KEITH JARRETT @ CARNEGIE 2009

I went to hear Keith Jarrett at Carnegie Hall last night and his performance was outstanding as usual. At this point in my life I can't explain or describe much about piano, but I will say that his musicality is of the highest standard. Of course, I also enjoy being in the place with him as he is one of my biggest influences. I think there were 6 curtain calls, with folks kicking and screaming for more. He mixed up some atonal improvisations with very harmonious improvisations and a few tunes that we're all familiar with. BRAVO!

I had hoped that it might bring me some inspiration, but sadly it did not. While there were some very deep moments, it was the concert experience that brought me down. A nobody like me has to sit up high and quite far back in the main hall because I cannot afford the $200 ticket price that Keith (Good for him) demands. The sound up there is not very good. The piano just can't project that far and most of the sustain is lost. I mean it's a stretch, even for the mighty Steinway D that he was playing on. I knew it would be, since I've been to the hall a gazillion times over the years and have slowly moved closer to the stage, but I thought it would be a nice overall experience for me and my friends.

The problem for me is that I can hear the person next to me breathing louder than the music and I feel removed from the experience. I can't help but think about that most modern of thinkers and musicians Glenn Gould when he would talk about the antiquated concert hall and outmoded concert experience. That was nearly 40 years ago! I thought of myself as a performing musician feeling that I don't want to hear live music anymore. Perhaps it's true. I definitely prefer to hear music in a small space at least. That hall is just too big in my opinion.

Still, part of me is glad that the house was packed, Keith was there, and that beautiful Steinway was there. I won't be going to hear music in that kind of setting any time soon. If I do feel inspired again to go hear something I certainly won't sit that far back again, if I bother with that great big hall at all...