“A different type of fusion, represented by a mixing of jazz and classical music, also emerged as an important movement during the 1970’s….No artist better exemplified this powerful synthesis of disparate styles than pianist Keith Jarrett. The influence of classical music is, at times, as pronounced as the jazz ingredients of his playing…The calling card of (Keith) Jarrett’s achievement is…his ability to blend these various sources of inspiration into a coherent, persuasive whole. Nowhere is this clearer than on his solo concerts, lengthy excursions of completely improvised piano music that refract a kaleidoscope of aural colors through Jarrett’s highly individualistic perspective.”
(from The History of Jazz by Ted Gioia p. 338-339)
Listen and watch this video of one of Jarrett’s solo performances. See if you can detect the classical and jazz influences. Watch his movement. How do you imagine he is feeling? What do you imagine he is feeling? What might constrain him? Where does he employ freedom in the way he plays?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPqK1JJOFxw]
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