Sun Bear Concerts

Artist: Keith Jarrett

Number of Discs: 6

Total time: 396:59
Label: ECM
Availability: Sold out
Item #: 8002057

Member Price: $116.40

Review

This gargantuan package -- a ten-LP set now compressed into a chunky six-CD box -- once was derided as the ultimate ego trip, probably by many who didn't take the time to hear it all. You have to go back to Art Tatum's solo records for Norman Granz in the '50s to find another large single outpouring of solo jazz piano like this, all of it improvised on the wing before five Japanese audiences in Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo, and Sapporo. Yet the miracle is how consistently good much of this giant box is. In the opening Kyoto concert, Jarrett's gospel-driven muse is in full play, up to the level of his peak solo performances in Bremen and Koln, and the Osaka and Nagoya concerts have pockets of first-rate, often folk-like, even profound, lyrical ideas. The Tokyo concert takes a while to get in gear, but when Jarrett finally locks into one of his grooving vamps, he carries us along, and there is a memorably melodic encore. In Sapporo, Jarrett breaks from a nicely flowing pattern into a jumpy rhythm that reminds one of C&W guitar fingerpicking, and there's some exuberant barrelhouse stuff and outbreaks of dissonance in part two. Each concert is placed on a single CD, while the much briefer sixth disc is reserved for the encores from Nagoya, Tokyo, and Sapporo. While Sun Bear breaks little ground that his earlier solo piano albums had not already covered, it is nevertheless richly inventive within Jarrett's personal parameter of idioms. If price is not a barrier, the Jarrett devotee need not hesitate. ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide

Read About This Recording

Keith Jarrett is a musical phenomenon, having recorded many traditional jazz records with great players and receiving a tremendous amount of respect, he changed gears and began performing and recording concerts of piano solos. The sound of this music and the extended gorgeous improvisations can claim to be the precedent for much jazz and New Age music that followed.

It is important to distinguish that this music is extremely sophisticated and beautiful and that many of the followers of his lead only hint at the talent and depth of the style he created and set in motion on the music scene.

Of all his solo recording events, The Sun Bear Solo Concerts is the ultimate. Originally released as 10 LPs, and now on six CDs, this other-worldly improvisation continues to surprise and mesmerize.

It is very hard to describe this music, and since this period, Jarrett has also gone off and created not only jazz recordings, but classical recordings as well. He is unlimited in what he can do and has always followed his instincts as to what musical direction he should take.

Truly a unique and special artist, this box set presents him at the peak of his creative solo piano period and is a revelation.

-Isaac Mere

Kyoto November 5, 1976; Part I; Part II; Osaka November 8, 1976; Part I; Part II; Nagoya November 12, 1976; Part I; Part II; Tokyo November 14, 1976; Part I; Part II; Sapporo November 18, 1976; Part I; Part II; Encores; Sapporo; Tokyo; Nagoya.

Keith Jarrett, Piano.

Tracks + Soundclips

Sun Bear Concerts
1. Kyoto, November 5, 1976, Pt. 1	43:49
2. Kyoto, November 5, 1976, Pt. 2	34:03
3. Osaka November 8, 1976, Pt. 1	38:53
4. Osaka November 8, 1976, Pt. 2	31:09
5. November 12, 1976, Pt. 1	35:30
6. November 12, 1976, Pt. 2	39:55
7. November 14, 1976, Pt. 1	40:19
8. November 14, 1976, Pt. 2	35:21
9. November 18, 1976, Pt. 1	40:59
10. November 18, 1976, Pt. 2	33:55
11. Encores: Sapporo	10:48
12. Encores: Tokyo	8:16
13. Encores: Nagoya	4:02