God Bless the Trio
James E. Pendergrass | Durham, NC United States | 12/16/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Perhaps I was just naive in thinking that my own reaction would be closer to the norm, but I must say, I'm surprised and even a bit disheartened to read that so many seem to find Jarrett's vocalizations to be such a detractant.
Twenty years ago, when I first heard a Keith Jarrett album, I thought they were odd, and slightly distracting, but I very quickly got so used to them that they've long since ceased to be any distraction at all, being taken as no more than the applause at a concert or the crowd noise at a sporting event.
Indeed, they're now so expected as to be anticipated at certain moments during listening, and I smile while thinking to myself, "Ah yes, that's still Keith sure enough."
The fact is that Jarrett and his two mates have long been the tightest and arguably the best working trio in jazz, that this album was the commencement of that association, and that it contains what is quite likely the best instrumental version of "God Bless the Child" ever recorded.
Historically aware jazz fans will recall that Jarrett is hardly the first great pianist to habitually vocalize while at the keyboard---the inimitable Erroll Garner immediately springs to my mind---yet great he was, nevertheless, and so is Jarrett, being almost absurdly talented.
This album is surely no less a showcase for that talent than are several others, and I would hope more people would be able to focus on that talent and not obsess on the vocalizations, which even if distracting, are a very tiny price to pay for such virtuosic music."
Sing Keith Sing!
Nikica Gilic | 06/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I can hardly believe that a jazz fan should mind additional growls and moans produced by the great instrumentalist; as someone raised on the e-e-e-e-e by Lionel Hampton or occasional Oscar Peterson's mumbling, I'm really confused how can they miss that Jarrett COMPLEMENTS his subtle playing with his vocal groans and moans?
Well, to each his own, but I think this CD is a MASTERPIECE!
If you like jazz, that is..."
Track Listings (5) - Disc #1