Keith Jarrett – Arbour Zena (1975/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Keith Jarrett – Arbour Zena (1975/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 53:00 minutes | 1,01 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ECM

“I consider this one of my most richly lyrical and consistently inspired works,” wrote Keith Jarrett of “Mirrors”, the almost half-hour long concluding piece onArbour Zena. “Jan Garbarek’s contribution is irreplaceable and ecstatic.” It is easy to agree that Arbour Zena as a whole is one of Jarrett’s most exceptional albums. Evocative writing for strings, beautiful playing by Keith and Jan and by Charlie Haden at his most soulful, and a glowing panoramic production make this 1975 recording one of the finest of the early ECMs.

With saxophonist Jan Garbarek and bassist Charlie Haden along for the ride, Keith Jarrett indulges in three slow, rambling, meditative, vaguely neo-classical concertos for piano and string orchestra. While a few of Jarrett’s and Garbarek’s passages here and there have a syncopated jazz feeling, this is mostly contemporary classical music, perhaps even somewhat ahead of its time (it might fit in with the neo-Romantic and minimalist camps today). However, although this music can be attractive in small doses, the lack of tempo or texture contrasts over long stretches of time — particularly the nearly 28-minute “Mirrors” — can be annoying if you’re not in the right blissful mood. Mladen Gutesha and the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra perform the string parts with what can only be described as commendable patience.

Tracklist:
1. Keith Jarrett – Runes (15:26)
2. Keith Jarrett – Solara March (09:44)
3. Keith Jarrett – Mirrors (27:50)

Personnel:
Keith Jarrett – piano
Jan Garbarek – soprano and tenor saxophones
Charlie Haden – bass
Members of Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mladen Gutesha

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