Keith Jarrett Changeless CD

Keith Jarrett Trio: Keith Jarrett (piano); Gary Peacock (bass); Jack DeJohnette (drums).
Recorded live in Denver, Colorado; Lexington, Kentucky; Houston and Dallas, Texas in October, 1987. Includes liner notes by Keith Jarrett.
Composer: Keith Jarrett.
Personnel: Keith Jarrett (piano); Jack DeJohnette (drums).
Audio Remixer: Jan Erik Kongshaug.
Liner Note Authors: Christa Wolf; Keith Jarrett.
Recording information: Dallas, TX (10/09/1987-10/14/1987); Denver, CO (10/09/1987-10/14/1987); Houston, TN (10/09/1987-10/14/1987); Houston, TX (10/09/1987-10/14/1987); Lexington (10/09/1987-10/14/1987); Lexington, KY (10/09/1987-10/14/1987); United States (10/09/1987-10/14/1987).
One of only a handful of Keith Jarrett "Standards" Trio records without a standard within earshot, this is a triumph, for Jarrett has successfully brought the organically evolving patterns of his solo concerts into the group format. Each of the first three selections is built upon a constant revolving ostinato, and each evolves from one stage to the next like a Jarrett solo piano improvisation. "Dancing" has a swaying Latin beat in the percussion and bass; "Endless" is full of lyrical invention at a slower tempo; "Lifeline" is catchy and hypnotic; and the fourth number, "Ecstasy," grows out of "Lifeline," closing the album perhaps inevitably with a drawn-out, peaceful piano tremolo. Bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette are clearly listening hard, going with the flow. The recordings were taken from four separate concerts in Denver, Dallas, Lexington, KY., and Houston. Jarrett may spout off about society's self-centered soullessness in his querulous liner notes, but he and his trio have clearly backed his words by example, pulling off a genuine collective musical experience. ~ Richard S. Ginell
Keith Jarrett's trio usually plays standards, but this time out it performs four Jarrett originals, all of which possess a gorgeously hypnotic openness. The slowly evolving moods (a simple theme is started and undulates over the course of an extended improvisation) and folkish bearing have a great deal in common with Jarrett's solo recordings. They evolve by addition and subtraction as subtle variations on the core melodic identity of the piece.
Bassist Gary Peacock's dazzlingly playful performance on "Dancing," and drummer Jack DeJohnette's explosive improvisations on "Ecstacy," are just two moments among many that display the trio's powerful strengths. The four pieces were recorded live, each in a different city, during a US tour in 1987. As usual with ECM Records, the sound quality is pristine.