Search - Keith Jarrett Trio;Keith Jarrett;Gary Peacock;Jack DeJohnette :: ECM Touchstones: Standards Live

Trancendent

D. | South San Francisco, US, Canada | 05/26/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I cannot write a review of this album. My aim in writing this is simply to persuade you to listen to it.



I bought this vinyl in 1986 with two Bill Evans albums ('The Tony Bennett and Bill Evans Album' and 'Paris Concert Vol 1' - both recommended) from HMV on Oxford Street in London. I was a big Oscar Peterson fan at the time, and I wasn't impressed initially by this first introduction to Mr. Jarrett. Grunting I was used to - whining though? You must be kidding!



Still I had enough of an ear to hear something interesting in his rhapsodic solo introduction to Stella By Starlight. I'd never heard anyone make a piano sing like that. I just played that passage over and over - not really interested in the rest of the album.



I can't really remember at what point I started really hearing the music, following the solo lines like stories, appreciating the integrity of each performance, and of the trio itself. It was at least twenty years ago.



As a work of art it is perfect. It transcends the musicians, the material and the genre. I am not uncritical of Keith Jarrett or any artist: he has major and minor works. But occasionally there is a confluence of craft, inspiration and occasion that produces something immortal. You have nothing less than that with this album."

Very good...

FePe | Denmark | 05/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Standards Live" is a 1985 Standards Trio album, the first live recording with standards only as far as I know. In 1983, the trio's Standards 1 was released, which got very fine reviews. This recording is of an okay overall quality, but if you don't like Jarrett's muttering, I'm afraid to say that this live set includes a lot of that.That aside, "Standards Live" is actually one of the better recordings with the trio. They begin with 'Stella By Starlight', and one immediately feel the compasion and enthusiasm of the three of them on that particular night. It's as if they want it to be as special as possible. The third piece, 'Falling In Love With Love', is my favourite. Jarrett really shows his creative side, and the others follow up - the final minutes of the piece in particular is very good; the applause is faded due to its length. 'Too Young To Go Steady' is a ballad, but not the usual Standards Trio ballad. It's sort of wamp-like and groovy, and that's definetely a positive change in my opinion. From the 7th minute onward of that song contains some of the best and most creative music on the album. 'The Way You Look Tonight' is played in a fast tempo, which suits it very nice - it also includes a monster drum solo!On the whole, "Standards Live" is not like any other of the albums by the Standars Trio I have heard. It can be catagorised somewhere between the two studio albums and the Blue Note box set. The only negative side of it is the not-top-notch-quality, but it's not a big problem at all."

Screetch - Keith Jarret lives with pain in his voice and you

J. Herrmann | RICHMOND,VA | 03/08/2010

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This CD's very disappointing. Most recordings(DVDs & CDs) by Keith Jarret contain painful sounding screeching."