Here’s a beautiful obscurity that just came to light. Keith Jarrett, caught at the Funkhaus with one of his first trios, which was broadcast from a radio program. Lucky Germans! Haden still has his Coleman chops, and Jarrett is in amazing form here, doing some exciting work on an expansive “Rainbow” that sets the tone for the entire evening. Jarrett throws in some flute and percussion here and there, and even switches over to soprano for an impressively free flowing “Piece For Ornette” that swings with a ferocity that is palpable, while “Take Me Back” features some amazingly lyrical piano and bass entanglements that, along with Motian’s tambourine, make you feel like you’re at some sort of a revival meeting . The disc closes with a 15 minute reading of “Song For Che” which is found nowhere else in the Jarrett catalogue and makes this passionate disc worth buying for that gem alone. A real keeper.
ECM Records