Raw anticipations improvisation classics

The first pure solo piano release of Keith Jarrett was taken in 1971, in a phase in which he was traveling with Miles Davis and in various other projects, which had mainly prescribed the free jazz and even quite experimental musical forms. One can the pieces on "Facing You" listen (all originals) even partial, but they often sound pretty raw, impulsive, unpolished, takes its inspiration from boogie-woogie and bebop. For the opener, "In Front" this applies in a special way.
Nevertheless, it shows this early work Jarrett already those guidelines free improvisations which are then characteristic in the later classics "Solo Concerts: Bremen / Lausanne.", The "Köln Concert" and especially the outstanding "Sun Bear Concerts": The left hand spreading the rhythmic and harmonic carpet, the right swirls it around or caressing the sound, depending on momentary temper of the master. Also obvious is the frequent "Search" for a line that, once found, unfortunately prematurely ends again. The shorter pieces of the second CD-half act partly as approaches to longer improvisations. Who knows, maybe Jarrett has then also to long these approaches in some of his many unpublished solo concerts, expanded free improvisations.
In "Facing You" convince especially the softly-groovy "Lalene" and "Ritooria" while "My Lady, My Child" or "Vapallia" both come along a little disoriented, among the less successful titles.