Currently editing / updating info related to Keith Jarrett discography seen as a whole.
The main guideline I am following is the creative process and development of both his music and artistry.
KJ's discography is labyrinthine and sometimes confusing. Different labels (not many), groups, styles (too many) and personnel mingle in an unsurpassed output that sometimes has been defined as "eclectic" and many times released following commercial criteria.
It is important to understand how and when those +100 albums were created and see in what context, background and timing were recorded (not released). Accordingly, for the sake of comprehension and quick readability a "year-month-day" format for albums should be better, even though defendants of wiki-purity, aka "wiki-pharisees" would not agree with that. Adding as much information as possible to those articles will provide a better picture, but having a solid structure of his works will do so too. That's how the grouping of his discography in different categories came about (solo piano, American Quartet, Standards trio, orchestral works, etc ...)
There is much more to be done and, not being very familiar with his "classical" output and the compilation and video works, I encourage anyone to ameliorate those subjects. All comments are welcome. Given the fact that English is not my mother tongue, please correct me when I'm wrong.
Original notes, things of the past?
editThese days we are witnessing that quite interesting information formely attached to the original liner notes and layouts of many of KJ recordings (and many other artists) is disappearing from the overall scene.
New issues and reissues tend to ignore those quotes, poems and stories that KJ included in, say, Changes, The Survivors' Suite or Dark Intervals and, in consequence, any physical trace of them will soon be lost forever. Accordingly, I am trying to make them visible. As an example, try to google the "original notes" on Bridge of Light and you'll figure out what I am trying to convey:
(..) "Bridge of Light" was commissioned by Patricia McCarty and premiered with the orchestra you hear on this disc. The viola has a big heart and deserves more chances to show it. This piece is a sort of multi-cultural hymn and incidentally demonstrates my love of trumpet and strings.
Actually, all of these pieces are born of a desire to praise and contemplate rather than a desire to "make" or "show" or "demonstrate" something unique. They are, in a certain way, prayers that beauty may remain perceptible despite fashions, intellect, analysis, progress, technology, distractions, "burning issues" of the day, the un-hipness of belief or faith, concert programming, and the unnatural "scene" of "art", the market, lifestyles, etc., etc., etc. I am not attempting to be "clever" in these pieces (or in these notes), I am not attempting to be a composer. I am trying to reveal a state I think is missing in today's world (except, perhaps, in private): a certain state of surrender: surrender to an ongoing harmony in the universe that exists with or without us. Let us let it in.
-- Keith Jarrett
(sometimes) confusing release dates
editKJ discography has been sometimes released ad-hoc by ECM, which adds some confusion at the time of assessing what impact had every album.
- A Multitude of Angels for instance, was recored in 1996 and released in 2016.
- La Fenice was recorded in 2006 and released in 2018.
- After the fall was recorded in 1998 and released in 2018
Recording date vs release date: On the long run, the "release date" is absolutely irrelevant. Let's face it. When listening to A Multitude of Angels for the first time one can expect long and continuous (pre-syndrome) performances, but that would not be the case should you think that was a XXI century concert.
About wabbbash: Computer Engineer working in the business for a long time, graduated at Conservatory of Music (playing saxophone) and got a Honours degree in Musicology & Ethnomusicology at Rhodes University (playing mbira and uhadi). Currently following a PhD program. Topic: "Social History of Sports"