Keith Jarrett: The Köln Concert

From the archives... Sad that Jarrett's retirement is in tatters today.

Keith Jarrett, the Köln Concert concert, 1975

Keith Jarrett totally improvising, letting his inner skylark free on stage in front of a huge audience outdoors in Germany. His recording, made in 1975, became an early morning mantra that transformed me, my psyche tagging along, into an out of the blue surprising Zen moment .by turns igniting ruminative contemplative cheerful and evocative interior solos of my own, ping-ponging  as unexpected flights as Jarrett’s fingers press on just about every one of the 88 keys on the keyboard. Worries about my to-do list evaporated like mist on a summer morning, flashes like heat lighting on a hot August night inexplicably exposed vignettes of my life, past loves, dreams, disappointments, aspirations, regrets for things done/not done in a pure matter of fact way, no finger-pointing here only gratitude for having had them.

Music that appeals to me resonates in wells of memory so deep I can hear an echo as I peer down and exhale. Feels like Jarrett is peering down his own well.

I picture him hovering over the keyboard, seemingly oblivious to the crowd of thousands quietly observing his creative genius, fingers on the keys, feet on the pedals, displaying a cognitive sentient mirror through which  the audience can see themselves transformed into a dynamic, representational sense of their own interior landscape, like a Whistler watercolor, with a touch of his their own hearts in the wet paper.

 

POST SCRIPT

A must-read thoughtful commentary about the history of the concert that gave me insights into the concert and Keith Jarrett. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0026v5r

Keith Jarrett, a retirement in tatters, 2021

https://pan-african-music.com/en/keith-jarrett-a-retirement-in-tatters/

Of interest, the woman who produced The Koln Concert

https://variety.com/2025/film/global/vera-brandes-keith-jarrett-berlinale-1236278501/

 

 

Comments

[Neal Skorka]

Wonderful piece, Paul. And I learned after all this time that Keith Jarret wasn’t black! Who knew?!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Neal

[Mishy Lesser]

Beautiful, Paul. I didn't realize that we share a love for Keith Jarrett! His music was most definitely a companion during my formative years. It's sad he's suffered so much. What a Koan that must be! Big hugs and more thanks for this, m

[Neal Skorka]

Wonderful piece, Paul. And I learned after all this time that Keith Jarret wasn’t black! Who knew?!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Neal

[Mark Englebarg]

Paul,
Thanks for introducing me to Keith Jarrett! As a guy who has played many instruments over the years, mostly in shades of mediocrity, I’ve known of him but never knew anything about him, read about him, nor listened to him. Now I’ve done all!

After reading your wonderful article, I listened to 2 of the clips that got presented when I clicked around, including some of the Köln Concert.

Amazing. Thank you!

[Neal Skorka]

I'm the only one in the office today, and I'm listening to The Köhn Concert LOUDLY. Damn I forgot how spiritual this album is. And the yells and moans he makes as he plays makes the whole thing other-worldly. Wow. It is bringing me peace.

Be well,

Neal

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.]

How Teenager Vera Brandes Staged a Keith Jarrett Concert That Made Jazz History
https://variety.com/2025/film/global/vera-brandes-keith-jarrett-berlinale-1236278501/

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.]

correct link to story of woman who arranged the Koln Concert

https://variety.com/2025/film/global/vera-brandes-keith-jarrett-berlinale-1236278501/