Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner - Non Classical Is Keith Jarrett the greatest solo ballad player ever?

Some examples of why I think he is:

I Loves You Porgy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwParjhWa00

Be My Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iENQgr0l2Qw

Old Man River
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIUIuCrPGVg

My Wild Irish Rose
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxCea54SGZY&feature=related

Shenandoah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx2quk1g8p8

Somewhere Over The Rainbow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VultD5pIbd8

Any other pianists you prefer for ballads? All the scores except the second available for free online.

I think he's the greatest pianist in every genre, ever. The greatest pianist who EVER lived.

Dave Frank

Everyone entitled to their opinion, even great players like yourself.

A lot of (digital)ink is spilled on Jarrett's fully improvised solo concerts, likely because they are so unique. While those performances are wonderful, I think his renditions of these standards are equally extraordinary. They are particularly notable as an example of the perfection of "touch," something that classical pianists work night and day on but is not emphasized as much in jazz.

Pretty much whatever Keith Jarrett touches turns to gold. I count him as my #1 inspiration in various ways, musically (outside of my mom who introduced me to music and piano in the first place!). Thanks for posting these clips that I was not aware of.

Best wishes-

Again, I agree: Everyone is entitled to their opinion. For me, the greatest Jazz Pianist/Composer who EVER lived was Bill Evans. He is my inspiration.

Thank you for posting those beautiful examples of Keith's work.

I heard Bill Evans before I heard Keith, so I am kinda imprinted on Bill, much in the same way that a newly-hatched goose will follow the first thing it sees!

They are different and depending on my mood I wll listen to one in preference to the other. IMO Bill is cooler and purer, Keith is warmer and more emotional. I can't choose!

Vive la difference!

That Old Man River video is a favorite of mine. Love the brief fugue-ish part.

Certainly one of the greatest, and my favorite pianist. But of course there will never be a definitive ranking system.

Bill or Keith, impossible to say who is better but I doubt there would be many arguments about them being two of the greatest. At the end of the day its all down to personal preference, I prefer X so he is the greatest. I suspect some Oscar Peterson fans might think he is the best.

Though I don't think he's identified with ballads as closely as Bill or Keith.

I guess you never heard any recordings of Joseph Hoffmann! Or Jo Lehvinne (or his wife)? Or Arthur Rubinstein!?!?!

And don't tell me I can't post that classical junk here! This thread has already been posted in the "classical" forum (to very poor effect), whatever that is!!!

If you're going to bring it up, you deserve the comparison...

It's because what Keith is doing when he plays that it is my opinion that he's the greatest pianist ever. The great classical pianists (Richter is my fav) like the ones you mentioned are unbelievable in their keyboard mastery, expression, technique, nuance and emotive power. These geniuses are superhuman lights to the world absolutely.

It just so happens that Keith IS IMPROVISING THE MUSIC from 0 when he plays. What is is doing is inconceivable from a human point of view -he is able to hear and transmit multi-dimensional perfectly controlled and nuanced superhuman music, and when he sits down to play he has no idea what is coming next.

Can you believe that? I cannot. I've spent my whole life in music, as I'm sure most of us have, and there is NOBODY, ever, that is even in the same universe as him.

The OP was talking about Ballads, and he gave several links to show the type of music he meant.

Did Rubenstein and Hoffman play Ballads of this type? If so, I would like to hear them.

Dave,
Did you ever have a job that didn't involve piano?

For 9 months I sold stereos out of the back of my van when I was 25.

DF

Very well put. The elegant music he creates is wonderful

What Keith does was considered an ordinary, not extraordinary requirement of classical musicians in times past.

who knows what they did? It died out, most likely because most improvisers weren't doing anything as good as they composers were composing..Of course I'd give anything to hear Bach and Lizst turn it loose!

DF

Improvisation as an art in classical music still exists. Period keyboardists read from figured bass and fill in the harmonies and lines as they see fit. Organists still compete in improvisation. While dying, it is not a dead art eft to jazz musicians.

For me discussions like this is just pointless. I can't think of a single pianist who are regarded as a "master" on both genres. There have been classical musicians who have been competent, and even good, but none of them really are regarded in the same ranks as the likes of Keith Jarret, Oscar Peterson... etc., and vice versa.

I can pick any other musical subgenre. Comparing Chucho Valdes to Keith Jarret is just as pointless. They are require different skills set and attention to different aspects of music, and if you judge every music by one rigid criteria, you are going to miss out on wide range of experiences that music can really offer. In other words, I use different ears when I listen to Rubenstein, Keith Jarret, Chucho Valdes, Cecil Taylor, Ethan Iverson or Stevie Wonder. Not being a snob about one type of music really opened my ears to new things, including hip hop(believe it or not, it takes a real talent and craftsmanship to do whats someone like J Dilla does on his records).

Keith Jarret is one of my favorite pianists, but then again I love listening to so many different pianists, and they all have different things to offer. I'd rather not think of music as a contest in general.