Crikey, this one was a drama. I searched for it on YouTube, but all of the tracks I could find were "Köln Concert, interpretation by so and so" couldn't find a torrent... but ah the public library had a copy of the CD, excellent! I put it on hold but there was just a message "held aside by collections department" I gave it a week then enquired "oh that could mean anything, we'll send them an email to find out what they're doing then we'll give you an email". Another few weeks passed, so I went looking online again and finally a torrent that was the original rather than someone else's interpretation of the piece! In the meantime I'd already listened to the next 15 odd albums on the list, so I'll feed them out.
Onto the music: it's essentially a recording of a live solo piano show from Jarrett, where he improvises throughout. The concert was organised by Germany's youngest concert-promoter 17-year old Vera Brandes. Jarrett had requested a specific type of piano but it was only discovered at the last minute that the rehearsal piano as brought in instead. The piano was old and required extensive tuning to get it ready for the show, and even then the high and low keys were relatively weak in tone. Jarrett took all of this in his stride and worked his improv to the piano's strengths (or lack thereof). Playing busily on the high and low keys and stretching out longer notes in the middle section. In one place he riffs back and forth between two chords for 12 minutes but you don't even notice.
This is a brilliant example of musical creation, with themes and melodies popping up that Jarrett himself (judging from his exuberant yells) was just as surprised and excited about as the crowd were.
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