US born jazz and classical pianist Keith Jarrett is a highly regarded musician, although best known for his series of improvised piano concerts, he is also a multi-instrumentalist and classical composer.
Described as a child prodigy, Jarrett was playing the piano at the age of three and studying composition at 15, before moving on to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Jarrett wanted to play, rather than study, and opted for a move to New York, which led to work with the cream of jazz musicians at the time, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and The Charles Lloyd Quartet. In the late Sixties Jarret formed his own trio with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian (ex-Bill Evans Trio) and then in 1971, had his last gig as a band member, when he played keyboards for Miles Davis, from then on he performed solo or as group leader.
In 1971 Jarrett made the first of over 60 recordings (to date), for the highly acclaimed Editions of Contemporary Music series. The concerts, for which he is perhaps best known, feature improvisations which incorporate a number of musical styles including blues and gospel. The series are all highly praised, with The Sun Bear Concerts, and The Köln Concerts outstanding amongst them, the latter is amongst the best selling piano concert recordings to date.
In the 80s Jarrett formed the Standards Trio with bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette. The group have an extensive back catalogue of live and studio albums and still perform today. Throughout his career Jarrett also composed and played classical music, working with other Jazz musicians on modern classics and also performing classic classical music from composers including Mozart and Bach.
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