Search - Keith Jarrett :: The Melody At Night, With You

Intimate Yet Universal

Karl W. Nehring | Ostrander, OH USA | 07/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At the time he made this recording, pianist Keith Jarrett had been quite seriously ill (chronic fatigue syndrome) for more than a year, and pretty well out of circulation in regard to recordings and live performances. During his illness, however, he did not abandon music; in fact, one of his projects was to make this recording in his own home. Even if you disregard the physical and emotional duress under which this recording was made, it is an auspicious recording by virtue of its being the first solo recording of standards that Jarrett has ever released (he has recorded standards with his trio, but his solo outings have been either improvisations or classical compositions).



The performances captured on this CD are of the reflective, dreamy kind--no piano-pounding workouts this time around. But by reflective and dreamy, I do not mean wispy or uncommitted; indeed, these are passionate performances, but reflective of an inward rather than outward radiance and fire.



There is also not much of his humming or groaning (yes, there is some, but not nearly as much as on some of his previous recordings), so those who have been put off in the past by Jarrett's impromptu sound effects have little to fear. The piano sound is rich and full, and combined with the warm emotional feeling of the performances, the overall result is a richly rewarding musical experience.



My special favorites on this disk are his versions of "I Loves You Porgy," "Someone to Watch Over Me," and "Shenandoah," but I can honestly say there is not a weak cut on the whole CD. This is music that is familiar, tender, fresh, moving, rewarding, and timeless in its appeal to the heart. Little surprise, then, that Jarrett dedicated the recording to his wife, with the tender words, "For Rose Anne/Who heard the music/Then gave it back to me." That love comes through the music, and it is beautiful to behold. My appreciation goes out to Keith Jarrett and Manfred Eicher for being willing to share something so intimate yet so universal with us all."