jazzhouse.org

[James Hale]

Copyright (c) 2007 Jeremy Pfau

The Keith Jarrett Trio kicked off the JVC Jazz Festival's 2007 run at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, June 21. It was the group's first concert in the U.S in over a year and filled every seat in the Stern Auditorium. The group began by playing through their usual repertoire of standards, and ended the first set with a modal, rhythmic tune redolent of Jarrett's solo work, with its power chords and energized vamps. Returning from intermission, Jarrett reminded the audience that the trio was nearing its 25th together, although from the remarkable communication between Gary Peacock on bass, Jack DeJohnnete on drums, and Jarrett on piano, one could mistake it for their 100th. The group transformed melodies often heard as lounge music into riveting and complex renditions -- by the end of the night, the audience was as excited and absorbed as the contorting, dancing Jarrett, shouting "Do it Keith!" and "Play it real hard!"

Although Carnegie Hall's size can be distancing, the emotion and feeling with which the trio played lent it an intimacy, which the pianist uncharacteristically also seemed to enjoy. He was smiling.