KEITH JARRETT – 50 YEARS AGO ‘TODAY’

Jazz piano wizard Keith Jarrett trumped BILLY COBHAM by releasing three albums in 1974: “Treasure Island” (7/10 rating in the GREAT ROCK BIBLE), Jarrett’s second album for the Impulse! Label, on which the title track stood out as well as ‘Sister Fortune’, the piano combining nicely with guitar and the Caribbean vibe of ‘Le mistral’. “Into the Light” (6/10 in GRB) had Jarrett composed works for strings, brass and harpsichord with guitarist Ralph Towner and the Stuttgart Radio Orchestra. ‘Belonging’ (7.5/10 in GRB) was Jarrett’s first LP with his European Quartet of Palle Danielsson, John Christensen and JAN GARBAREK, and one of his most popular recordings. “Death and the Flower” was also recorded in 1974 but not released until 1975, with Jarrett playing some flute and adding a percussionist to his European Quartet. “The Koln Concert” was not far away and became an improbable million seller, especially when you take into account that Jarrett was feeling unwell and had a ‘mal-performing’ piano. This double LP is said to have guaranteed the future of Manfred Eicher’s ECM label; a bit like MIKE OLDFIELD’s “Tubular Bells” did for Richard Branson’s Virgin label then!