Keith Jarrett - Last Solo dvd movie.|
Keith Jarrett - Last Solo buy bestselling dvd movies, videos find reviews, ratings, prices |
 |
List Price: $24.99 Features • Color • Dolby • DVD-Video • Live • NTSC In Theaters : 15 November, 1991 DVD Release : 18 June, 2002 |
| [ + Zoom ] [ Buy Now ] | DVD : This item is currently not available. |
|
Keith Jarrett - Last Solo description While there's no shortage of audio recordings of pianist Keith Jarrett's improvised solo performances--works that make up arguably his most creatively fertile period--visual records are few, which makes this 92-minute DVD, recorded in 1984 in Tokyo, of particular interest. But it's something of a mixed blessing; while Jarrett's playing is always good, and often much more than that, actually watching him do it is another matter. His pained facial contortions, moaning along with the music, and other antics are on full display here, shot in both close-ups and long shots and seen from every conceivable angle, and they are a distraction. If you can get past them and concentrate on the music, which includes two lengthy improvisations, a lovely rendition of "Over the Rainbow," and a brief encore that may be the most compelling piece of music here, Last Solo will prove a most worthy document of a master musician in peak form. --Sam Graham |
|
|
| ♥♥♥♥♥ | Trying Too Hard |
| I can't believe I am about to write a review of Keith Jarrett that is not a 5 star gushing review. I have been a Jarrett fan for close to 30 years, and I consider him one of the few true geniuses of modern music. Yes the camera work on his concerts always seems odd to me, with too many closeups of his hands, or his face. I want to see his whole body and hands in the same shot, which is rarely done. I know the "true fans" claim not to be bothered by the vocal gymnastics Keith launches into from time to time. I am almost never bothered by his occasional howls and shouts, and his foot tapping usually adds nicely to the music, but his too frequent whining that sounds like an amplified mosquito buzzing is absolutely distracting. It certainly adds nothing good to the music, and in fact, it is noise pollution where we want to hear piano alone.
The best music on this concert is found in the two last short pieces, the first of which is Over the Rainbow. Keith's version of this is something everyone should hear. He certainly seems to respect the piece and brings as much feeling to it as anyone possibly could. So why the 3 stars? Because the two long pieces forming the body of this concert are simply not very musical. Yes they show unbelievable technique and creativity, but not much to really engage one musically. There are some good and interesting rhythmic moments, but they don't sound very different from things we've heard him do many times before. These better passages are "connected" by slow (sometimes painfully slow) meanderings which go nowhere and are not distinctive in any way. I wish someone had filmed his Koln Concert or his other early European concerts when he played really beautiful and flowing music. Now that's something I would pay big bucks to experience. I have purchased much of Keith's work, including the whole Sun Bear concerts set which did not come cheap. My life is richer because I have experienced his music, but this particular concert is just not one of his best. |
|
|