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In January 1975, Keith Jarrett performed a solo piano concert at the Cologne Opera House, later released as The Köln Concert. The event nearly didn’t happen due to significant challenges. The venue provided the wrong piano—a small, out-of-tune Bösendorfer baby grand instead of the requested 290 Imperial concert grand. The instrument had a tinny upper register, weak bass, and malfunctioning pedals. Jarrett, already exhausted and suffering from back pain after a long drive, initially refused to perform. However, young concert promoter Vera Brandes persuaded him to go ahead.
What followed was a masterful display of improvisation. Jarrett drew on elements of jazz, folk, classical, Latin, gospel, and country music, skillfully working around the piano's limitations by focusing on its middle register and employing repetitive ostinato rhythms. The concert is divided into three parts, with "Part I" opening with a captivating 26-minute improvisation.
Despite the subpar piano, the performance became a resounding success. The recording went on to become one of the best-selling solo jazz and piano albums of all time. It stands as a remarkable testament to Jarrett's unparalleled improvisational talent and his ability to turn adversity into artistic triumph.
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