Staircase is the fourth solo piano album released on ECM by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett. It features Jarrett performing four solo piano "suites" recorded in the studio in May 1976.[1]
Staircase | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1977, May [1] | |||
Recorded | 1976, May | |||
Studio | Davout Studios, Paris (France) | |||
Length | 74:27 | |||
Label | ECM Records [ECM 1090/91] | |||
Producer | Manfred Eicher | |||
Keith Jarrett chronology | ||||
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Keith Jarrett solo piano chronology | ||||
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Jarrett and producer Manfred Eicher had arrived at Studio Davout in Paris to record a soundtrack to Michèle Rosier's film Mon cœur est rouge (Paint My Heart Red).[2] Finishing early with several hours of studio time left and impressed by the quality of the studio's piano, they spontaneously decided to record this album.[3]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Allmusic review by Richard S. Ginell awarded the album 4 stars, stating, "One can always admire Jarrett's lovely tone and flexible touch, yet when he gets stuck for ideas, the repetitions finally begin to grate. Maybe he really needs the stimulus of a live audience in order to get the creative and rhythmic juices flowing when flying solo.".[4]
Jarrett biographer Wolfgang Sandner called the album "an impressive study in sound," and an "unbelievable synthesis of sonic art," and commented: "There is no other Keith Jarrett recording that comes so close to achieving the pianistic ideal of lyricism as does this astounding album."[7]
Staircase:
Hourglass:
Sundial:
Sand:
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