Keith Jarrett
The Carnegie Hall Concert * * * * *
(ECM 985 6224)
Jarrett’s solo concerts had been getting more abstract and cerebral in recent years so for a little reassurance try CD 2, track 2 of this truly magnificent concert.
Jarrett slides into one of his funky, gospel-tinged, African influenced grooves and builds a little piece of heaven out of it. I’m clearly not alone in this view – the crowd goes quite mad at the end of it, and continues that way for the final parts of the concert and the many and delicious encores that an obviously similarly ecstatic Jarrett treats them to.
Be warned that the final tracks contain nearly as much applause as music, but if you’ve been listening from the beginning you’ll be joining in anyway.
While the main concert is not as performed in as seamless a flow as the Koln Concert, this date matches that one for magic.
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Nigel Kennedy
The Blue Note Sessions * * *
(Blue Note 57050 2)
If you are dreadfully disappointed in the cancellation of the Kennedy Quintet’s Symphony Hall gig, take solace in the disc on which it was to be based.
The former classical violinist realises his dream by recording in New York for the Blue Note label, with an all-star band including Ron Carter on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums and Joe Lovano on saxophone.
The material comes from the Blue Note vaults – things like Kenny Burrell’s Midnight Blue and Horace Silver’s Song For My Father – as well as from Kennedy and Carter, and while I might still have a problem with Kennedy’s improvising (stilted and often rather dull), there is a great sound about the band in general.
