The Köln Concert

A live solo piano album that runs over an hour. No, wait, come back! Read the Wikipedia article about this album, the sun-standard piano, Jarrett wearing a back brace and almost refusing to play. The end result is like catching lightning in a bottle - a brilliant display of what solo jazz piano can be.

Fantastic album. I had been warned about Jarrett's spontaneous moaning, however I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was barely audible on this album. This is some of the most beautiful piano music I've ever heard.

The story behind this recording is wild.

Jazz! I never thought it could be so pleasant.

Listened to this so many times. One of my favourites.

One of my favorite jazz albums of all time, although calling it jazz is somewhat of a misnomer in my opinion. Piano improvisation from a master. Perfect.

Loved it to bits! Absolutely phenomenal 😍

I really enjoyed.

excellent solo piano improv

Master work of jazz piano. While I prefer more structured pieces, I frequently found myself lost in these.

Loved this! Great live performance that I will have to put into my regular rotation.

This album truly blew me away. Never did I think I would be able to experience such a response from music as simple as this. The closest album I can think of is Music for 18 Musicians, but even that has more going on than this. Played entirely by one man with back problems on one baby grand piano in poor condition. And yet, against all odds, he succeeded. The first song is 26 minutes long. After about 8 minutes, I had to pause it to step away and eat food. When I came back, I restarted the song. I restarted the 26 minute long song of solely one man with back problems playing one baby grand piano in poor condition. It was so astoundingly beautiful, I simply couldn’t just pick up where I left off. It is actually incredible how much emotion Keith manages to convey with so little. Other bands would struggle to bring something like this out of me with an album that has 10 times the number of instruments. Keith’s three performances here are nothing short of genius. You would be hard pressed to find another solo piano recording stronger and more powerful than this. Part II C is just a short encore, but Part II A and II B are one song, reaching nearly thirty minutes in length. And in Part II B, all that Keith changes other than the way he’s playing is the key. He simply goes from a major to a minor key. In the grand scheme of things, it’s only a few different notes he’s playing. But it completely alters the tone and power of the music. It’s much more somber, and feels more articulate and complex than in Part II A. For anybody that has a deeper understanding of music theory, what I’m saying right now probably sounds so stupid. But to the average person like me, its all the difference. It’s rare I have this much to say about an album, mostly because I’m not good at putting my feelings and thoughts into writing, but I had to really try for this record. Anyone that had the privilege of being present during this performance is beyond lucky. This is simply 67 minutes of a master at work, and I am floored at it’s magnificence. Rating: 9/10

This one came as a wonderful surprise. I expected to listen as background music but found myself constantly stopping to give the album my full attention. An amazing Jazz piano album.

this is amazing and already a 5 star. i haven’t got much to say other than i really love this and think it’s so so special. the piano is insanely good, makes me block out all kinds of things which is really the thing that i look for in music; does it transport me, does it move me, does it calm everything in me to just a quiet roar rather than a loud crashing jumble. and the answer is, yes, this is such lovely and enjoyable music, im just sad i didn’t know it before.

I was kind of surprised at how much I enjoyed this. They didn’t downplay the applause on the recording, did they???

Now this was just right. Homey, comforting, and festive. A treat.

I loved this! Such a great change of pace! I loved the music, and the live performance where I could hear Keith Jarrett reacting while playing was great! I am very happy this is on the list. Really terrific!

Не большой фанат концертных альбомов, но это было прямо хорошо

This is one of those albums that on the surface is incredible but if you look into the story behind the album it becomes legendary. Keith played this amazing two piece performance on a baby grand piano due to a mistake made by the promoter and if you don't know the difference a baby grand piano are literally made for houses and have a much inferior sound to Keith's preferred concert grand piano and is like half the size. That is an astonishing accomplishment but it is dwarfed by the fact that this entire album all 67 minutes was completely improvised while having a completely uncomfortable setup. Baby pianos have a lot weaker sound than concert grand pianos but that is especially the case when it comes to the lower register of the piano and Jarett still manages with techniques like ostinatos to strengthen the sound of the bass notes. In all honesty I cannot do a track by track review like I would usually do because there was no intent behind these songs. This album is more an experience of a musician who is truly a savant and has a complete mastery of his instrument more than just about anyone else. It is like hearing Charlie Parker or Sonny Rollins on sax or listening to Hendrix or Tosin Abasi on guitar. It is truly one of the most astonishing musical performances I have ever heard and is among the 2-3 best live albums I have ever heard. He just whips out these long, improvised motifs that are just as good as you will hear in any of the most well reviewed jazz albums of all time. I would suggest anyone who likes this album just look up any video of him improvising. More than any other musician I have seen the music seems to flow out of him in an absurdly natural way. It is one of the most astonishing things I have seen. One of my favorite aspects of this album is how he made the two songs so contrasting with the first being a long, light piece that makes me imagine it being played in a tour of heaven. It is so beautifully played and has these repeating parts that are really addictive to hear. Whereas the second piece is a much punchier track that is just incredibly movement inducing. I really can't think of a simile for what I could imagine this track being used for and I tried for like 15 minutes. It is a completely unique experience and it is incredibly well done with those large periods of intensity juxtaposed with slowed, more emotional parts. I may like other jazz pianists music more like Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk or Bill Evans but when we talk in terms of talent and skill I think that Jarrett is comfortably in the top 2-3 conversation. He plays like it is nothing more than breathing to him and it almost comes of as spiritual in the way he plays. In conclusion, this is easily one of the best jazz albums of all time and is one of the best live albums of all time. It sort of makes sense I like this cause I am a big fan of free jazz but nevertheless listen to this album it is great.

I began listening to this on my AirPods, but after a minute or so I knew that the fidelity and emotion of this required my nicer cans. Boy was I glad with that decision- This album was simply a masterpiece of raw emotion channeled into a piano with expertise and passion. I could listen to a man pour his heart out with this type of skill all day. The songs appear to have no real gap between them so the 4 part breakage only appears to be a way for this guy to rest before again blowing everyone away. The songs go from peaceful and melodic to laying down some jazzy funk and everything in between. Truly beautiful.

Masterpiece

Amazing what he did. Proof that talent wins over technology.

Bleeding me away that this was all improvised.

en tiiä miksei herrasta kuullut aikasemmin. pianonkikkailija läpikotaisin. suosituin soolo pianonpäpyttely albumi mitä koskaan tehty... huomaa että täydet poppimessut päällä kun joka saatanan sävelen jälkeen ollaan taputtamassa käsiä yhteen kun oltaisiin vittu päiväkodissa... ja jonkun täytyy huudella siellä taustalla kävellessä luulin että joku top 5 toimintakeskus asukas huutelee takaa... vai huuteleeko virtuoosi itse, en tiedä mutta autismd.com mukaan ei ole mikään telkkari ohjelma house pianisti jakso kyseessä... look it up... part 1

Wow! Went in with no expectations, enjoyed every minute of it. Just super chill jazz piano.

Improv jazz, super impressive but not riveting for me

Simply beautifully amazingly played. What a musical genius! Downloaded the album. 5/5

I was on a musical journey. Gooood stuff that I didn't know before. Yeah.

Beautiful jazzy improv, what's not to love?

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.

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

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.

Awesome album, great story behind it.

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.

Epic, absolutely loved it

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.

Brilliant. Was not expecting this to be so captivating.

wow 5*

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.

Sublime

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.

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

"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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

DELICIOSO pra ouvir estudando, impossível fora desse caso

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.

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

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

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

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

Emotional. Sprawling. Epic. An improvisational feat!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Great, and the story behind the concert is very interesting

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

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

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.

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.

Perfect

complete masterpiece of solo piano improvisations

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

i like it, especially the last song

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?

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.

I'm not a fan of jazz but this was excellent

Holy crap, ongelofelijk dat dit door 1 man live geïmproviseerd wordt. Echt een prachtig album. Gaat op de lijst.

This one is a masterpiece. Completely blown away with the fact that this was all improvised. Keith Jarrett is a musical genius, and thanks to this album, I’m going to be digging into more of his recordings for a bit of jazz inspiration.

1/3/23: I had never heard of this album. Absolutely inspirational. Can’t believe this was a completely improvised set.

Before diving in, it really is worth understanding the extremely adverse circumstances under which Jarrett performed that cold rainy night in 1975. Because understanding this underscores just how grand an accomplishment it is. You should read the Wiki. To hear the Koln Concert is to hear one of the greatest live piano concerts that has ever been recorded. It is bursting with complex emotion and poignant melodies. Jarrett is a master and this is his undisputed magnum opus and his long-lasting gift to the world. I've heard this and many other Jarrett albums hundreds of times (this is his best). I sometimes turn to this album in times of great emotional distress like nearby deaths. And I usually listen to it on vinyl. It is so evocative that you can hear the plaintive laughter and cries of those in the room uncontrollably and numerously accenting the piano. Don't ignore those voices. That's the accompanying instrument to Jarret. Honestly, if this album does not evoke in you a powerful emotional response, you should be worried! It was nice to hear again. And for what it's worth, thank you, Keith. For the gift you gave.

Supreme cooking music

ECM really brought the absolute best out of Keith Jarrett and The Köln Concert is the prime example of this. For over an hour, Keith brings the essence of jazz (and piano music) into its core emotional center, with expressive playing and the surprisingly high-spirited yelps emanating from Keith himself as he (and the audience) loses sense of self in the music. The perfect introduction to his many a recorded concerts.

Wow.. Just wow.. awesome concert.

good album

Extremely unique, especially in the context of this list. From the first notes played, it's obvious this is someone with command of the piano, and a clear idea about what they're saying with it. Despite the long tracks, I found this engaging, even mesmerizing, the whole way through.

Finally a reason to include a live album in this series. While all live albums capture a short period in time this one stands out. The pieces didn't exist prior to the concert and, for this, has merit alone. But the compositions, the flow, the interactions are bold and tantalisingly engaging. The early thought that this might be suited as a background accompaniment so dissolved and it became engrossing. For a first listen for a hitherto unknown (to me ) artist this is something.

Love this record. It’s such a journey. Tough to explain how it feels. Expression of totally unique emotions and ones that feel universal and ones that are more transitional or ambiguous but are so specific to this recording. Sometimes totally introspective and sometimes joyous. I love the peaks and valleys and the searching and development and hearing him find inspiration in real time. There are so many amazing moments in here and it’s the context of all of it that makes them feel so satisfying and earned.

So here we finally get to hear the album that every English kid's dad owned, I've just been waiting for this - and? It doesn't disappoint. I mean it has to be the best-selling piano recording in history for a reason right? Take some time off and give this the attention it deserves. Read up on the making of the album and Jarrett while doing it. Special.

The origin story of this concert is a wild ride and worth the read to really frame what an impressive piece this album is. This is exactly why I love jazz and doing this list. 5/5

Прослушано! Просто великий альбом, слушать и слушать.

This is a live piano-only performance by Keith Jarrett. It was released on the ECM label, which has since become known for publishing their unique style of jazz known as "ECM third stream" or simply "ECM style jazz". In this solo piano performance, you will hear a poppy approach to jazz similar to jazz fusion, while hearing a sound that is grounded in western classical music, thus creating a new approach to the third stream. The end result is beautiful piano music that is much more accessible through it's jazz fusion hooks. It is doubly impressive, perhaps, that this performance was done on a rehearsal baby grand piano that was in no shape for a proper performance: largely out of tune, with a weak lower register and pedals that didn't work. The compound on the issue, Jarrett was overtired from travel and had barely any time to eat a meal before the concert. By all accounts, this performance should have been a disaster. And yet, what we hear is fantastic. Not only was Jarrett able to work around the weaknesses of the faulty instrument, but his improvisational skills shined through to deliver a magnificent night of music. His approach to jazz is electric. I struggle to find faults in the music; it simply does not bore me. Pure artistic beauty was captured 24 January 1975 in Cologne. There was something in the air.

Editors get this one right: "a monument to musical possibility." The idea that the best jazz is built on spontaneous composition (aka improvisation) is the first among many reasons that more jazz records should be included on this list. Jazz is a fundamentally diffrent game than verse-chorus-verse-chorus pop songs (no matter how clever) or rock bands doing endless power chords (no matter how magisterially). Certainly there are ample KJ releases that are worthy, though this one is unique in its mostly uplifting vibe (again, kudos to editors for noting that). One feels more soul in this work than in other drier, more academic recordings. And one doesn't have to love every single note to appreciate – and be awed by – the magnitude of effort and brilliance on display. A magical night, under sub-optimal conditions, nearly 50 years ago, still translates into a transporting musical experience today – the mark of a classic or deathbed recording in any genre.

Absolutely incredible

Too lit to use as study music in the background. Catchier than I expected a piano jazz album to be, and I like the little moments where Jarrett is vamping and can't help making sounds like even they can't believe what they're doing.

A masterpiece. Just stunning music.

I did not immerse myself into Keith Jarrett until 78 (freshman year in college) when someone on my floor played the Sun Bear Concerts non-stop. It was (and still is) tremendously impressive to me and I was hooked. I quickly worked back and discovered The Koln Concert. Jarrett's solo piano explorations are not for everyone, but I find them utterly compelling. To call this jazz is not fair and Jarrett defies categorization. He utilizes rhythmic, almost hypnotic, motifs that shift to other related motifs in an impressionistic manner. This repetition is more akin to pop music than jazz, but the elements blend jazz, classical, gospel and folk seamlessly. I think is essential listening.

Quelqu'un dans les commentaires a dit que c'était comme de la musique de fond.... Pas d'accord du tout. C'est un des meilleurs albums de Piano original que j'ai écouté de ma vie. L'heure passe très vite et on passe par toute la game des émotions. C'est plus facile à digéré qu'un album de Jazz traditionnelle comme il y en a dans cette liste. Ca sonne vraiment comme une tonne de brique et c'est un delice pour les oreilles. Je ne connaissais pas et je suis très contente de me prêter à l'exercice de cette liste pour découvrir des bijoux comme cela. 5

I love hearing someone so into their music as he is. The pure joy is captured by his yelling and foot stomping. There are few musicians who captivate an audience by paying solo than Jarrett.

Stunning. Beautiful and spare and amazing.

Wonderful way to spend the morning.

Loved that album! The live sounds really bring something and make you feel like you were taking part in the show. Learning about the circumstances of the recording, how the concert was almost canceled, how there was a mistake and the piano he was playing was bad quality and had broken pedals, how the pianist was sleep and food deprived at the time of the concert but he still managed to improvise maybe the best piece of his career, makes the whole thing seem almost magical!

Very moving pieces, with a very interesting context. I loved hearing the reaction of the audience when the improvisation became amazing.

Amazing album...must add to my collection

Stupendous. I listened to it three times in a row. Part 1 is especially stupendous. What he can do with two chords is just jaw dropping.

beautiful

Was completely unfamiliar with this, and it's a pretty flawless solo jazz piano performance and recording. Gorgeous.

Ratio: 100% Fantastic, absolutely loved. Skilful piano mastery. Would recommend this to anybody. Favs: All Dislikes: N/A

Such beautiful playing. Easy to just get lost in

Piano Music I love I like

I was very impressed just listening to this, but the backstory added another star to the score. What an amazing piece of work that almost didn't happen due to one mixup after another. I wasn't expecting the groans but somehow they added another level of authenticity. The Spotify recommendations that came after this album were great too. This definitely lives up to the book's title.

Worth to listen and get lost in the mood

Quite amazing. The story of course but just gets better with every listen. This was the sort of thing I was hoping to find here.

Niet verwacht dat ik dit zo goed ging vinden! Zoals altijd luisterde ik in de auto, maar dit was dus wat is in stukjes. Als ik eens een uurtje heb, zet ik deze zeker nog eens op om gewoon te genieten

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

Why oh why did I wait so long to listen to this album? Growing up my father was always telling me I had to listen to this album and the whole story behind it but I never followed through. I should have earlier. I love Jarrett's piano playing here. To think it's all improvised. So fantastic.

FIVE STARS An all-time classic. This record encapsulates a moment that's just simply magical. Among other things, Keith Jarrett is known for his piano improvisations drifting between jazz and classical, and this one here is a keeper that will entrance you with its melodies and intense ostinatos. Some experts will probably tell you this is *not* Jarrett's best live album, yet maybe it's just snobbery on their part. This thing here is definitely one of the best entry points into his universe (one I wish I had taken the time to know a little better--maybe in the years to come, who knows?). As is usually the case with those five-stars albums, I won't write a full-blown review about this particular record, because others have already written wonderful stuff about it and there's not much I can add that I feel could be relevant and interesting. It's just a gem. Go and listen to it a.s.a.p. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 945 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 25 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 15 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important to me):

OH MY GOD. My favorite piano record of all time! Completely improv’d- I believe this is still the highest selling solo improv record of all time. Absolutely stunning, Keith knows his way around 88 keys better than just about anyone.

Saved Prior: None Saved: Whole Album Overall Notes: This is really really good. This is transcendently good jazz. Beautiful.

Broken pianos are no match for this legend

Paraná lá, paraná lê, buê. Paraná-nara, lá-ra. Paraná-nara, lá-ra. An overall upbeat yet very emotional piano.

It's amazing especially looking at the circumstances in which this concert happened. Keith Jarret had mild food poisoning, he was playing on wrong piano and there was some delay to everything that happened. Even with those hurdles he managed to perform one of the best (recorded) piano jazz concerts.

This was very nice music to have on in the background.

For some reason, the generator generated three live albums in one week or so - I can do without the humming, but these improvised jazz piano songs form definitely a piece of timeless music that never gets old.

What do you mean this is all improvised?

Cool jazz piano I saved it

I am a little biased because I play piano and love it so much. But this jazz improvisation was absolutely gorgeous and I have heard so much of Jarrett before that I was worried my expectations wouldn't be met. They were surpassed. Lovely.

What you need to recognize is that this is genuine improvisation, it's sometimes sloppy and sappy, but damn if Keith isn't audibly having fun!

It’s refreshing to hear such pure talent and skill. Sublime

Good damn!

The Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett is THE ultimate jazz piano album. To quote Wikipedia: "It is the best-selling solo album in jazz history and the best-selling piano album". So yes, it is a five star classic and you should enjoy it. If not, please reconsider your openness to something that is apparently a bit out of your normal music scope and give it a second, third, fourth, fifth... listen. You will thank me later.

Very fun and uplifting piano music

5 Beautiful Stars

Amazing piano! Really fantastic relaxing music to listen to

This is exactly the kind of thing I signed up for this service for. Never heard of Keith Jarrett before. This album is lit. Amazing solo piano jazz.

This album is fucking great. I listened to it twice, once in the driving range and at night when I was reading a book. I have never heard of this artist or album. Welcome to the regular music rotation.

I thought this was absolutely fantastic, crazy random vocalizations and all. I was in a near delirious state with 103 degree fever while listening so your mileage may vary.

Absolutely fantastic.

Brilliant

Amazing.

Captivating virtuoso improvised piano jazz concert performance - a wonderful achievement, all the more impressive because of the challenges and adversity along the way (the Wikipedia page is a must read to understand this album). A work of art. Thrilled to have been introduced to this music by this project.

Incredibly beautiful piano only album

Was amazing piano instrumental. I will listen again.

Amazing. He improvised the entire thing...that's just...wow. I get why he's so revered, and this album is so celebrated. I realized as I listened to it again that it takes some effort and concentration to stay with it; then I remember they only thing my lazy-arsed-self is doing is listening. Playing this? Making it up as I go along? Whoa.

It is miraculous when you realise he is making it up as he goes along.

Wow. Infectious. Twenty seconds in and I was blown away by the beauty of his playing. I know in another post I said I enjoy lyrics too but not necessary here. I went down the rabbit hole to find out about him and this concert - pretty much just him "jamming" and figuring it out as he went. Wow. Part 1 is incredible.

I am a big fan of piano so I really enjoyed this one.

Jäzzz

The story of this concert ups the rating by one. Being improvisation, it isn't completely smooth, and I like some areas more than others, but overall it's a pretty good listen.

I liked it! Good background music.

Un album que nunca hubiese escuchado si no fuese por esto. Está muy bueno para poner de fondo para estudiar o trabajar

Impressive solo jazz piano performance. Never heard of Keith Jarrett before today, will probably check him out later.

Part I - 4.5/5 Part II a - 4/5 Part II b - 4/5 Part II c - 4/5 The backstory on how this concert came to be I think is more fascinating than the album itself. An entire hour of improvised piano playing because the organizer got the wrong kind of piano, Jarrett being grumpy and hungry and hurt and only agreeing with hours before the concert went ahead. And the result? One of the best-selling piano jazz albums ever. I think the "jazz" label is slightly misleading, as it's less jazz as I know it and more classical-styled with the only instrument being the piano and Jarrett's occasional outbursts of ecstasy. The improvisation can get old if you're not into that, and certainly functions as background music to them. I think the first half is definitely better, as it drifts a bit more into lounge music than I would have like. Still, a phenomenal performance despite the circumstances. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Part I

Великолепный лайв с часом искусно сыгранной музыки. Ох, сколько дней открытий чудных мне предстоит, поскольку с жанром я пока на "Вы". Это не совсем то, что мне заходит в джазе, обычно мне нравится эдакий диалог между инструментами, духовые, импровизация, выраженный грув, как нечто что я люблю у The Tony Williams Lifetime или Grant Green и Herbie Hancock, но эти филигранно сыгранные партии на клавишных не могут не впечатлять, правда завывания на фоне, немного подпорчивают экспириенс, что для меня является довольно спорной "фишечкой" исполнения. А потом ты вспоминаешь о том, что господин Кит выдал целый час полностью импровизированной динамической игры на фортепиано - думаешь, Да бог с ним, ну спорно и спорно. "Music is the best" (c)

Un concert de jazz au piano qui s'écoute super bien.

Man ska sitta på så sjukt mycket skills för att kunna framföra något sånt här!

Wow! Jävligt coolt, allt runtom också. Skicklig snubbe. Förövrigt: The lick 18:15 på spår 1

Tönk vad en ensam man med ett piano kan göra! Fyra plus

I feel ridiculously out of my depth talking about this album. This is a live recording of an entirely improvised solo jazz piano concert, over an hour in length, making it hard to pull out individual details or movements. What I can say about it, though, is that this album is incredible. Keith Jarrett has a lot of technical chops, with so many incredible complex melodic passages that it's hard to believe that this piece was entirely improvised. Being a piano solo, it makes for easy background music fodder, but closer listening reveals so many incredible details, and Jarrett's jazz sensibilities always keeps things interesting. The best way to describe the experience of listening to The Koln Concert is overwhelming. Once you're dialed in, Jarrett completely pulls you into his world and doesn't let you go for the entire runtime. I'm typically easily distracted, but I was never bored during my listen, and I think that's a testament to Jarrett's skills that he can keep me engrossed for this long.

shout out to that one guy in the background that keeps going AOUHGH

uma organizadora de eventos jovem e inexperiente, um artista cansado de uma longa viagem, um concerto esgotado e um piano caindo aos pedaços. a fórmula perfeita pro desastre que transformou esse no álbum de piano mais vendido do mundo. histórias como a desse álbum são o que fazem engrandecer a música e mostrar que ela é uma arte perfeita nas suas imperfeições.

7.5/10 - I enjoyed this. It was nice to have on while I did other things or while I sat reading a book.

beautiful ain't fitting on no playlist though

Would rate 3.5 stars. Enjoyed it on my run.

Seeing that four songs are somehow an hour and six minutes, this listen was either going to be awful or amazing. It's safe to say it was neither. The first track is kinda boring, but the talent is definitely prominent. It could just be shortened a little, as it feels like the piece doesn't really progress at all. You can hear a melody and music peek through the playing, but it never fully comes out. He is also hitting the piano very hard at times. However after the second track kicks in, I was pulled right along. Something that makes this project enjoyable is that this guy is incredibly good at piano. It never gets too in your face, but it's enough chops to make me smile. The "vocals" that bleed into the songs are kinda weird though and sounds like this guys jerking off while playing piano for an hour. The flaws seen in the first song completely flip and prove my critiques wrong. I just wish that the whole album was a bit more consistent, and you know, maybe something more than just piano. But for its limitations, this album is pretty great. Very low 4.

*Beautiful piano playing *Not jazzy enough for me to give it a 5, but this is an incredible performance

Super beautiful

очень интересно

So gorgeous.

Dense but beautiful. Not for all moments, but unbeatable at the right time.

phenomenal talent and a nice instrumental respite in this daily album list. While technically a live album the class of people who attend such a performance limits the feel of why I typically hate live albums.

Beautiful and masterful

4.5

This album has to be an example where learning about the album infinitely changes how its received. To hear that this entire album was completely improvised absolutely leads to a significantly deeper appreciation. I'm not a huge fan of the instrumental albums (let alone, a single instrument). But to know that this entire set of pieces was improvised fills me with awe. The way the melodies, harmonies, and everything in between piece together is just simply incredible. I probably can't put it at the top of my list as it's not something I would typically put on for most reasons, but I certainly can and do appreciate the incredible talent that went into this.

4 songs Stuff like this is what makes this project so great. Never would I have sought out something like this on my own. And while inevitably an hour long piano concert will become background music every now and then, it's very, very pleasant. Reading the story also transformed this from just good music into an incredibly impressive performance. Also extra score for the random OHs and YEAHs. Truly a master who is taken aback by his own greatness.

Not typically my style, but this was great. If this was 45 minutes instead of 68, it'd be a 5/5

I enjoyed this more than I anticipated. Piano jazz is not my forte and this started out super mellow. But it is obviously well done and it picked up pace and energy moving into Part II. I enjoyed the bass drum thumps that occasionally accompanied the music. Not something I would seek out but it is very good.

Pleasant, kind of cool ... kind of atmospheric, like a soundtrack, kind of just one damn thing after another .... The little I know about Jarrett led me to expect something fairly abstract, subtle, and beyond me. So ... I guess -- expectations fulfilled.

Wow. I'm so glad to have had the impetus to finally listen to this album. I really liked it so much. Will definitely have to go back and hear it again. I don't know that I know how to appreciate it technically but on an emotional level I felt very moved by the music. I'll try to remember this feeling the next time I'm aggravated with this whole 1001 project.

Yummy

Beautiful! not the most familiar with piano acts but this was quite nice.

This was wild. I can’t riff on the technicalities of classical or jazz music, but I can speak to the feel, and this is full of feel. For this to be improvised, as someone who, again, has minimal technical music knowledge, is beyond my comprehension. Truly a master at work. I didn’t know him, but now I do, and mad respect. I think it’s rad that you can hear him stomping and vocalizing as he plays, because it’s a testament to how deeply he’s feeling what he’s playing. Really impressive. Will revisit this particular performance and explore others of his. What a great vibe, a nice easy listening atmosphere, and a real pleasure to listen to a true master.

Really nice background noise for reading. A lot of variety in the playing and classical was refreshing to hear for a change. Might get it on vinyl.

08/06/2026. Hypnotic and thalassic. Favorite track: Part 1

This was really easy to listen to while working. Favourite Track(s): Part I, Part II c Least Favourite Track(s): Part II a

This is a live concert performed in 1975. I expected this to be hardcore jazz but it's not. "Keith Jarrett’s musical style is an eclectic, fluid blend of modern jazz, free improvisation, and Western classical music, infused with deep roots in gospel, blues, and folk."  He also makes sounds as he plays which some people don't like. The amazing thing about this performance is that it's all  improvised! He vamps on a progression and seamlessly flows from one idea to the next. I really enjoyed this.

Another pleasant surprise! The best thing about this album was listening to it while reading the story behind it. Over an hour with 100% improvisation sounds heavy, but somehow it wasn’t that. I really loved the experience, however I don’t think I will go back to listen to the full album anytime soon.

88/100. Spectacular music and the story behind this live album is fascinating as well. Everything felt so peaceful and beautiful when I had this on.

6. avgust 2026. 15.52h good fabulous great

When you do this list I've learned you got to understand a bit about the music to appreciate what you're hearing. Per example, as another reviewer discussed, this is a concert on the fly after the musician recieved the wrong piano and just spent the next hour and a bit fucking around. It's easy to appreciate the genius behind the music when you know this is just Keith Jarrett and his brain.

Beautiful classical music

Really incredible. I absolutely loved it

it blows my mind that this was improvised?! that is impressive as hell and to be able to improvise something that sounds as good as this for over an hour is kind of insane. that being said, not totally my cup of tea. pleasant to listen to, but to a point feels like you are in the waiting room of a therapist's office, for better or worse. still, a super impressive feat!

Banger vibes

That’s some amazing piano playing considering it’s all improvised. I suppose that explains why this album is the top piano record of all time. Additionally Jarrett had to play a banged up rehearsal piano because of a mixup by the venue. Also I remember Jarrett being the musical guest on SNL in the early years, although I don’t recall the performance.

4/5. Honestly crazy how much mileage Keith Jarrett gets out of the piano during this performance. It’s over an hour long but I never felt bored by his playing, he manages to strike so many emotions with how intense/quiet he goes with it at different points. The highlight for me is the massive opener, titled “Pt. 1.” Which goes through a ton of different build-ups and phases. I’ll be blunt that I’m nowhere near a piano expert, I’m just a dumb little guitar/bass guy, but this album seems like the good stuff when it comes to piano playing.

A best-selling, or e'en just a high-selling, jazz record is paradoxical, v much like a book of poems that's sold loads: it's uncomfortable, not b/c we think jazz, or poetry, ought to stay underground but b/c it's difficult to make jazz, or poetry, speak widely. But Robert Frost & Anne Carson exist, poets in the realest & truest senses of the vocation, just as Kind of Blue, Forest Flower, & Head Hunters are albums worthy of their numbers. We can add Jarrett's The Köln Concert to that list, a sublime statement of solo feeling that ends & begins w/ the rebelliousness of an improvisational venture into the heart of the matter. I don't know enuf of Jarrett to say that this is overrated, e'en slightly, as compared to his other works, tho it might be. Whatevs. I love it.

3.5★/5 07.22.2026

Fantastic album, amazing back story

Listened to around 75% of it. It was great to listen to, amazing for improvisation. Listening experience: 3 (average, but not bad) Admiration as a musician: 5 Mean: 4

love it, even when i dont like piano music

jazz supremacy

*Pt.1 최고의 피아노 라이브

Me likey. I think it’d have to be background music, if you weren’t at the concert. 3.5-4.

Keith Jarrett sounds awsome, and while he has disdain for this, most famous solo jazz album, I found it wonderful to listen to and not overly repetative. I would love to listen to more of Keith Jarett.

me bajo el cortisol, lo escucharia ne el auto

10/10 music for studying i think i'd finish all slides and still listen to the same song (i can FEEL each one's length) but i can only think abt the musician's immense focus while playing these tracks live

The story around this concert is as interesting as the album.

Actually really liked this! 4.5/5

Rate: 8/10.

There's some meandering on this album (as is often the case with improvised jazz), but it's not too bad. Apparently the piano Jarrett was playing on had a lot of issues, but it's not noticeable. The only thing that might've given it away was how the playing was mostly kept in the middle register which was really more of a benefit as it kept the playing tight and clean. My favorite part was the beginning of "Part II b". The combination of the melodies and rhythmic bassline are excellent. My biggest complaint with this album are the random noises that can be heard from the audience.

So musically pretty ❤️

Lovely.

It’s over an hour of very good piano! There’s nothing really else to say here. 4/5 ⭐️ 182/1089

Incredible pianist

Sehr mitreißend, wirklich lusher sound dafür, dass es ein Solokonzert und auch noch improvisiert ist 🙏🏻

Knowing the backstory makes this better.

🎹

Hermoso, te acompaña y lleva con la música. Incluso de fondo tiene presencia, me gustó mucho. Queda guardado

Overall: 7/10 This one is an album that needs the context to really get the most out of the experience. Being able to improvise on the spot like this is pretty incredible, and I can imagine that if I was in the audience for this, it would be one of the greatest things I could ever experience. Listening to it decades later in my bedroom takes away some of the charm of that incredible display of musicianship, but I still really enjoyed it and I'm glad I got to experience this. Fav Song: uuuuuhhh, the first track

There was some pretty movements in this.

I didn’t think I’d enjoy listening to a dude dick around on a piano for an hour but- this is great. It helps that the dude is a virtuoso, and he’s been put in a tight spot by the circumstances of the concert- but a lot of dudes would’ve folded, and instead he puts on a show for the ages. Excellent. FOUR STARS

It's the story that make this album special. A sleep-deprived, underfed pianist in a back brace is given a crappy, ill-maintained rehearsal piano that can barely be gotten in tune before the show, and proceeds to improvise an hour of amazing music. You can hear him feeling out the piano in the early moments, determining what part of its range works best and how to compensate for its shortcomings. As he gets going, Jarrett emits a lot of his characteristic moans while playing - he's described it as being too full of emotion and having to let some out, and I get that. You can even hear the overly-loud shifting of the piano's pedals in places, and it sounds like Jarrett is almost turning them into a percussive instrument. I'm surprised that this is the best-selling solo jazz album and the best-selling piano album in history, as it doesn't strike me as the kind of thing that would appeal widely. I think it's pretty amazing, though.

66 minites of solo piano was a bit worrying, but I enjoyed it. Alof of variety in intensity, and changes in tempo,etc, keep it engaging. 4 Heard before? Some Owned: No 83/327 (25%) Will I get: Maybe

lovely piano music for when one needs that

That's kind of piano that I needed

Great Songs: Köln, January 24, 1975, Pt. II B Good Songs: Köln, January 24, 1975, Pt. I, Köln, January 24, 1975, Pt. II A, Köln, January 24, 1975, Pt. II C Mid Songs: Bad Songs:

Truly great

Zalig!

Heel leuk! Eens iets anders, wel soms wat storende elementen

nice , v piano

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

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.

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

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

Mega dobry live, swietne impro, chce zgłębić tego artystę

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

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.

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.

What a nice surprise.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Enjoyed - modern classical music, relaxing enjoyable music

like that piano

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.

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!!

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

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

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

One long piano concert, nice to listen to.

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

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.

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

Great jazz!

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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

piano

I liked it.

Beautiful music I’ve never heard before

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

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

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!

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

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

사랑스러운 처연함

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.

This was excellent.