Hamburg '72

ECLECTIC / WORLD JAZZ

Live Jarrett in a trio with Charlie Haden (bass) and Paul Motian (drums & percussion). In addition to piano, Jarrett plays flute, soprano sax, and percussion.

All instrumental. No FCC issues.

1 Varying tempo. An odd piece. Solo piano intro is slow, somber. After bass & drums enter, it gets a bit cheerier and more up-tempo. The end is loud, unstructured, and wild. (9:52)
2 Mid-tempo. Audience recognizes and applauds the piano intro. Long main section is avant-garde with flute, bells, chimes, and heavy bass; piano returns & fades to quiet. End section is soft impressionism on piano with the merest accompaniment. (9:44)
3 ** Very fast. On a tribute to Ornette Coleman, Keith squawks & honks on soprano sax, carrying the lead commendably well. Brilliant drumming including solo in middle. (9:32)
4 ** Mid-fast. After a hesitant start, an exuberant, joyful romp with plenty of Jarrett’s improvisational flair & trademark vocalizing, plus exceptional bass & drums. Near the end, a full stop and transition to something else: a pianissimo piano leads into #5. (8:07)
5 Mid-slow. Piano intro from #4 continues, then drum & bass enter. A pretty melody is taken apart, tossed around, experimented on. Then it suddenly stops. (2:59)
6 *** Varying tempo. Haden’s composition appears on several records incl Ornette’s and Haden’s Lib Music Orch; here it’s deconstructed, more abstract, less melodic. Starts with slow bass solo; then Keith on soprano sax with a biting tone; then a frantic, stressed, bowed bass. Keith, back on piano, produces something that’s goose-bump beautiful. (Perhaps it’s victory arising from struggle.) Haden & Motian make several minutes of noises. It fades to nothing, then ends to huge, long (>1min) applause. (15:08)