Staircase (album)
Staircase is the fourth solo piano album released on ECM by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett. It features Jarrett performing four solo piano "suites" recorded in the studio in May 1976.[1]
Staircase | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1977, May [1] | |||
Recorded | 1976, May | |||
Studio | Davout Studios, Paris (France) | |||
Length | 74:27 | |||
Label | ECM Records [ECM 1090/91] | |||
Producer | Manfred Eicher | |||
Keith Jarrett chronology | ||||
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Keith Jarrett solo piano chronology | ||||
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Jarrett and producer Manfred Eicher had arrived at Studio Davout in Paris to record a soundtrack to Michèle Rosier's film Mon cœur est rouge (Paint My Heart Red).[2] Finishing early with several hours of studio time left and impressed by the quality of the studio's piano, they spontaneously decided to record this album.[3]
Reception
The Allmusic review by Richard S. Ginell awarded the album 4 stars, stating, "One can always admire Jarrett's lovely tone and flexible touch, yet when he gets stuck for ideas, the repetitions finally begin to grate. Maybe he really needs the stimulus of a live audience in order to get the creative and rhythmic juices flowing when flying solo.".[4]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [4] |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz | [5] |
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [6] |
Track listing
- All compositions by Keith Jarrett
Staircase:
- "Part 1" - 6:57
- "Part 2" - 7:58
- "Part 3" - 1:25
Hourglass:
- "Part 1" - 4:42
- "Part 2" - 14:03
Sundial:
- "Part 1" - 8:57
- "Part 2" - 4:55
- "Part 3" - 6:27
Sand:
- "Part 1" - 6:54
- "Part 2" - 8:48
- "Part 3" - 3:21
Personnel
- Keith Jarrett – piano
Technical Personnel
- Roger Roche - Recording Engineer
- Franco Fontana/IKS s.p.a., Modena - Photography
- Barbara Wojirsch - Cover Design and Layout
- Manfred Eicher - Production
References
- ECM Records Keith Jarrett: Staircase accessed May 2020
- Mon cœur est rouge at Internet Movie Database accessed March 28, 2016
- Ian Carr, Keith Jarrett: The Man and His Music page 93
- Ginell, R. Allmusic Review accessed September 16, 2011
- Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 768. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
- Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. pp. 112. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.