For much of the 1980s, Keith Jarrett balanced his improvisational
activities with performances of classical music and contemporary
composition. On this disc, with concert recordings from 1984 and 1985,
he is heard playing Samuel Barber’s Piano Concerto op. 38 and Béla
Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 3, and rising to the challenges of these
major works. The New York Times praised Jarrett’s playing of the Barber
with Dennis Russell Davies in this period (“a sinewy, vigorously lyrical
performance … both sensitive and strong”), and the Bartók with
Kazuyoshi Akiyama was most enthusiastically received in Japan. After the
Tokyo Bartók performance Jarrett returned alone to the stage of the
Kan-i Hoken Hall to play a touching improvised encore, also documented
on this recording. The album includes liner notes by
Keith Jarrett and Paul Griffiths. (This historical album of music by Barber, Bartók and
Jarrett is one of two albums issued on May 8th, Keith Jarrett’s 70th
birthday, the other album being Creation with new recordings of
improvised solo piano.)
For much of the 1980s, Keith Jarrett balanced his improvisational
activities with performances of classical music and contemporary
composition. On this disc, with concert recordings from 1984 and 1985,
he is heard playing Samuel Barber’s Piano Concerto op. 38 and Béla
Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 3, and rising to the challenges of these
major works. The New York Times praised Jarrett’s playing of the Barber
with Dennis Russell Davies in this period (“a sinewy, vigorously lyrical
performance … both sensitive and strong”), and the Bartók with
Kazuyoshi Akiyama was most enthusiastically received in Japan. After the
Tokyo Bartók performance Jarrett returned alone to the stage of the
Kan-i Hoken Hall to play a touching improvised encore, also documented
on this recording. The album includes liner notes by Keith Jarrett and Paul Griffiths. (This historical album of music by Barber, Bartók and
Jarrett is one of two albums issued on May 8th, Keith Jarrett’s 70th
birthday, the other album being Creation with new recordings of
improvised solo piano.)
Having had a chance to compare this to a couple of other recordings, all I can say about this is: stunning. Thank you. I have new respect for Jarrett as a pianist, and new interest in Barber.
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