Track Listing

1. CD1: Salle Pleyel, Paris November 26, 2008: Parts I - VIII
2. CD2: Royal Festival Hall, London December 1, 2008: Parts I - XII
3. CD3: Royal Festival Hall, London December 1, 2008: Parts I - XII

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #599 in Music
• Released on: 2009-10-05
• Number of discs: 3
• Formats: Live, Box set
• Dimensions: .28 pounds

Jazzwise, (Stuart Nicholson), October 2009
(5 stars) Fascinating...an occasion charged with electricity, with Jarrett delivering at the very top of his form.

The Independent, (Andy Gill), October 9, 2009
(5 stars) The performance was extraordinary...a precious testament to a feverish musical imagination.

CD Description
Released to coincide with the 40th anniversary of ECM, these solo concerts from the great American pianist are recordings to put alongside the very finest in Keith Jarrett's solo idiom. Recorded last year, they are released as a specially priced 3-CD set.

At the end of 2008, Keith Jarrett added two concerts to his schedule at short notice - one at Paris's Salle Pleyel (November 26), one at London's Royal Festival Hall (December 1). The results were outstanding, even by Jarrett's own high standards, with powerful emotions never far from the music's surface. The open format, embracing much music in shorter episodes, makes the work in "the tradition" of Radiance, but there are also flashes of the existential poetic flair which made for instance the Sun Bear Concerts a special musical experience. In his liner notes, Jarrett gives a highly personal account of the music's inspirational genesis. The English date was Jarrett's first London solo concert for 18 years and, to quote one reviewer, "triggered the sort of ecstasy that might greet a returning prophet".

Solo recordings have accounted for some of Keith Jarrett's best-loved discs - from 'Facing You' to 'Vienna Concert', 'La Scala', 'The Carnegie Hall Concert' and more. 'The Köln Concert', of course, was to become one of the best-selling 'jazz' albums of all time, as well as the best-selling solo piano album in any genre, an album whose popularity has never waned. Now 'Testament' further documents the exceptional nature of Jarrett's solo music in the 21st century; 'Paris / London' is certain to be one of the season's best-selling albums.

Customer Reviews

In reality THE LONDON CONCERT (with Paris Bonus)
Firstly, although very familiar with Jarrett's work (over 40 years),I did not attend either concert. However, the reason for my title is that how this set appears to me, a monumental one and a half hours at London with Jarrett at his best, with a shorter, and for me less satisfactory concert in Paris. The 5 stars are awarded for the London concert alone.

These concerts were recorded whist Jarrett was still recovering from his second wife walking out on him, and was not mentally that strong. Perhaps the stress, anguish, and emotional turmoil was the driving force to create such emotive music. Both concerts follow the Radiance style insofar that the improvisations are broken into sections, 12 for London. It starts with a melancholic piece, and moves through a more abstract section, rhythmic, almost blues based pieces, pulsating moods, beautiful pieces and culminates with a piece with a touch of gospel in the theme.

I love Jarrett's trio work, but his solo concerts are the diamonds. The impact London has made on me is enormous on the first play, with some of the most intense, emotional playing I have heard from him for a long time - it's an absolute joy!

Unlike most Jarrett albums, there is an informative booklet with a 5 page essay by the man himself talking about why he moved to sectionalised works, rather than the mammoth length pieces he used to perform, the effect that producing such works has on himself, and his marriage break up - it really sets the scene.

Although not relevant to the music, I am delighted that the set comes completely in cardboard,(3 wallets in a slipcase), as not only is it environmentally sound, I abhor those plastic boxes, well done ECM.

A remarkable man and his music!
I have been anticpating this release since reading the concert reviews. I was not lucky enough to get to the London show as it was sold out before I knew of it. These 2 concerts have got to be amongst the finest Keith Jarrett has ever recorded. I have pratically all his output on vinyl or CD but I am amazed at the invention and quality of what he produces here. The Paris recording may appear as a bonus disc but I love it and have played it through about 6 times already, as I have the London discs. So much variety and invention. Wether playing contemplatively or discordantly he comes up with some astonishing music, and incredibly all improvised. Difficult to pick out highlights as it is a total listening experience.

The London concert is as most seem to know amongst the finest he has ever done, and going by the sleeve notes KJ too. His personal circumstances surrounding the concert bring out music of staggering depth and feeling. I am left breathless after each listen. The second disc of London parts VII-XII blows me away.

If you are a fan you will buy it anyway an if you are new to his music get it too listen with an open mind and be amazed. Most people would cite the Koln concert as his best and more accessible, but I find this more rewarding in the long run. At 64 he is still coming up with fresh ideas, long may he do much more as he obviously has much more to say with the power of the the piano at his fingertips.

Amazing Jarrett - poor show ECM.
Well of course I haven't heard the CD yet. (as I write on 1st September 09) But I was at the London show. It was quite a remarkable concert by any standard. I remember coming away with the initial feeling that the show seemed to be a mixture of Tokyo Solo and Live at the Carnegie Hall recordings - yet was more developed and more beautiful than any recordings I have heard since Paris Concert. The encores (5 of them) contained many favourites - My Song, Paint My Heart Red, Blues, and were much more rewarding in my opinion than the Carnegie Hall recording versions. The two sets (which were also like the Carnegie Hall / Tokyo recordings in style) were that much more developed, direct, assured yet charged with creative energy and danger, and at times astonishingly beautiful - the often long pauses after the last note played was a testament to the state of grace that had been achieved and the shock that the audience was feeling at being witness to such heights of improvised perfection.

I've read many posts since the show from people praying that the London show would be released on CD. I think we all knew it was something really special ( I have seen quite a few KJ shows in my time).

It will be especially interesting to compare the Paris / London performances. Paris has a history of bringing out the best in Jarrett (Paris Concert - probably my favourite of all KJ solo improvisations).

I have a feeling this release will become a new favourite.

What could possibly top this release? (Hamburg solo '82 - hear the amazing bootlegs on youtube - come on ECM, get a move on with the solo concert releases).

I am just ecstatic that this show will be released on CD. It was amazing. We should all encourage it. Snap it up. Show ECM we have a big appetite for such releases. (hundreds more gathering dust on tape)

Mine is on order.