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Stories   >   Keith Jarrett - Book of Ways is the france musique - Jazz Bonus

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Keith Jarrett - Book of Ways is the france musique - Jazz Bonus

Posted: March 3, 2023

‘Book of Ways’ was recorded on the 14th of July 1986 in Ludwigsburg. Rather amazing is the great variety of sound and rhythm – Keith Jarrett played alternately one or two instruments simultaneously. Beyond unmistakeable echoes of lute music and Japanese koto, the whole range of modes of expression the clavichord is capable of is being fathomed out. All this has been supported by studio techniques, which recorded the sound of the instrument with rarely heard intensity.

To my knowledge, this recording is unique in several ways. We had three clavichords in the studio, two of which were angled together so that I could play them both simultaneously, and the third off to the side. Also we miked the instruments very closely so that the full range of dynamics could be used (clavichords are very quiet and cannot be heard more than a few feet away). The two CDs were made on an off day between concerts with my Trio, and no material was organized beforehand. Everything was spontaneous. The recording was done in four hours.” – Keith Jarrett, 2002

The re-issue 2-CD comes in a new packaging with high quality paper sleeves and gold embossed lettering.


france musique writes….“Book of Ways” by Keith Jarrett not on piano, but on two clavichords, was recorded in July 1986 in Ludwigsburg. The sequence of improvisations has been adapted to the format of this double album without the order of the pieces having been changed. Reissue this March 10 at ECM.

What still fascinates and surprises today is the great variety of sounds and rhythms constituting the framework of this music – Keith Jarrett here playing two instruments alternately and sometimes simultaneously. Going so far as to evoke at times in his playing techniques Japanese music for lute and koto, it is the whole range of modes of expression specific to the clavichord that Jarrett explores in these improvisations. This sound richness specific to the instrument is rendered in this disc with rare precision and intensity thanks to innovative recording techniques.

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