Keith Jarrett "Live at the Blue Note"---overrated?? (long)
DSTOL
to the box set, "Live At The Blue Note" by Keith Jarrett. Not having had any
specific memory of this recording, I decided to listen to the discs in a random
order starting with disc 4, which weighed in at just over 75 minutes. Well, I
don't admit this too often, but I have to say after slugging through the entire
set that this recording probably should not have been released.
Having followed Keith's "standards" phase since it's inception in the early
80's, I think it's fair to say that there have been some stellar musical
moments with this trio over the years. The 1985 recording "Standards Live"
counts for me as one of the best live jazz recordings in my library. I was
present at the trio's concert at Town Hall in 1990 which was later released as
"The Cure". That recording features an intro to "Body and Soul" which ranks for
me as one of the best intros to any standard I have heard in a jazz concert.
That having been said, I am forced to question the musical validity of much of
"Blue Note", and to some extent, many of Keith's other "standards" recordings
which now permanently and unapologetically dot the jazz recording landscape.
There is no doubt that Keith himself feels a certain degree of artistic
integrity to a given performance before it's release. My only reaction to that
is that an artist of Jarrett's caliber needs to exercise some creative control
as to what should be brought to the market to avoid repetition and ultimately,
market saturation.
Rather than go into an in-depth and laborious musical analysis of all musical
tracks contained in the "Blue Note", I am just saying that it was arguably the
most self-indulgent box set since the last re-release of Miles Davis on
Columbia.
Jarrett should serve as a lesson to other jazz artists at this time. The lesson
is, do not assume that because you (the artist) are selling out concert halls,
that all of your recorded musical information is worthy for public consumption
during or after your lifetime.
For proof of this, check out the live recordings of Bill Evans during his last
year performing. Many of these were released posthumously. Having personally
spoken with Evans' now-deceased producer, Helen Keane eleven years ago, I can
say that she was very unhappy about those recordings (especially the box set
titled "Consecration") and told me herself that Evans would not have been happy
either.
Dfrankjazz
masterpiece. So much great music is there that you couldn't decide what to
leave out. Check out "Autumn Leaves" mind-boggling intro, fantastic! " In the
Wee Small hours of the morning", "Days of Wine and Roses", etc. etc.
KJ is a GENIUS. Yeah, sometimes it goes on a bit..That set is is my favorite
Jarrett!
Dave Frank
Bob
I fully agree. I have played Autumn Leaves at least 100 times this
year alone. I edited out the slow parts so I have only pure Jarrett.
It is indeed mind boggling.
If the kind of censorship suggested here had prevailed in the
recording studios, we would have never gotten Miles Davis electric era
recordings and there would not have been any jazz fusion - and Bitches
Brew would not have sold 1/2 million copies.
This is the same kind of pontifical thinking that pervades religions.
There is this Platonic ideal that is promoted as the pure way, and any
deviation from it, however natural it might be, is considered a sin.
But we know this is just someone trying to impose their subjective
preferences on others - someone trying to act like a god.
Bob
Confucius say:
"The best way to prevent a hangover is to stay drunk."
"War doesn't determine who's right - war only determines who's left."
"Never play leapfrog with a unicorn."
Daniel
No. 5 with a breathtaking interpretation of On Green Dolphin Street. But
what is most amazing about it, is its consitency. There is hardly a bad
performance of this set
Dennis J. Kosterman
>After keeping it dormant for about 4 years, I decided to give a serious listen
>to the box set, "Live At The Blue Note" by Keith Jarrett...
>Rather than go into an in-depth and laborious musical analysis of all musical
>tracks contained in the "Blue Note", I am just saying that it was arguably the
>most self-indulgent box set since the last re-release of Miles Davis on
>Columbia.
I agree that the Jarrett set is self-indulgent, but so what? Jarrett
is a genius -- I'm in favor of letting him indulge himself. As for
whichever Miles Davis boxed set you're talking about, how can a
re-release years after the artist's death be "self-indulgent"? Miles
edited himself ferociously, and he could get pretty pissed off when
Columbia released something not up to his standards ("Quiet Nights",
for instance). You certainly can't blame him for anything they've
released in the last 10 years. Of course, I've eaten up every one of
the recent Miles Davis boxed sets. I wouldn't be without any of them.
>Jarrett should serve as a lesson to other jazz artists at this time. The lesson
>is, do not assume that because you (the artist) are selling out concert halls,
>that all of your recorded musical information is worthy for public consumption
>during or after your lifetime.
>For proof of this, check out the live recordings of Bill Evans during his last
>year performing. Many of these were released posthumously. Having personally
>spoken with Evans' now-deceased producer, Helen Keane eleven years ago, I can
>say that she was very unhappy about those recordings (especially the box set
>titled "Consecration") and told me herself that Evans would not have been happy
>either.
I'm not familiar with "Consecration", but the live Bill Evans boxes
that I *have* heard from this period -- "Turn Out the Stars" and "The
Last Waltz" -- are both superb. As is the Jarrett "...at the Blue
Note" set. And Chick Corea's live set with Origin. And the Miles Davis
"Plugged Nickel" box. I have 'em all, I love 'em all.
Granted, this type of "complete" live recording is not for everyone.
These boxes are expensive, and few people have the time to really
listen to them. But nobody's forcing everyone to buy them. I, for one,
am glad they exist. I want a live recording to document the actual
event as closely as possible. I want to hear everything that was
played, in the order it was played. And I never get tired of listening
to Jarrett's "Standards Trio". If 1 or 2 or 3 recordings of this trio
are enough for you, you're free to buy no more than that. But I can't
get enough of 'em. I have every available recording by them, and I
eagerly await the next one.
Dennis J. Kosterman
den...@tds.net
Vadim and Oxana Marmer
let others to decide for themselves. There is a lot of fans who will
love to have everything Jarrett ever played or recorded (I am not one of
them).
Ric Troll
especially like hearing the trio in a smaller venue than some of the other
recordings in larger halls. It's very immediate.
These are desert island CD's for me.