Search - Jarrett Keith :: Treasure Island

Free Spirits

Star Thrower | 03/06/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's great to see this beautiful album back in print at an affordable price! I stumbled upon an earlier edition in a bargain bin while record shopping one day about 20 years ago. I didn't know much about it, but glancing at the CD jacket I read the names of Paul Motian, Dewey Redman, and Charlie Haden. That was a good enough indicator for me, so I snatched it up and headed for the register.



I'm no music critic or educated musician, I just love soulful music coming from the heart, and this is it! The other extremely brief review here mentions the word organic, and that's as close as a one word description could be. The music on Treasure Island is earthy, gospel infused modern jazz, informed by folk music influences, and driven by the spirit of improvisation. Oh, and Ornette Coleman too!



This record is also full of lovely melodies I find truly inspiring. Keith Jarrett, Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden, and Paul Motian are all supreme artists possessing unique musical voices , and this was a very special group. They made a number of other recordings for the Impulse label, but Treasure Island is probably the most appealing and accessible album for the uninitiated.



The quartet is augmented by Guilherme Brown and Danny Johnson on percussion. Sam Brown plays guitar on the title track, and Sister Fortune.



Keith Jarrett has been doing the Standards Trio thing for ECM for so long that his earlier works tends to be forgotten. My suggestion is to seek out the Impulse recordings, and his sole effort for the Columbia label, 1972's Expectations."