This double album finds Keith Jarrett in an inspired mood during a 2006 concert in Venice Italy. The program, recorded in the famous Gran Teatro, has Jarrett dividing the evening between improvisations and well selected standards.
The 8 part improvs includes a mix of drama and rapidly scrambling fingers on the lyrical “Part II” with Monkish moods for the splashy “V”. A bluesy and lurking “VIII” contrasts well with the classical leaning “VI” with pastoral spaciousness creating rich images for the romantic “VII.” For my money, the standards feel like Jarrett has memorized the lyrics. “My Wild Irish Rose” is reverent and majestic, while the Gilbert and Sullivan “The Sun Whose Rays’ is stately and folksy. Jarrett is most boppy on a rich and flowing “Stella By Starlight,” with this album reflective just about every color from Jarrett’s prism.
ECM Records