Keith Jarrett: American Quartet Part IV

In the spring of 1976, the quartet toured Europe, and recorded the extraordinary The Survivors' Suite in Ludwigsburg in April. (Believe me, you need this disc in your life.)

Travelling south to Austria in May, the quartet's gig at the Theater am Kornmarkt in Bregenz was recorded and released in 1979 as Eyes of the Heart. The 3-part encore from that show sums up many different facets of the band, and serves as a fitting coda to this series.

Keith Jarrett described what it was like to play in this band in the liner notes to the record:

"Music is at its best when it carries you along at a level deeper than the music itself and forces you to live in its spaces as well as its notes.

"Improvisation is at its best when everyone involved in the music is aware of an intect greater then his own; therefore more his own."

Keith Jarrett - Encore (a-b-c) - 18mins
From Eyes of the Heart: ECM 1150 [Buy]

Despite the strength of the music, it was clear by 1976 that differences in lifestyle and philosophy were driving the band apart. Following a final 3 day recording session New York in October of the same year, Keith Jarrett's American Quartet ceased to be.

Keith Jarrett