Hamburg '72 (Live)
"Who's your favorite __________________ ?"
https://open.qobuz.com/album/0060254714839
https://www.discogs.com/release/6327976-Keith-Jarrett-Charlie-Haden-Paul-Motian-Hamburg-72
https://youtu.be/iDvO0Cl3PmM?si=Adi0jeu3bNDL94Lz (video)
Right now, my favorite pianist is Keith Jarrett. My favorite bassist is Charlie Haden. My favorite drummer is Paul Motian. How did I choose them over others? Because Hamburg ‘72, which has all three and which I’m listening to for the first time just now, is my favorite album. Tomorrow, my favorites will be different; or even today.
How did I choose it so quickly? I was shopping on ECM’s site (ecmrecords.com), to use a gift card I was recently given for helping a neighbor with printer problems. (I tried to refuse the card, but it reached a point where further refusal would have been rude). I came upon this album on ECM’s site, but it’s old enough (1997) that the label does not post a sample track for listening while browsing. I looked it up on my faithful Qobuz hi-res streaming service and started listening. Eventually, there was a flute. Qobuz listed no flautist! On one track, “Piece for Ornette,” there is a soprano saxophone! Qobuz listed no saxophonist. It turns out the flautist and soprano saxophonist were both Jarrett! I learned this only through reading a review Qobuz has grabbed for this album. Jarrett really shreds on the sax. Motian drives the drums all around the stage, from the sound of it, his kit moving all over the place—I mean he’s blasting away like dynamite in a rock quarry. I know Haden played with Ornette Coleman for years, but I don’t know about the rest of the trio.
The video is a lot of fun, as Jarrett is a dynamic performer. And how often do you hear him on soprano sax? May as well take the opportunity to see him as well.