After repeated listening of the new, announced with much publicity solo album by Keith Jarrett I want my - reflect impressions - certainly very subjective. Jarrett concert begins searching, restless-acting nervous, probing the wing in his ways. Part I is just under nine minutes equal to the longest piece of the double-CD and can sit up at the first hearing, arouses curiosity and lets the fan hoping for a new milestone in Jarrett's discography. Unfortunately Jarrett unfamiliar then ultimately to be material and finished the piece, which he had not been long since ceased in the 70 (Cologne, Bremen / Lausanne) to 90s (Paris, Vienna, La Scala). But the tendency towards smaller, shorter form runs at Jarrett since the beginning of the new century by yes and probably also his temporary illness be owed. Part 2 is more beautiful, something thoughtful-dreamy piano-jazz, while he again completely different comes along in Part 3, rhythmically nuanced at the 3/4-time. Part 4 was a bit inconsequential and dull for me, while you will find the "typical" Jarrett sound in Parts 5 and 6 with interesting melodies developments (unfortunately with Jarrett typical sing along) over an ostinato bass foundation. The 2nd CD, probably after a concert break begins, thoughtful, almost melancholic and atmospheric. In Part 8 5 and 6 pulsating, melodic "beautiful" improvisations are again similar in part brought to ear, very familiar from previous albums. Part 9 is a very nice interlude, which reminded me at times Debussy, times to Sakamoto. In Part 10, Jarret dares finally, very free and tonal unbound to call the handset in leaps and undulations, only for 5 minutes. Part 11, another very typical, déjà-Ecoute Jarrett blues seems to be saying: "I'll do anything you, I just wanted to play a little bit sometimes, but come on now again massentauglicheren music back." Part 12 comes back pretty quiet, melodically and harmonically well audible therefore. Also Part 13 is in the character of quiet, supported by triads, with almost liedartigem character (which is believed to have support Jarrett course again vocal). Part 14 is again oriented more on blues and quite conventional. For the concert ends with a quiet, unspectacular, but evocative, almost lyrical closing track, which sometimes takes in the accompaniment to the classic Schubert and Beethoven.
Overall, "Rio" is certainly become a good, sometimes very good production, but it is not outstanding. Jarrett has to be measured against the highest standards, which he has set in the last 40 years itself. That it was enough for me to "only" 4 stars, for several reasons. On the one hand I lacked a bit of courage he had with "Radiance" and partly also in "Testament", but especially of course long time ago (eg, Sun Bear Concerts). Sometimes I grieve even the "Marathon" concerts after, in which a single Part sometimes allowed to take 30 or 40 minutes and you listened breathlessly as the musical material developed in a wide arc of tension and altered. Culture Critical one could ask the question whether today's audiences on the internet / YouTube / video clip era no longer has this perseverance and patience? "Rio" is in any case become very suitable for mass production, although I - thank goodness! - Could not find a bossa nova or "Samba Jazz" to hear the other reviewers think. Finally, noting that the orange-yellow cover in my opinion neither matches the music to me esteemed ECM aesthetics.
