Keith Jarrett

Keith Jarrett was born on May 8, 1945, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to parents of Slovenian and German descent. He displayed absolute pitch and prodigious musical talent from infancy. Piano lessons began before his third birthday, followed by his first formal recital at age seven. He studied classical piano under Eleanor Sokoloff at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. After attending a Dave Brubeck performance at age fifteen, Jarrett’s musical direction shifted decisively toward jazz. He declined a prestigious opportunity to study composition with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Jarrett graduated from Emmaus High School in 1963, attended Berklee College of Music in Boston for one year, then moved to New York in 1964 to pursue jazz professionally.

In New York, Jarrett participated in Monday jam sessions at the Village Vanguard and briefly joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Drummer Jack DeJohnette recommended him to saxophonist Charles Lloyd. In February 1966, Jarrett joined Lloyd’s quartet alongside DeJohnette and bassist Cecil McBee. His ensemble achieved unprecedented commercial success for acoustic jazz: their live album Forest Flower: Live at Monterey (1966) became one of the first jazz recordings to sell over one million copies. Lloyd’s group performed at rock venues like the Fillmore Auditorium alongside Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead. In 1967, they became the first American jazz group to perform in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. By 1969, Jarrett’s reputation as a virtuosic pianist was firmly established.

Jarrett left Lloyd’s quartet in 1969. Miles Davis recruited him after hearing him perform in a New York club. From 1970 to 1971, he played electric organ and Rhodes electric piano in Davis’s fusion ensembles, alternating with and later alongside Chick Corea. Jarrett later expressed philosophical opposition to electric instruments, describing them as “toys.” In 1971, ECM Records producer Manfred Eicher proposed a solo album. Facing You (1971) consisted of eight short solo pieces recorded in November 1971. This album proved hugely influential and launched Jarrett’s exclusive partnership with ECM Records. He recorded Birth (1972) and formed his European Quartet with Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek, bassist Palle Danielsson, and drummer Jon Christensen. Their foundational album Belonging (1974) established the ensemble’s collaborative approach.

The Köln Concert, recorded live on January 24, 1975, at Cologne Opera House, remains Jarrett’s most iconic work. This double album of entirely improvised solo piano music established wholly spontaneous solo concerts as a commercially viable format. The recording sold over three million copies worldwide. Beginning in 1983, Jarrett formed the Standards Trio with bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette. The trio produced numerous ECM releases interpreting the American songbook and remained active until their final concert on November 30, 2014, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Parallel to his jazz career, Jarrett maintained a classical practice, recording masterworks by Bach and Mozart. He composed for chamber ensembles and orchestras throughout his life. In February 2018, Jarrett suffered a severe stroke, followed by a second stroke in May 2018, leaving him partially paralyzed and ending his active career.