Product Description

TOUCHSTONES: From ECM's 40 Year History. Specially-priced & newly-packaged! Facing You was Keith Jarrett s first-ever solo recording (1972)
An absolute landmark. A new improvisational language.

Track Listing

1. In Front
2. Ritooria
3. Lalene
4. My Lady: My Child
5. Landscape For Future Earth
6. Starbright
7. Vapallia
8. Semblence

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12395 in Music
• Brand: Dig
• Released on: 2008-08-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .8 pounds

Review
Keith Jarrett's first album of piano solos and, to many listeners, his best. --New York Times

Customer Reviews

The First Signs of Jarrett's Solo Piano Greatness
Recorded in 1971, this album has correctly been called a "blueprint" for the legendary solo concert albums that Jarrett subsequently produced. But "Facing You" certainly should be appreciated in its own right...it deservedly caused an enormous commotion in the jazz world when it was released. While it is a studio recording, it also was essentially improvised (recorded in a period of about five hours on a single day) and all of the fiery energy, seamless blending of wildly different musical genres, innovative use of the sustain pedal, and melodic genius that characterize his later work are present here...even his "singing" makes a subtle appearance. This work is highly recommended.

If Beethoven was the great piano improvisor of the 19th century, the title in the 20th century should arguably go to this man. With very few exceptions, one basically cannot go wrong with a Keith Jarrett recording. If you have any affection for piano music, you will love his work...whether your tastes run to jazz, classical, even rock, there's something in Jarrett's music that bridges them all.

Exquisite lyricism; could use a little more exuberance
In an era when most jazz bands were amping up, this improvised solo acoustic piano album was a refreshing return to the basics of jazz. Jarrett's mastery of this idiom is now taken for granted; his solo concerts are near-legendary, and his recorded output with his trio and quartets amply demonstrates his ability to blend his skills with others, most notably saxophonist Jan Garbarek, but with many other fine musicians as well.

But this is the album that really started it all for Jarrett, and as such it has some historical significance beyond its musical merits, so Jarrett's fans will definitely want to own this one. For more casual listeners, rest assured that this is not an "early works" release - this is a fully realized work by a mature artist, and it still holds up very well today. Jarrett's detractors may be advised that this album contains almost none of the high-pitched (and sometimes annoying) vocalizations with which he's been know to accompany himself, nor does he indulge in any of the obscure Gamelan-style music that mainstream jazz enthusiasts often find so opaque.

What he gives us is 8 tracks of exquisite jazz piano, starting with the masterful "In Front", a 10-minute showcase of Jarrett's delightful ear for melody melded to a bumpy, exhilarating rhythm - an instant classic. While none of the remaining tracks reach that same high energy level, Jarrett does take the opportunity to show his versatility. "Ritooria" is somber and ruminative, while "My Lady; My Child" and "Landscape for a Future Earth" reveal a more delicate and tender side. "Lalene" ebbs and flows, the more interesting segments being those that feature a more deliberate rhythm and a hint of that gospel feel that Jarrett does so well. The last three compositions are somewhat less unique, featuring lots of long, rambling runs, but of the three, only "Vapallia"'s halting melody line is really memorable. As a fan of generally higher-energy music, I can't help but wish there were one or two more selections with the exuberance of "In Front", instead of say, the pleasant but unfocused "Starbright". If you're a pianist, or otherwise really serious about solo jazz piano, consider this a 5 star purchase. For the rest of us, this is a fine effort, but there are more invigorating Jarrett albums out there.

Keith Jarrett's best
For those of you who find the majority of Keith Jarrett's work self-indulgent to the max, this is the cd to get. Not a wasted note--just brilliant songwriting and sustained melodic invention from beginning to end. Beyond stunning. For more indulgence-free Keith Jarrett, check out "Death and the Flower," "Gary Burton & Keith Jarrett," and Airto's "Free" (Keith Jarrett plays electric piano on one or two cuts). If you would like to read more reviews like this, check out JazzboNotes.com.