Solo Concerts: Bremen & Lausanne

I write this with a wee bit of sadness. My first and only, up until this, solo piano recording from Keith is The Koln Concert. I had the album way back in the day and it was one of my first CD purchases. Early/mid 80s for the young. So, when I was in the mood, turn off the lights and just soak it in. Will always be one of my favorites. I figured I'd buy some "new" solo stuff. This earlier issue of solo material is just a prelude to the Koln concert. Same notes, chords and chord progressions, just in a different order, for the most part. The "lausanne" part does get into different tonalities of a grand piano and percussion type sounds using the peddles. I did hear Keith live solo in the early 90s in a very nice relatively small venue. My date did not have a clue what it was all about. During the quite passages she had a whistle sound when she breathed through her nose. I wanted to say something but?? So, if you want to listen to solo piano - very good solo piano - just buy the Koln concert recording. A bit more mature in style and slightly better quality.

As I write this review, I feel somewhat blessed that I have not had a chance to listen to Keith Jarrett's "The Koln Concert" which so many people rave and review about, considering it is one of jazz's top selling albums. I feel blessed because I am able to approach this album and this review completely untainted and am able to judge it by its merits alone.I was not familiar with Keith Jarrett, his style, any of his albums, or anything about him until a few weeks ago. After doing some brief research into his life and work, I became eager to listen to something by him. Considering that his solo concerts have received much publicity in the past continuing into the present, it seemed proper to begin with such an album as this. Even before I ordered the album, I had very high expectations - and once I received the album and played it, it surpassed even my wildest dreams. This album is truly phenomenal. Both works, Bremen and Lausanne, engulf every spectrum of emotion by being romantic yet unattached, melancholic yet celebratory, anxious yet calm, etc.I will typically go about my daily activities while listening to piano concerts, but the moment I pressed play on my CD player, Keith Jarrett's performance demands attention all the way through. By the end of Bremen, I was finally able to breathe again having felt as if the music was breathing for me, for Life is the essence of Keith's performance. With each keystroke, with each chord, Keith's improvisation is not only at the heart of jazz, but like jazz, is at the heart of Life - only, where some jazz fails, Keith succeeds by transposing a work of art which is indelibly beautiful and unmistakably transcendent.

just ok

This album has always had a special place in my heart. The first 3:30 of this album comes close to being the purest outpouring of spontaneous composition on record. A friend actually transcribed it! Hats off because it's harmonically deep, as opposed to Jarrett's modal trance playing or his "out" stuff. It's a little like listening to a composer like Chopin at one of those legendary after hours salons. A bonafide master at work creating unbelieveably beautiful tone poems out of thin air.The rest of the album has many such moments. Really I always thought this was Jarrett's supreme solo concert, even surpassing Koln in many ways, not to disparage that amazing recording. At any rate, this is a must have for lovers of Keith's solo improvisation work. Certainly one of the top 3, if not the best.

Absolutely 💯 the best of all his solo concerts. I am aware of the reviews by the professional critics of his other works but as an individual having followed Keith for 50 years this is my pick. It is a shame videos were not done!!!

These Keith Jarrett performances are spellbinding.... Jarrett's virtuoso musical talent as a composer, his energy, his magical command of his instrument are beautifully presented through these performances at the apex of his career; recorded with technical precision.

Keith Jarrett released numerous solo piano recordings showing his brilliant improvisational skills. This is probably the best of those recordings.

came earlier thank I expected so it was great cause it was a gift

Beautiful, demanding, dazzling, difficult, wonderful performance. It's really worth staying with the more challenging passages - it stays with you.

Disappointed with these tracks - but my ignorance

Good product delivered promptly.

If anyone asked me why I love Keith, I would play them the last 15 minutes of the Lausanne Concert. This music means more to me than almost anything else he's recorded, and is one of the most moving and beautiful things I have ever heard.

5 stelle non bastano per questo SOLO di Jarrett. Immenso. Con questo album attraversa tutto il 900 e si proietta oltre. Nulla a che vedere con quanto sta facendo in questi ultimi anni, ormai a mio avviso, è ascoltato anche dal vivo dall'Auditorium di Roma, in una inevitabile fase calante della sua comunque immensa creatività musicale. Consiglio a tutti gli amanti di Jarrett