One of my favorite albums of all time is the Keith Jarrett Koln Concerts. I have found several other KJ albums or discs. His performances include vocalizations that sound almost involuntary. I have read that an attempt to eliminate the verbal sounds, he became stifled in his performance.

What to you think? Is it just part of his package - as much a part of the performance as massaging the keys? If it was possible to filter out the vocals in a recording, should it be done?

Regards,

D-Ray

I'm a big fan of his keyboard playing . . . but the vocals don't need to be there. I think they spoil the performance. It would be nice to remove them.

i always thought they showy and self referential-- intended to show the creative energy going into the keyboard. and if you think think the vocals are, um, unnecessary, how about the 'poems' he put into several albums back in the 70s? like the one in 'death and the flower', or was it 'death and the rose'? self important, pseudo-mystical doggerel....

I took my Mother & 8 Friends to see KJ in the early 80's in Seattle!
I consider the "Vocals" to be more like "Moans & Groans"
As he Moves his body back & forth Thrusting his pelvic area onto the Piano.

I understand he gets into what he is playing,Maybe somewhat out of body
But my Mom found it rather Lude & Suggestive,So I sat with her in the Lobby
Until the rest of our party had finished the show.

He also Required Complete silence and sat for over 15 minutes until he was ready to play,
I will Never pay to see him perform again,Unless its in a Strip club !

The Koln Concert recording is one of my very favorite all time pieces as well..why would one want to adulterate the content? If its not what you like, don't listen to it...is a performing artist, or any one else expected to express themselves, or to try and cater to every individuals concept of them .....I've not heard this level of irreverence for Jarrett before...ever

I seem to hear a lot of vocalizing by jazz artists, Oscar Peterson comes to mind. It drives me nuts :(! They sound like female tennis players grunting on every stroke.

I remember the National Lampoon record where Mr. Rogers was interviewing a bassist.

Mr. Rogers: I like the way your face gets all skrunched up when you play the bass.

Bassist: Hell man, you be easily amused.

. . .

Mr. Rogers: We're going to take a trip to the Magic Kingdom now.

Bassist: Not me man. It's too early - I gotta drive.

Yeah, it's a stretch to fit it in this thread, but you never know where ADD will take your thoughts.

Regards,

D-Ray

With a discography like this http://www.jazzdisco.org/keith-jarrett/discography/ he can make as much noise as he likes :)

Actually, I've really tried to appreciate the Koln Concert LP, but find it difficult to sit through. It seems so directionless. I suppose that's what improvisation is all about, but I usually wind up listening to the first side, then moving on to some nice, structured, relaxing Chopin, or some vintage Oscar Peterson Trio...

I'm a big fan of Jarret and that recording in particular. For me, it just wouldn't be the same if it were to be altered.

One of the things that fascinated me about certain Jazz recordings early on, was the the things you would hear in the background. Breathing, movement and chatter between musicians gave a a real feeling of being there.

I can remember actually thinking that some of this was from another recording and somehow made it onto the LP. Almost like a ghost. I was so used to listening to heavily produced stuff that I was thrown off a bit at first. It didn't take me long before I understood where it was coming from.

No need to "Ted Turner" anybodys work IMO.

RC

I remember the National Lampoon record where Mr. Rogers was interviewing a bassist.

Can you say Bass?


I did a google search on Keith Jarrett's moaning . . . sorry expressions :D

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us&q=keith+jarrett%27s+moaning&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

Can you say Bass?



Can you say Egg McMuffin?

I believe Bill Murray was the bassist.

Regards,

D-Ray

Can you say Egg McMuffin?

I believe Bill Murray was the bassist.

Regards,

D-Ray

Still off topic but I found the video . . . he's not even holding a bass! It's a SG Standard . . . Still Funny though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJTb130GR0E

I found it odd at first because it counters what we conceive as perfect decorum, but I have gotten used to it as part of the passion.

It is who he is and part of the package.

One of my favorite albums of all time is the Keith Jarrett Koln Concerts. I have found several other KJ albums or discs. His performances include vocalizations that sound almost involuntary. I have read that an attempt to eliminate the verbal sounds, he became stifled in his performance.

What to you think? Is it just part of his package - as much a part of the performance as massaging the keys? If it was possible to filter out the vocals in a recording, should it be done?

Regards,

D-Ray


He's not the only one. Erroll Garner, Roland Hanna, Charles Mingus
and Glen Gould all come to mind as "singers". I think it's all a part of
the natural flow of the music and it doesn't bother me at all.

I can dig it. I really like his work.

The Koln concert will give your midrange a good workout. The notes can be piercing.

Regards,

D-Ray