In a phase of extreme productivity mid-1970s, as Keith Jarrett's average annual output with its different band and solo projects in four to five releases was, his second pure studio solo piano recording falls also the appearance of "Staircase", to "Facing You ". Four titles, each with two to three parts of very different length are gathered on the original double LP. Why ECM has also brought out in the re-release on CD, a double-CD, although the total playing time would have fit on a CD, do not open up to me. The title track "Staircase" is reminiscent in its three parts sharply incurred during the same year, "Sun Bear Concerts" in Japan; some motives believed to have somewhere in the 6-CD box heard before. This also applies to the very beautiful second part of "Hourglass" (with almost 14 minutes the longest piece), during which the first part jazzy and less spherical sounds. In "Sundial" Jarrett takes the listener on a fantastic musical journey that leads sometimes more sometimes gently as over waves, through rugged mountain regions. In "sand", the last three-part piece, believed lines from the Lausanne concert "Solo Concerts - Bremen / Lausanne" to hear. "Sand, Part 3", thematically on "Staircase, Part 3". Overall, "Staircase" the live improvisations Jarrett is very similar and equally exciting.
