Keith Jarrett – Hymns Spheres

Just checked one more time and found a (P) 1985 on back cover.

Release date on labels is (P) 1983. Stereo, not Mono.

This is what happens when a jazz musician of this caliber gets his hands on an ancient baroque organ, remaining respectful toward the organ as well as respectful toward his own intuitions..all improvisations...moving from hymn to nine movements of "Sphere," and then concluding with a hymn...quite cool and sometimes scary, sounding electronic in the 7th and 9th movements, "unique effects, although never before used, were accomplished by pulling certain stops part way, while completely open or closed. Amazingly, baroque organs have always had this capability." While this likely didn't find much appreciation from jazz or classical critics, who gives a crap about those assholes: Jarrett is the shit, one of the few people who can make solo acoustic keyboard work so interesting and enjoyable. This is an amazing recording.

What do you do when you are one of the top jazz pianists in the word in the mid 70s? You go out on tour and play your hits? Not if you're Keith Jarrett. You go to Germany and play a big old pipe organ and release it on record, a double too mind you! There is something haunting about this music though and while it's not going to be on constant rotation it has it's charms.