Keith Jarrett Trio
Standards Live

Very often, when we're feeling a bit down, we cling to something that acts as a calming agent, a refuge; in other words, we try to bring our mind and being to a place as close as possible to a home. For me, my sanctuary is music, a friend that has accompanied and supported me for many years, without compromises and without expecting anything in return—a rarity these days, like water in the desert.

Today I would like to talk about an album that is therapeutic for me these days, that is "Standards Live" by the Keith Jarrett Trio, a jazz ensemble that I believe needs no particular introduction. This piece is a live performance recorded on July 2, 1985 at the Palais De Congrès by the splendid creation of Manfred Eicher known as Ecm. Behind the fairly minimalist cover, as per the tradition of the record label in question, lies a work of impressive class, elegance, and technical prowess, characterized by a production that rises to the occasion and a trio of musicians so in sync that they manage to create a unique musical flow that is never disjointed, where every note, chord, and dialogue between the various instruments is simply sublime!

The trio, despite being just three people, gives life to a rich and full sound as if standing before an entire orchestra, dragging the listener into a first-rate jazz vortex where each instrument fits and completes the sound created by the other two. This also demonstrates the great rapport among the three authors, as evident from the opening track, "Stella By Starlight," where we hear Peacock and Dejohnette join in on Jarrett's long intro in a way that calling it natural and fluid seems truly reductive. Earlier, I mentioned the richness of the sound, comparing it to that of an orchestra, and now I would like to pause for a moment on this concept to better clarify what I consider to be a key point of this record, namely the ability to be at once "minimal" (certainly not like a solo piano concert, but I hope you will follow my reasoning) and "comprehensive," capable of giving the listener that pleasant sensation of fullness and completeness that doesn't make one miss other instruments, especially winds.

For me, this adds extra value to the whole work, especially because today's music market is saturated with pieces aiming to create the famous "wall of sound," focusing on overdubs, samples, participation of entire groups of musicians, and various gimmicks, rather than letting the musician's skill and passion shine through. In other words, preferring "plastic" over soul.

In conclusion, I can only recommend everyone to purchase this album; you’ll find that it won't look out of place in your personal collection. Keith Jarrett Trio: Keith Jarrett, piano, Gary Peacock, double bass, Jack Dejohnette, drums.