The story behind Keith Jarrett’s iconic 'The Köln Concert'

How improvisation turned adversity into a legendary piano recording.

Musician Keith Jarrett poses for a portrait in Los Angeles, California, in 1975. Photo by Michael Ochs/Getty Images

By Amanda Zahra and Novanka Laras

Fifty years ago, on January 24, 1975, pianist Keith Jarrett delivered a performance that would become one of the most iconic recordings in music history: The Köln Concert. This improvised masterpiece, recorded at the Cologne Opera House, is not only the best-selling solo piano album of all time but also a triumph of artistry over adversity.

The circumstances leading to this legendary performance were anything but ideal. Jarrett, who had not slept in two days, arrived in Cologne after a grueling car journey from Switzerland. Hungry and exhausted, he faced a daunting surprise—the promised Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano was missing. Instead, he was met with a battered, out-of-tune rehearsal piano with a functional middle register but poorly performing upper and lower keys. Despite the setbacks, and with the encouragement of 17-year-old concert organizer Vera Brandes, Jarrett decided to perform, knowing the 1,400-seat venue was sold out and recording equipment was already in place.

Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1945, Keith Jarrett displayed remarkable musical talent from an early age, performing publicly by the age of five. His journey into the world of professional music began with studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. In the 1960s, Jarrett moved to New York, where he performed with jazz greats such as Art Blakey, Charles Lloyd, and Miles Davis.

In 1971, Jarrett began recording with the German label ECM, founded by Manfred Eicher. This collaboration gave Jarrett the creative freedom to explore a range of musical styles, from jazz trios and quartets to solo improvisations and classical interpretations of Bach and Mozart. By the time he took the stage in Cologne in 1975, Jarrett had already established himself as a pioneering force in modern jazz.

Taking his seat at the subpar piano, Jarrett began a solo performance that would captivate audiences for decades. Over the course of an hour, with only two breaks for applause, he improvised a seamless stream of music without the aid of sheet music or prearranged themes.

Jarrett’s unique approach to solo concerts required him to embody three roles simultaneously: improviser, spontaneous composer, and listener. Reflecting on this process in 2003, he wrote, “I don’t know. I just do it. When it works, it is inexplicable.” Unlike traditional jazz, where musicians often improvise over established chord progressions or melodies, Jarrett started with a blank slate, creating entirely new musical structures in real-time.

The performance’s final section, known as Memories of Tomorrow, was an encore not labeled as such but has since become one of the album’s most celebrated moments.

The music of The Köln Concert is a testament to Jarrett’s ability to channel his emotions and thoughts into sound. His performance is a dynamic journey, weaving elements of gospel, blues, and classical harmonies with rhythmic contrasts and subtle repetition. The result is a deeply emotional and captivating experience, ranging from reflective and meditative to urgent and passionate.

Though no video of the concert exists, Jarrett’s physical intensity during performances is well-documented. Known for his whole-body engagement, he would kneel, crouch, and even stomp on the pedals, all while emitting sighs, cries, and grunts. His approach turned each performance into an ecstatic, full-body expression of his art.

The recording of The Köln Concert was meticulously prepared by Manfred Eicher and engineer Martin Wieland. Over several days, they worked to enhance the piano’s sound, clean up the tape, and add reverberation to improve the acoustics. Due to the limitations of vinyl records at the time, the performance was divided into four parts to fit on two discs.

Upon its release, the album was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, selling approximately four million copies to date. This achievement is nearly unprecedented for a jazz-related recording and has introduced countless listeners to the world of instrumental jazz.

However, not everyone agreed on the album’s classification. While some viewed it as a groundbreaking jazz work, others associated it with New Age music, a genre often dismissed by jazz purists. Jarrett himself resisted this categorization, believing the album transcended traditional genre boundaries.

A legacy beyond genre

The enduring appeal of The Köln Concert lies in its ability to defy classification. The eminent German publishing house Schott, known for publishing classical compositions by Mozart and Beethoven, released an exact transcription of the performance. This has allowed classical pianists to perform Jarrett’s spontaneous improvisation note-for-note, blurring the lines between jazz and classical music. As Duke Ellington famously said, it is truly “beyond category.”

Musician Keith Jarrett performs around 1975 in San Francisco, California. Photo by Tom Copi/Getty Images

Keith Jarrett’s career continued to flourish in the decades following The Köln Concert. However, in 1998, he revealed his battle with chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition that slowed his performance schedule but did not diminish his creative output.

In 2018, Jarrett suffered two strokes that partially paralyzed his left side, effectively ending his performing career. Despite these personal challenges, his legacy as a musical innovator remains intact. With a vast catalog of recordings, including The Köln Concert, Jarrett has secured his place in the pantheon of great musicians.

The Köln Concert is more than just a recording—it is a testament to the power of improvisation and the resilience of the human spirit. Keith Jarrett’s ability to transform adversity into art has inspired generations of musicians and listeners alike.

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this groundbreaking performance, The Köln Concert continues to resonate, offering a timeless reminder of the beauty that can emerge from even the most challenging circumstances.

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