these worlds out of thin air in such a routinely compelling way. It's also interesting to read how the concert itself came together, which was put together by an 18 year old promoter for an 11:30 pm performance, utilizing a practice baby grand piano that was in rough shape and performed by a hungry and exhausted Keith Jarrett. For everything that tried to stand in this concert's way, you would think the whole thing, down to the improvised music itself, was planned all ahead of time and executed perfectly. There are some moments throughout that don't hit quite as strongly as others, often those with repeating patterns held down for minutes at a time, which can make listening feel a bit repetitive or unexciting. And true to it's improvisational nature, I don't really find myself carrying earworms of the content with me after like a carefully crafted piece can make, moreso I just remember the feeling. Regardless, this recorded performance is an absolute statement of a master at work, and a great listen all around.

Recently I got really into the ECM catalogue and was somewhat surprised that I missed out a lot of great music for such a long time. From first listen this record breaths energy. Best solo piano live recording I've heard. This is the first album I did listen to before it popped up in the generator. 5/5

really enjoyable show, especially considering the comedy of errors behind it. my first thought listening was 'this sounds like that one genre of solo piano music'; then as it went on, I realized that's because its the origin of that entire genre!

quite enjoyed this and i don’t usually for a purely instrumental track

Keith Jarrett on the haunting keys got me feeling a type of way.

A nice chill piano album, repetitive at a lot of points but good overall

It was peaceful and chill, but at the end of the day it was just a solo piano for an hour. Enjoyable, but it didn't really feel that special or like I'll ever revisit.

Really nice and jazzy piano music, though it can sound a little disorganized at times and Jarrett's vocalizations were somewhat distracting. For an improv piece, however, it is really quite impressive. I wouldn't recommend this for casual listening as it requires an hour of dedicated attention.

This is one of those, “I understand why it’s here, but it’s not my thing.” Probably a 5 for what it is, but 1-2 for my enjoyment. I don’t want to listen an hour of a guy improvising on a piano.

Liked that part in the middle of the first part where he really jazzed it off

I am not a big piano fan

This is nice, but I’m not into solo piano pieces with no lyrics. I recognize the talent, but would never listen to this on my own.

That sure was a lot of piano.

This was an incredible performance made only more impressive by reading the backstory. Keith has a really unique way of playing, with him often using a repeating lower note as almost percussion while playing a gorgeous rhythm and melody over the top. I really have no complaints with this one.

Köln, January 24, 1975, Part I - Live

muito lindo

sensational

Great album to listen to while I sat in my desk at the office, maximising shareholder value

15 minute piano jams. Better than I thought.

no me ha gustado mucho, todo el rato era igual xd

Enjoyed - modern classical music, relaxing enjoyable music

like that piano

Mwah

If it hadn't been for this website, I would've never listened to this magnificent piece. It feels like true human spirit played through a classically trained grand pianist. Reading into the backstory, I think the shitty piano really adds to the whole experience. I had a really bad piano growing up, and hearing this same "tinny timbre" shoots me back to riffing on it when I was a boy. Maybe that's why this is hitting me so hard..

One of those albums I'm pleased the list has generated since I was unaware of it before and it stands out from the majority. About 30 mins in I thought I'd had my fill though but it won me back. Super impressive. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.

Nothing against the skills. But I am not into listening to someone play the piano for 20 minutes at a time

Jar bear! I’m in a hotel lobby!

very beautiful, not the biggest fan of just piano though

EStá bien, demasiado improv para mi

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

Not really going to list a favorite track, or note thoughts on a per track basis as it doesn't really seem to fit the body of this work— which seemingly is a series of 4 different live, solo improve session done only on the piano. There isn't really a "beginning" or "end" within each of these sessions (even though each session itself does start & end). Moreso, there these motifs and melodies that wax and wane across the sessions, and it feels like I'm much more baring witness to a narrative expressed purely sonically. There are sections within each session that are definitely different form one another, but they sort of bleed and mix into one another. Across the 4 sessions, there is some incredible solo piano work that has this sort of dreamy, other wordly feel to it. As I said before, I see them less as tracks and more as seemingly this sort of narrative device and I'm baring witness to a long, drawn out story. Insanely talented player, clearly, and while their is a "start" and "end" to some of these sessions, they individually are all rather lengthy and complex. They feel like they each have different micro-tracks nested within them, and that they each ebb and flow into one another as we move through the session. Now, while this is technically and artistically super impressive— it's incredibly lengthy for what it is and for me personally, grows to become rather exhausting. There's a lot of nuance and complexity here, but I'm not that big into jazz so it's just not really sticking with me. I can easily take a step back and appreciate what is technically impressive here, but that doesn't translate into personal enjoyment of the album for myself. Again, I think what is here is, artistically, very impressive despite my lack of interest in it sonically. Like, I would never seek this out on my own— but it's impossible to deny the quality & talent that is here. The amount of depth & texture that is here despite it being just one dude jamming away on a piano is incredible.

Absolutely brilliant! Keith Jarrett is a genius. A simply stunning album from beginning to end.

If this was a ranking of albums to get me to sleep this would be the highest rating I could give. But it ain’t. I can appreciate the playing but the pieces are boring

Enjoyed much much more than expected, could be good study music

Enjoyed the one, a very calming jazz piano record.

Beautiful music but im not the biggest fan of contemporary piano. Part of me feels like this was only really included to have a piano album in there. Not too much choice when it comes to "albums" as much as there are collections when it comes to piano... I liked the journey that this album takes the listener on and its hard to comprehend the level of skill of the pianist that this was all an improvisation. Great range of sound. That being said not something I'd listen to again

I think I listened to this three times in a row by accident. Wasn't expecting to get any classical music but I really liked it!!

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 don’t have much to say about this one, it’s a guy doing a sorta-jazzy piano recital in West Germany. Apparently it’s the best selling solo piano record ever. It was perfectly fine. 3/5

A compelling piece and beautiful piano playing, but not quite an album that i was looking for

This was surprisingly enjoyable to me! I can't say I'm gonna add any of these songs to my main playlist as this is more of a vibe I'd only go for if I'm purely looking to have pleasant background noise, but otherwise it was really engaging despite it being just piano. Not to mention this all being improvised is wild to me. To come up with all of this just on the fly is really a testament to the talent on display here and honestly deservong of this list. 4/5

Grand, sweeping, but also dissonant and innovative. It’s wild to think this was improvised. The encore is the cherry on top.

First time hearing the album in full and it is mesmerising. I rarely read the wiki page whilst listening, but the fact that he had to deal with a bad piano on the night and came up with such an improvisation is mind boggling.

MAN. KEITH JARRET IS A GENIUS.

This was a pretty chill album, which was mainly just nice piano music, but I was surprised to see the release year, as I thought it would be something more recent. Overall, quite nice having this in the background, so I can't really complain.

I guess.

Great album but not my jam. It felt something like something between the Inception soundtrack and music from Mr Roger's Neighborhood. Both things I love, but don't listen to a ton.

This record has been trying to get to me for a while. I had Keith Jarrett's So Tender get into my Jazz rotation. I watched a Youtube video last night that referenced this record. This one was a victim of my own stupidity. I had shuffle on and listened to this one in the wrong order. Still enjoyed it. It's great.

this album changed how I perceive sound and music. it is one of the greatest recordings ever made. I have listened to this album more times than I could count, particularly in high school and college. I could hum along to basically the entire thing. I think my dad impulse bought this CD for me at a Best Buy in West Palm Beach, FL, when I was around 13-years-old -- some time when it was hot. Harry might remember the trip. this is one of those albums where I'm jealous of anyone who has the chance to listen to it for the first time. improvised solo piano concert? I wasn't exactly thrilled to check it out at first, but it wasn't long til I realized that I had never heard anything like this. continuous beauty, tension, silence, and rhythm flowing out from this individual in front of an enraptured audience. of course there's moments where his technical prowess shows, but overall this performance takes you on such a gorgeous journey -- I'm always tempted to start it over each time I listen. somehow every moment here is essential. some personal highlights: the moaning & exclamations from Jarrett from around 6:00 - 12:00 in Part I is completely warranted. I don't think it's possible for anyone to listen to the final 6 minutes of Part I without moving their body. the rolling, descending chord that starts the section off is unfiltered beauty, and by the end it's hard to comprehend that there's only two hands on the keys. in Part II (a), a playful moment at 5:48 proves there's more fun to be had here, and tension continues to build before eventually dropping out and shifting into a quieter phase. Part II (b) opens with a steady pulse and driving rhythm that provides space for Jarrett to create interwoven leads with his right hand, at first playing around the beat, then stabbing it. later in this section, around 11:00, feels like sunshine breaking through the clouds after a moody storm, to resolve into one of the simplest, prettiest moments at 14:08. Part II (c) feels like a celebration of everything that's come before, a blast of inspiration before leaving the stage. you can feel the audience hanging on every note and not wanting to interrupt the silence. I love this album and will always appreciate any opportunity to revisit it.

Got stuck on this one for a few days, listening to it over and over. Brilliant, life-affirming, tension and release.

Ist ok aber bisschen zu langweilig so ohne den pianisten zu sehen. live bestimmt geiler

This concert covers a lot of ground and I'll listen to it again, even though I don't often listen to this genre.

04/10

didnt finish the whole thing but very much not for me. just boring

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

This is an amazing bit of... I don't really know how to classify it... "improv"? Clearly, he approached the show with songs, but he adapted to the sound of the piano and brought a level of genius performance to it. It's a phenomenal solo piano concert that Jarrett just made work, despite having to overcome issues with the piano and uncomfortable travel and sleeping conditions. He works methodically and seamlessly through his compositions which he modifies in his mind and on the fly. The really impressive part is how he works with both hands to accentuate the lyric and melody with points and counterpoints. This is a simply amazing show that was fortunately captured on tape. Though I really recognize the genius of the playing and the recording, it doesn’t rank terribly high on my list because quite frankly, I don’t find solo piano recitals all that exciting so it’s not a record I would listen to a whole lot.

Very soothing for the brain during a stressful day today

Piano jazz, very relaxing, will definitely listen to it

I started playing the first song and its 26 minutes long 🙃 very good album and long ,good piano in the second one 7.4/10

One long piano concert, nice to listen to.

Holly shit this was so good :)

80

I think I listened to the album on repeat 5 times. Very good. So glad to have heard this!

I listened through this album as I worked on a simple organizational task at work, zoned in and focused. This is an album for which I feel like I'm running out of adequate words to describe; what more is there to say about this performance other than how beautiful it is. I am incredibly impressed at how Jerrett's performance manages to stay clear and beautiful even when reaching blistering speeds on the keys. The primary focus on the piano allows for a handful of incredibly impactful moments when drums suddenly kick in, pounding down on me. The songs are made more lively and energetic by the occasional shouts and vocal interruptions throughout; whether they're part of the performance or simply excited audience members doesn't particularly matter, it's an appreciated touch either way. I have always had a soft spot for gorgeous piano arrangements, and The Köln Concert is no different. Part II a gets a little busy for my personal tastes, as if some of the notes aren't being given enough room to breathe; this is almost certainly a deliberate choice, but it just doesn't resonate with me as much as the rest of the performance, all of which keeps me captivated in how gorgeous it sounds. Highlights: Köln, January 24, 1975, Part I, Part II b, Part II c

On adore Keith Jarrett.

Intéressant. C'est assez modal/impressionniste comme approche, ça me fait penser à Bill Evans. Est-ce que ça mérite vraiment son statut de meilleur vendeur album jazz? J'en mettrais d'autres avant certainement. J'ai vu plusieurs 'footage' de Keith Jarrett jouer live, c'est un performer hors pair. Il mérite 5 pour ça, et pour la petite histoire autour de la préparation du spectacle (le mauvais piano livré entre autres)

Excellent et très beau. Olivier trouvait ça « trop agressant » mais on trust pas encore son opinion musicale.

Love some of these improvised melodies. Particularly the final minutes of Part I and Part II c. Great story behind the album too. Context is everything.

Boring

Nice album to listen to, very interesting story of how it was made. It must be an amazing feeling to be able to play the piano like this.

permanently exploring Zelda BOTW POIs

Wow. Unexpected. Unknown. Loved every second of it. The delicacy, the intricacy, the technical prowess. I will treasure this discovery.

Fine as background music.

Because it is completely improvised, some of it is brilliant but not all.

This was completely new to me, and what a treat to be able to hear it for the first time. Mesmerizing, beautiful, and evocative of more delicate worlds. I love this.

Sorry....this album is not for me

Wow

I can’t same I’m a very big fan of instrumental stuff… Fav song is ‘Part II a’

I am not knowledgeable enough to speak to why this is good, but trust me it is!

Concert de piano envoutant jazzy et avec des melodies assez rythmées. J’ai bien aimé alors que c’est tres marqué jazz quand meme. C’est un musicien et chef d’orchestre qui maitrise plusieurs instruments. disque de piano solo le plus vendu au monde, toutes catégories musicales confondues. Plus grand improvisateur musicien de son temps.

This was beautiful. I was a little nervous seeing how long some of the songs were, but it felt like there was a story enveloped in each one, making it much more entertaining to listen to. Favorite Tracks: Part I Part II b

1001 Albums Generator 282 (5/1/2026) A genius and an hour of piano improvisations, played on a shitty rehearsal piano that he didn't want to play on. Amazing and beautiful. Truly a shining example of limitations breeding creativity. Not an album that I can always come back to due to its simple, subdued sound, but it is always a treat. 4/5. Favs: Part I Part II a Part II b Least Fav: Part II c

Absolutely stunning! The whole album is great.

Great jazz!

A bit long but I enjoyed it.

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

Beautiful, delicious exciting

dejen de darme álbumes que son 2 horas de instrumental

Not my thing

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

Ok, I've been geeking out on this album since yesterday morning. I was not familiar with this album before, and I'm scratching my head on why. I'm a fan of classic jazz, and a few things struck me right away about this album. First, most jazz is performed in bands or small combos. This however is solo piano -- no drums, no bass, just piano. Second, most jazz is based on a tune. An artist will take a tune like Autumn Leaves for example... play that tune and then improvise based on that tune and the chord changes. But Jarrett doesn't do that here -- EVERYTHING is improvised... therefore the abstract titles like Part 1. And lastly, this level of improvisation is being done in front of a live audience. I think the only way Jarrett could have been more vulnerable in performance is if he was naked while playing. After listening I dove into the story behind the performance, and from what I read this performance never should have been successful. Apparently Jarrett had been up all night hitchhiking from his previous performance in Switzerland, he had food poisoning earlier in the evening, and the wrong piano was delivered to the venue... one that was broken and had serious limitations (you can hear him using a broken pedal in places to produce a percussive sound) These limitations informed his performance ultimately determining which keys he would use and the tonal centers of the music. The performance didn't start until 11:30 at night because an opera had been performed at the venue earlier that evening. It sounds like they were ready to cancel the concert except that it had sold out and a crew had shown up ready to record. This album is so unique -- like a perfect alignment that was captured for posterity. It is no wonder that it is highly acclaimed.

This was pretty incredible. I’ve rarely ever listened to live albums, but this one was special. It’s an enjoyable listen throughout even without knowing the story, but that only enhances it. The sort of experience that reminds you that the potential music has to be something magical is more than just a cliche. 1 listen

Expectation: -> A live concert album from the year 1975? I'm in. After listening: -> This is so pleasant to my ears. I'll happily listen to this all day today and maybe again in the future. Impressive skill and stamina. I do feel that the vocalizations detracted some from the listening experience/enjoyment. Still, a solid 4 from me. Wish I'd been there.

It's good, I won't really ever seek out this kind of music but it's impressive. I did give it a bonus star because I pictured snoopy the entire time

Fell asleep listening to this

All killer no filler. Jeg så en film om Vera Brandes og koncerten sidste år, der virkede Keith Jarrett som en ok anstrengende type men han har tydeligvis noget at have det i

HELT fantastisk, utvivlsomt den bedste improviserede plade på listen

It's almost hard to believe that this is improvised.

technically impressive

Exceptional album. Will revisit. Fully immerse yourself.

It was a great piano concert, with a modern style that differs from my (limited) knowledge of classical music. It was interesting!

It confuses me a bit that this has such an impressive legacy, like most sold solo jazz album or best-selling piano album, when it feels so incredibly niche. This piece is beautiful, but it's not really commercial, it's more so theatrical. On my first listen my ear was begging for more, I could feel the lack of range, though the talent being displayed was obvious. I guess when you read about the troubles, about being forced to play on a substandard instrument, of nailing the show and pulling at heart strings regardless, it becomes a lot more impressive. I'm sure I would've appreciated it more at the moment, feeling the audience pay attention, and the vibration of sound reflecting between us. Instead, I gave it a second listen, and started to unlock the joy of his fingers doing everything they can to make up for the instrument. The magic here is really in the composition, and I feel like a nerd for being able to appreciate it, but I do appreciate it so much. 4.2/5

mint man yeah I can imagine riding my bike to this

I've never heard of Keith Jarrett before, which made it all the more intriguing to learn about him. A child prodigy, he was playing piano before he turned three, and by age seven, he was playing both classical works and original compositions. While he grew up learning classical piano, he grew to love contemporary jazz after seeing Dave Brubeck perform. This interest led him to turn down an invitation to study classical composition in Paris to attend Berklee College of Music instead. After playing at cocktail bars in Boston clubs, he moved on to The Jazz Messengers, the Charles Lloyd Quartet, Miles Davis' group by the end of the 1960s, and even started his own groups before pursuing a solo piano career. Keith reached the point where he performed totally improvised solo concerts, including one in Cologne, Germany, in January 1975. Now, this particular concert was marked by some adversity. It was organized by an 18-year-old Vera Brandes, who was Germany's youngest concert promoter at the time, trying to bring more jazz into her home country. The Köln Opera House only allowed for an 11:30 pm time slot for the concert on a Friday night, following an earlier opera performance. Keith had come to the opera house late in the afternoon, exhausted from several sleepless nights, only to find that the grand piano he had requested for the concert didn't arrive. Instead, a baby grand piano was delivered, and there was no time to get a replacement. Jarrett was ready to give up playing for the night, but Brandes was able to convince him to go on with the show. He did recognize that the concert was sold out and the recording equipment was largely set up, so on he went. What transpired that night was something truly spellbinding, at least from what I heard over fifty years later. The Köln Concert is divided into two parts, with Jarrett vamping over a few chords for prolonged periods of time. Technically, Part II was divided up into three sections due to the technical limitations of vinyl at the time, but it's largely forgivable, as one would expect to listen to the performance in full anyway. I think what set Keith apart from other piano players was his ability to play complex ostinatos, or repeated musical patterns, on his left hand, while simultaneously improvising with his right hand, without ever dropping a beat. This guy went hard to make that baby grand piano sound stronger than it normally would have, for minutes on end. I just get lost in how he came up with so many distinct movements on the spot, covering a wide range of emotion and bombast, never letting up. I didn't even mind it when Keith could be heard hooping and hollering on the recording, cause it seemed indicative of how into the performance he was. The audience was certainly into it every time he finished a part. The Köln Concert is such a shining illustration of facing any number of obstacles with true perseverance. Keith Jarrett would continue to perform until he lost the ability to play with his left hand in 2018. Of course, by that point, his legacy had been set as one of the most revered pianists to have ever graced this world, with this concert performance as a prime example of what he accomplished against all odds.

Wow, this was enjoyable. Nothing was predictable about it. I think this needs a couple more listens for me to form a real opinion. And I will definitely give it a couple more listens. This is what I hope to get from this challenge. Great albums I probably have no chance of hearing on my own.

I went into this cold. Never heard of him. No idea of the genre. Didn't look at the cover art. Just hit play and took the dog for a walk. The skill here is readily apparent. The guy can improvise on some idea for 20+ minutes while never boring the listener. I'm not generally one for Jazz but I would absolutely put this on for cocktail hour, despite Keith's occasional overexcited vocalizations.

Best album so far. BRILLIANCE.

3/5

Hm

THE THREE TYPES OF JAZZ REVIEWS ON THIS SITE: 1. "I know nothing about jazz, but I know I hate this." 2. "I know nothing about jazz, but I kinda like this." 3. "I know everything about jazz, and I'm going to teach you fools whether you like it or not."

This suited my mood quite well today. Ambient, with slow building crescendos

Absolutely lovely. Breath taking. A joy to listen to.

Writing schmaltzy jazz is easy. Writing avant-garde jazz sometimes seems like it might be even easier. Writing jazz that runs parallel to both tracks but never crosses either - that is sentimental without being cloying, clear without being cliché, complex without being unreadable, exciting without being desperate, masterful without being arrogant - seems like it ought to be utterly impossible, and yet Jarrett does it here, and on an empty stomach and a dubious piano to boot. There are multitudes here - among others, I located the genesis of Wilco's "At Least That's What You Said." Jarrett said he wished everyone would move on from this album, but shit, can you blame us?

Day839 - it was enjoyable background dinner music

Really pleasant! Made me think about the level of skill it takes to sit down and play a piano for this long.

This is so nice!!! I thought it would be a metal band and lots of screaming loool but I adore contemporary piano. Excited to listen to other stuff by this artist!!

Beautiful live piano blending Jazz and Classical inspirations with interspersed moans of appreciation from a receptive audience.

Really beautiful vibes and sounds. LOVE THE GENRE<3 Only negative aspect is that it didnt catch my attention. I will listen to it again but as a background music

Agree with other comments that the story of this album is interesting, even though it seems Jarrett is difficult but clearly a master at his craft, but with solely piano music it can almost be relegated to sounding like being in the The Sims editor mode. However, once you stop and listen it does sound incredible and it's nice that this list includes something different and interesting, even though it's one of the biggest selling piano albums ever. Also amazing that someone can find themselves in a situation with an instrument not fit for purpose and just riff on pure creation to make something like this. For everything above I can't vote anything less than 5.

Pleasant listening experience.

Evocative and mesmerizing. A journey. A testament to the pianist's endurance, creativity, and vision.

He was just vibing, I was just vibing, it's all just vibes

probably a 3.5

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

piano

Solid, too long. 2/5

Sounds like an especially competent department store pianist

If you like improvisational piano jazz, this album is amazing. Despite it being a bit all over the place due to stream of consciousness (and all the backstory bullshittery), Jarrett ties everything together and it flows well from one movement to the next. But I can't do jazz all the time.

Good but I didn't feel like it

Really boring classical piano music, one album that is essentially a really long monotonous song

Wonderful pianist and wonderful concert. Definitely worth revisiting.

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

I liked it.

extrremely pleasant

so lovely

My first 5 so far. Loved this. Knowing the story of the concert ahead of time just made it that much better.

brilliant. a new favourite. mesmerizing

It's piano, always good.

Isn’t recording free form jazz kinda missing the whole point of free form jazz? It’s supposed to live in the moment. Anyway- this got pretty tedious after about 40 minutes worth.

This is fine. I think I appreciate the story behind the album a bit more than the music itself, but it's not bad.

It's soooooo long. It's good, but man, it just keeps going. However, definitely good and Keith deserves the full minute of applause at the end.

Doesn’t do much for me

An incredibly talented man clearly it’s amazing that he can play solo for that long and keep it interesting. For me it was the perfect background music for working, it did feel repetitive at times but it was a beautiful album.

A masterclass in solo piano improvisation, Keith Jarrett creates a transcendent and deeply emotional atmosphere that remains unparalleled in jazz history. Despite the faulty piano, his performance is a perfect blend of melodic beauty and rhythmic intensity that absolutely earns stars.

Beautiful music I’ve never heard before

Beautiful music. Wish there were some vocals. Definitely deserves a better score because the work is so well done, but I need me some singing

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

Eric Andre??

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

Very nice. It can become background music too easily if you don't pay attention but either way it's a good time Fav track: Part II b

Génial, tant de musicalité pour une improvisation

sugoi

I hate this. One poorly functioning piano and jazz is a terrible combination.

What a beautiful composition, the closest thing to neo-classical music that we may get in this group. I listened three times. 5/5

If you're capable of making something like this under sub-optimal conditions with a defective instrument, then Jarrett is a genius who deserves to be on this list.

I appreciate the musicianship. Whoop!. Not sure there is an occasion when i would listen to it again though. Yeah! Sorry Keith. Whoop!

From a '75 Koln concert I was maybe hoping for a seminal Krautrock live concert, turned out being pretty much it's opposite. Not bad, but Monk is probably the only musician for who I would have the desire to listen to a solo piano concert.

I was strapped in for an hour of spa music. Don’t get me wrong, much of it I would happily listened to at a spa should I ever visit one, but it did rise above the level of vanilla, and was engaging me at times far more than I’d expected. That said, I very much doubt I’ll ever listen to his work again as it’s not really my thing. File under “Nice background music whilst writing a report”

fav song: koln, january 24th, 1975, pt. II A intimate, improv, raw 60/100

Album #74: The Köln Concert - Keith Jarrett Genre (W): Jazz No singles. I have listened to this album before. Thoughts?: Jarrett is an impressive piano player. I may be turned off by the length, but his technical skills are pretty nifty. Favorite songs: Part I, Part II B, Part II C

I'm not a huge fan of improvisational jazz, but this was a beautiful album. Keith finds beautiful riffs and runs over simple chords, and you can feel the emotion pouring out. This was a great discovery, and I'm giving it 5 stars just for how much this album surprised me.

This was a beautiful album, the way Keith plays the piano is relaxing and lead to a great start to my morning.

Much to think on, this made me think on...

I'm not a big fan of Keith but I have to admit that this concert is really pleasant to listen to..

Very interesting piano solo album!

Leek leuk, maar na 15 minuten ging het steeds meer tegen staan.

Amazing album! The history behind the album is fascinating

A unique album in many ways, and it’s one of the more incongruous big sellers in the world of jazz.

I really enjoy Jarrett's music, this is a great one. 5.

Piano music, progressive jazz? Good stuff if you like piano music

pqp 4 musicas em 1 hora é foda FAVS (top 3): part I, part II a, part II b menções honrosas: part II c GENTE q performance maravilhosa eu gostei bastante... nota final: 4.5/5

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.

사랑스러운 처연함

Cool story, out of my wheelhouse, comforting I suppose.

Best Song: Part II(c) To me, you can't really hate this but also, it's not something you put on doing 80 on a freeway or pounding beers with friends. Its use case is a rather small window unless you are a musician type that really enjoys the intricacies of Jarrett's playing. Sadly, I have the musical talent of a box turtle and the musical knowledge of a wolf spider, so for me this was just mellow piano music. It is good background music for work, cleaning, etc. but that's about it for this guy. 3/5.

De lo mejor de piano solo improvisado que he escuchado. Nunca se queda sin ideas, tiene una técnica impresionante y una forma única de expresar y crear melodías y construir sobre ellas. Te hace sentir que estás en el público viéndolo tocar. Tener en cuenta el contexto en el que sucedió le suma mucho valor como obra. Lo volvería a escuchar sin duda

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

Cool record. This type of music is a bit outside my wheelhouse, but I enjoyed it. Love the story behind it as well. 4/5

Surprised at how much I liked this. Definitely will be revisiting this one.

An extremely good piano performance with an insane backstory. Most of the album being improvised is just even more icing. Eager to listen to this again soon.

Decent. An impressive selection of classical music that was evocative. Unfortunately, it didn't quite match the positive mood we were in so we didn't quite manage to submerse ourselves.

I really don't know what to think about this album. It's mostly runs, it's a single piano playing what is truthfully similar sounding notes on an instrument that should not be there. The story of how the concert went and hwo it came it be is incredible. But does a good story make up for what, in my opinion, is a mostly dull but well-executed piano concert that lacks most of the parts of jazz I enjoy? I honestly don't know.

One of the most incredible performances in not only piano or jazz, but all of music. It’s beautiful. And it works great for background or foreground listening! I love the story behind the piano used and how it wasn’t the right one or in tune. Yet that obstacle didn’t stop the music. Imperfection lead to perfection.

A good album, h liked Part 2 a and Part 2 c the most.

I can tell it's awesome but not in the right zone for it today. Worth a revisit

Never listened. Expectations: None - Verdict: Very Good - Apparently this is the biggest selling jazz album by a solo artist of all time, and the biggest piano album ever. Not sure how I've never even heard of it. This is very pretty at the start. It sounds extremely modern without shouting about it. I'm 6 minutes in and wow, this is absolutely stunning. I think the opening 10 or 15 minutes of Part 1 is the highlight but this is really impressive throughout.

It’s good. I wouldn’t die if I couldn’t hear it again.

This was excellent.

Boring. Only background noise

It was all improvised amazing

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

Tremendous piano

Хорошая фортепьянная неназойливая музыка. Мне, как любителю потупить под инструментал или эмбиент, зашло. Насколько я понимаю, это ещё и импровизация.Немного раздражало, что в записи концерта один из микрофонов был расположен так, что были слышны периодические покашливания и восклицания рядом сидящего человека

I'm sure I won't be the first review you've read discussing the backstory to this performance. But to summarize a long story, Keith Jarrett was to perform a live concert in Köln Germany with a luxurious Grand Piano. All the Germans had to do was provide one for him and he would be set for a great concert. He was partially injured at the time and wearing a back brace, so bending over must have hurt a ton. To make things worse, somehow the wrong piano was ordered. Instead of what he had requested, they ordered a tiny, broken, piece of garbage piano that wasn't even really meant to be played by anyone. He claims that the only reason he even performed at this concert was because the piano was fixed before he arrived, but I can only imagine how pissed off he must have been. What he delivered ended up being a hell of a performance, and resulted in the best selling solo album in Jazz history, as well as the best selling piano album of all time. Which really says a lot about Jazz when you think of it, but I won't go there this time. Regardless, this album is absolutely nothing without that story. I mean, sure, it probably would have been a pretty great performance if the piano was what he requested, but he'd likely done a ton already just like it, which would have been just another boring live Jazz performance. Instead, we got this. Pure talent and an amazing sounding record that sold like hotcakes due to a hilarious situation. It was lightning in a bottle for Keith, and I'm sure he's looked back on this concert and smiled about it for years now, even if it wasn't a good situation to be in while it was happening for him. I'm not a Jazz guy. I thought this album was just ok. I can recognize the talent, it's oozing from every note. But, I would never personally return to it. Without the backstory, I would probably give it a mid 2 or a low 3. It's not my taste in music at all, but the background heavily elevated my personal enjoyment with this one. Again, you don't have to be an expert to tell how impressive this is, and I can't honestly dislike a dude playing his freaking heart out on a bad piano like this. So I'm going to give it a 3, which seems very fair for this one. Picking a favorite song from the 4 is also going to be very difficult, especially since it's just a dude playing the piano for an hour, but I'm going to go with "Part II b". Not entirely sure why. I think I picked that one because a lot of the beginning notes just resonated positively with me. This was an alright album, but a remarkable story. Carry on Mr. Jarrett.

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..

Not usually what I would listen to however the back story of how it was made was intriguing. There is no denying the talent on display here.

Piano... if the commentary is from the crowd, it's kind of annoying, but if its from Keith, then it's kind of sick. Great, just something I'll probably never listen to again.

Lovely!! Great for walks or focus music

A bit repetitive

There's nothing to say about this that hasn't been said a millions times before. Incredible piece of artistry and as good as live jazz can be

This is esentially an hour of improvisation on the piano, so of course it won't be for everyone. Since I'm a fan of both piano and improv, this was a great listen for me. However, I have to be honest, parts of this do get a bit repetitive even for improv standards and at times feel too "safe" (not enough experimentation and moments to leave you amazed). Part II b was my favorite section, but Part I was also great as a whole. I do feel that ending on a minute of applause is a bit much, even for a live album (as if anybody is going to listen through that).

Not my cup of tea, but it wasn't bad.

Beautiful piano improvisations. It was grey and cloudy in my city today. The weather called for rain, but so far, nothing. Otherwise, it's still warm enough to leave the windows open, so I do. There is no breeze as I wash the dishes and sweep the floors, as Keith Jarrett's piano twinkles and flutters. His playing is powerful in the way that electronic drones or ambient music is powerful; though it sits just beneath the surface of your attention, it simmers and boils there, both demanding one's attention while simultaneously inviting you to allow your mind to wander. I fold laundry and put it away. The piano drives my in my mundane, albeit comforting tasks as ritual. I leave the house and ride my bike through town, the spacious piano making my meanderings feel dreamlike and surreal. Still no rain. It is powerful work.

Great music for doing taxes to. Thanks, Keith!

Definitely my favorite Keith Jarrett album and quite possibly my favorite jazz album. Fascinating story of this concert, how the grand piano promised never showed up and how he had to play this out of tune damaged piano instead. He hates this album, the rest of us love it.

muy buen álbum, pero una horita sin voces se me hace pesado. soy un ignorante

Well this is just stunning piano improvisation. Perfect concentration music for working

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

Easy listening good for working

This was relaxing. I could see myself listening to this for background music when I'm painting.

I dont liek doing imstrumental things for reviews, so this album is a bit harder, but its very good, like i assume most of the albums on the 1001 before you die list will be. with the songs were split up so i could pick sections i like, but whatever. 10/10 easily.

hermoso, al principio me parecia muy piano clasico, pero despues entendi el jazz y me encanto, quiero que sea el soundstack de mi vida.

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

Despite being an avid jazz listener and knowing the reputation of this piece I’d always avoided listening to it as I’m wary of solo piano albums. They can get a bit monotonous and go on a bit. But I have to admit I can see why it’s lauded so much. It’s a beautiful album with a floating quality and huge amounts of space. Not exactly jazz but not classical either. Excellent stuff. 4.5

I appreciated the music. It was beautiful, emotive, impressive. It moved and flowed and took you on the same journey as everyone in attendance at the concert. Keith Jarrett’s groans in the background I did not appreciate. Get a room Keith. 3.5/5.0 Best Song: Part II c

Really beautiful music, but its not for me, its too classical and too sort of long winded for me to really get behind. Plus i think he cums his jeans about 4 times in the hour long set.

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.

It’s alright I guess, if you really really really want to hear the piano. It was like the music from a Charlie Brown cartoon but a bit more somber and serious…like if Charlie Brown was waiting on a cancer diagnosis or going through a messy divorce.

Definitely wasn't jazzed (😉) when I saw the 66 minute runtime, but I really liked this, even with the baby grand piano and NOT the Bosendorfer 290 Imperial. The upbeat stuff was more enjoyable, but overall it was a decent listen. Might scope out more of this dude's work. Was wondering who was making all that racket during the good parts...[from his Wikipedia page]: "Jarrett frequently emits loud vocalizations, sometimes characterized as moaning, during his playing. Jarrett is also physically active while playing jazz and improvised solo performances, but the vocalizations are generally absent whenever he plays classical repertoire"

Normally classical/jazz piano doesn’t hold my attention as a solo instrument. But this is something else. Jarrett’s approach grabbed my attention; the pacing, the timing, the particular feeling he infuses in the notes makes it stand out. I just know - without expertise - that I’m listening to a master. It’s not suitable to classify this as classical or jazz; it is something new and distinctive. It was only after I listened all the way through that I learned that Jarrett had improvised this entire concert with a substandard piano, with a sore back, with an empty stomach… well, the greatest speak for themselves. True brilliance.

Fama

Fascinating piece of work with a fascinating history. Leans more into classical music than into jazz, but that doesn't mean it's less great.

canciones de 30 min que solo tienen piano, no lo escuche completo pero no me interesa mucho

Not even being clearly technically impressive, and having a fun story behind it, can change the fact that it’s still a whole hour of improvised piano.

It took just one listen to this album. This man is a genius.

really nice pianoman

Nice

beautiful piece of music. I do see the vision. The closer was a pretty encapsulation of the whole show. I may not listen to this for fun, but I will throw my roses to keith.

It sure was piano (dnf)

I've a lot of time for this. Much like Vince Guaraldi Trio, Oscar Peterson or Esbjörn Svensson Trio these well played, composed and delivered pieces drift beautifully along with real creativity and passion. I'd never heard of Keith Jarrett, but I'm sold on the idea he is right at the top of his genre. Lovely stuff.

inesperado, la mejor parte ll c. me gusta mucho la idea de que se deja llevar: compone las canciones en el mismo concierto

I get the skill involved to do this considering the story behind the album and concert, and there are some beautiful parts of this, but I drifted off at some points. Still pretty good though.