Keith Jarrett.

Keith Jarrett (& Jan Garbarek) >The Windup
Keith Jarrett > Blame It On My Youth/Meditation

My first midnight radio show on WKCR-FM was named after a Keith Jarrett LP (Life Between the Exit Signs) more because it was a hip name; I didn't really know too much about the music. I enjoyed seeing him with Miles Davis (and Steve Grossman, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, and Airto Moreira) in 1970 in Central Park, but that was really because of Miles. And I loved seeing him at the Mercer Arts Center in New York (before it collapsed) in 1973 during the tour to promote his innovative, stream of conciousness solo debut on ECM.

But as his success as a solo improviser flowered, he became such a fucking arrogant, pretentious fool I almost completely dismissed him. It wasn't the music, it was his attitude that was so completely off-putting.

So, on reflection the other day, I was surprised to see how often I put my feelings aside; there were at least a dozen CD's in my collection.

Here's two tracks that show why. He rocks, he cajoles, he caresses. He's really good.

Keith Jarrett (& Jan Garbarek) >The Windup
Keith Jarrett > Blame It On My Youth/Meditation