Somewhere Before

Keith Jarrett is one of the most remarkable musicians of the last 50 years. This early trio recording with Paul Motian and Charlie Haden shows Jarrett as he was beginning to find his voice in the late 60s/early 70s. Not everything here is great, but, for me, his ravishingly lyrical treatment of Dylan's "My Back Pages" alone is worth the price of admission. If you are Jarrett follower, this is a must own CD.

This 1968 trio recording from Keith Jarrett isn't as essential as some of his later recordings, but it has enough great material to warrent purchase. On bass is Charlie Haden and on drums is Paul Motian.Probably almost unique in Jarretts career he starts the album with a version of a contemporary pop/rock song - Bob Dylans "My Back Pages". The album was recorded live in Shelly Manne's club and perhaps the first thing you will notice is that the Piano isn't brilliant. By track 3 "Moving Soon" you might start to think that your purchase was a mistake! In 1968 'free' playing was almost at its height and clearly Keith decided he should give it a go on this track, so there are elements of Cecil Taylor and a general freedom at the Piano. If you're into that sort of thing you're no doubt love it - I tend to skip to the next track! As it happens the next track is the title track, which in complete contrast is a lovely Jarrett original that on his second solo hints at stride and even Erroll Garners style of Piano playing.The rest of the album keeps up this eclectic mix of of old and new. In fact track five is "New Rag" and the last track is "Old Rag". The last track is played at a blisteringly fast tempo and again hints at much older styles of playing - great stuff.There are many more important Jarrett albums to buy than this one. However there aren't many where you will hear Jarrett play in such a variety of styles as this. Recommended.

This 1968 trio recording from Keith Jarrett isn't as essential as some of his later recordings, but it has enough great material to warrent purchase. On bass is Charlie Haden and on drums is Paul Motian.Probably almost unique in Jarretts career he starts the album with a version of a contemporary pop/rock song - Bob Dylans "My Back Pages". The album was recorded live in Shelly Manne's club and perhaps the first thing you will notice is that the Piano isn't brilliant. By track 3 "Moving Soon" you might start to think that your purchase was a mistake! In 1968 'free' playing was almost at its height and clearly Keith decided he should give it a go on this track, so there are elements of Cecil Taylor and a general freedom at the Piano. If you're into that sort of thing you're no doubt love it - I tend to skip to the next track! As it happens the next track is the title track, which in complete contrast is a lovely Jarrett original that on his second solo hints at stride and even Erroll Garners style of Piano playing.The rest of the album keeps up this eclectic mix of of old and new. In fact track five is "New Rag" and the last track is "Old Rag". The last track is played at a blisteringly fast tempo and again hints at much older styles of playing - great stuff.There are many more important Jarrett albums to buy than this one. However there aren't many where you will hear Jarrett play in such a variety of styles as this. Recommended.

Die Somewhere before ist eine Compilation verschiedener Stilistiken.Es finden sich wunderschöne Jazzballaden -My Backpages, sowie verschieden Ragtimestile oder RnB - P'Outs Over.Das wunderschöne "My Backpages" ist auf der ähnlich benannten "Somewhere Before Anthologie" Doppel CD nicht zu finden. Es soll u.A. auf dem Album "Le Virtuose Du Piano" enthalten sein.Die Aufnahmen sind allesamt analog eingepegelt und funktionieren entsprechend gut.Aufgrund des Alters und der Location -kleiner Jazz Club- sind kleine Schönheitsfehler unvermeidlich. Der warme Sound der damals präsenten Röhren- sowie Transistorverstärker verwöhnt selbst auf einer normalen CD noch etwas die Ohren.Das dazugehörige Hochbitformat ist auch auf dem Markt präsent, leider jedoch sehr rar und somit für ein Album recht preisintensiv.Musikalisch sind die Aufnahmen von einer gelassenen Ruhe und Zentriertheit gezeichnet, die dem Zuhörer die Gegenwart fast vergessen lässt.Mein Fazit : 5 Sterne und klare Kaufempfehlung, auch für Leute die nicht unbedingt Jazz Fans sind.

Al igual que el primero con Charlie Haden y Paul Motian. Ahora en vivo, grabado en California en 1968. DE nuevo combina lo experimental con sus influencias mas clásicas de origen popular. El sonido no es muy alla, pero solo la versión del tema de Dylan "My back Pages" merece la pena hacerse con el CD, a muy buen precio. A mi Jarrett me encanta, por lo que es una gozada escuchar estos primeros momentos de este genio del piano acompañado por otros dos genios del jazz contemporáneo.

eccellente inizio di questo live con la rilettura di un brano di bob dylan (my back pages) del album another side of...di una bellezza unica,grande spazio per Charlie haden con un suono molto pieno ed alcune esecuzioni con l'archetto molto belle,anche paul motian dietro ai tamburi suona divinamente il piano di jarrett unico come sempre,ci incanta...la registrazione è ottima ed anche il prezzo,consigliatissimo...

他のレビューアーのかたも書いておられますが音のバランスがおかしいです。それさえなければ良いCDなんだが。

キースに加えて、ヘイデン、モチアン、アメリカンカルテットのレッドマン抜きですが、既に今に通じる個性を身に着けているようです。テクニックは無論。マイルスとの活動期と少々かぶると思いつつ聞くとMmmmmという感じ。但し録音状態が難。