Keith Jarrett - Vienna Concert (1992)

Just over an hour of solo Jarrett from the State Opera House, Vienna, on 13 July 1991.  If, like me, part of your enjoyment of Keith Jarrett's later solo recordings are the unintentionally hilarious sleevenotes, this one's a doozy.  There's a brief enconium from Manfred Eicher, comparing Jarrett to Bach; an excerpt from poet/writer Robert Bly for whatever reason; and this from the pianist himself: "I have courted the fire for a very long time, and many sparks have flown in the past, but the music on this recording speaks, finally, the language of the flame itself."  Okay, thanks Keith.

The Vienna concert recording is, admittedly, one of Jarrett's very best.  The 40-minute first part is one of the most effective and engrossing examples of his progression from blues/jazz-based improvisation in his earlier solo concert releases, to something approaching classical brilliance.  This is Jarrett well on his way to La Scala (link below).  It develops subtly and beautifully from quiet, reflective beginnings to a knotty middle section and a stately coda.  Part II is darker and more hesitant, but still manages an urgent-sounding finale before 'the language of the flame' unexpectedly flickers away, rather than burning brightly to the last.  A great entry in Jarrett's concert catalogue, well worth repeated investment in.

link
pw: sgtg

Previously posted at SGTG:
Expectations
The Köln Concert
Hymns/Spheres
G. I. Gurdjieff: Sacred Hymns
Invocations/The Moth And The Flame
Concerts: Bregenz/München
Setting Standards: New York Sessions
Dark Intervals
Changeless
At The Blue Note: Saturday, June 4th 1994, 1st Set
Tokyo '96
La Scala