Jarrett began piano lessons at the age of two and played for the first time on stage at the age of seven. In 1962 he played a self-composed two-hour concert, without the benefit of any prior formal instruction in orchestration or composition. After working with a wide variety of musicians, beginning in 1966, including Chet Baker, Lee Konitz and Art Blakey, he founded his own band in 1968 with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian. In 1971-76 Dewey Redman (saxophone) joined the group and they played under the name of the "American Quartet". His work with Miles Davis between 1969 and 1971 gave his career an additional boost, as well as the opportunity to play solo concerts such as the "Köln Concert" (1975, Cologne, Germany), honoured by Time Magazine as album of the year.
Since the early 1970s, he has enjoyed a great deal of success, both artistic and commercial, in both classical and jazz music as a group leader and a solo performer. His improvisation technique combines jazz, classical, gospel, blues, and various ethnic-folk musics. He is considered by some, to be the "Bach" of jazz music; this title may have come from his recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations, which, although it received many awards, was not entirely approved by critics.
In the 1990s he suffered chronic fatigue syndrome only to take up the piano again in 1998. He worked in a trio form with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette until 2014.
Jarrett stated in a 2005 TV interview that his music is influenced by the teachings and philosophy of Georges I. Gurdjieff, whom he honoured in "Sacred Hymns" (ECM, 1980). This philosophy informs many of his non-musical beliefs as well.
In 2008, he was inducted into the Down Beat Hall of Fame in the magazine's 73rd annual readers' poll.
In 2010, to coincide with his 65th birthday he released his first studio album in 12 years - Jasmine. It reunited Jarrett with his old bassist colleague Charlie Haden; the two had not recorded together for over 30 years.
Beginning
Keith Jarrett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To keep my mind off other things
So, ladies, let your fingers dance
And keep your hands out of romance
Lovely witches
Let the stitches
Keep your fingers under control
The whole heart whole
Merry maids can sew and sleep
Wives can only sew and weep
Falling in love with love
Is falling for make-believe
Falling in love with love
Is playing the fool
Caring too much is juvenile fancy
Learning to trust is just
For children in school
I fell in love with love one night
When the mood was full
I was unwise with eyes
Unable to see
I fell in love with love
With love everlasting
But love fell out with me
The lyrics to Keith Jarrett Trio's song "Falling In Love With Love" seem to embody a certain cynicism towards the concept of love, as the song insists that it is "falling for make-believe" and that "caring too much is juvenile fancy". The singer seems to have been fooled by love in the past and is now advising others, particularly women, to keep away from romantic entanglements and instead focus on other pursuits, such as sewing.
The imagery of weaving and stitching throughout the lyrics conjures a sense of control - the singer wants to keep their mind off other potential distractions and keep their heart whole. The contrast between "lovely witches" and "wives" when it comes to sewing and sleeping versus weeping further emphasizes this tension between practicality and emotionality.
The final lines of the song indicate that the singer has had their own share of heartbreak when it comes to love, having fallen "in love with love" and experiencing the eventual fallout. The overall tone of the song is somewhat melancholic and jaded, suggesting that love is a risky game that may not be worth playing.
Line by Line Meaning
I weave with brightly colored strings
I engage in creative activity, using colorful materials to divert my attention from other matters
To keep my mind off other things
This activity helps me refrain from thinking about other things that may cause me stress or anxiety
So, ladies, let your fingers dance
I advise women to engage in the same sort of activity, to distract themselves from other concerns
And keep your hands out of romance
I caution them not to let this creative activity lead them into romantic entanglements
Lovely witches
Women who use their creativity to distract themselves
Let the stitches
Continue your creative work with sewing needles and thread
Keep your fingers under control
Exercise discipline in not only your creative endeavors, but in other aspects of life, including romantic pursuits
Cut the thread, but leave
Don't let endings of relationships cause you to lose your sense of self or your creativity. You can still love and create
The whole heart whole
Remain true to yourself and intact in the wake of the ends of relationships.
Merry maids can sew and sleep
Women should be able to engage in creative activities and relax
Wives can only sew and weep
In contrast, married women may be expected to engage in creative or household activities without much leisure time
Falling in love with love
Being infatuated with or romanticizing the idea of love itself, rather than an actual person
Is falling for make-believe
It is not accepting reality or connecting with someone at a deep level
Caring too much is juvenile fancy
Being too attached or overly invested in someone can be immature and not helpful in developing a healthy relationship
Learning to trust is just
Having faith in and being loyal to someone over time is the foundation of a mature relationship
For children in school
This learning process is most commonly associated with the innocence and inexperience of youth
I fell in love with love one night
I had a romanticized view of love at one point
When the mood was full
During a time when emotions were heightened
I was unwise with eyes
I did not have good judgment in terms of choosing a romantic partner, blinded by my romantic idealism
Unable to see
I was not able to recognize reality or truly understand the person I was infatuated with
With love everlasting
A belief in the permanence of love, possibly a reference to the idea of true love or loving someone forever
But love fell out with me
My idealistic view of love did not match up with the reality of the end of the relationship
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GUS KAHN, M. NEUMAN, VICTOR POPULAR YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RickBeato
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@matherton_horowitz
🙌🏽
@eberikbergh
Couldn’t agree more with you, This master of Masters, he changed my life 40 years ago, after I listened to the
Köln concert recorded 24 of January 1975 ❤
@theobriggeman9899
Thank You for thuis interview!!
@songsmithy07
This isn't just another interview; it's an important documentation of jazz history. You are doing good work, Rick Beato. Please keep it up.
@MyronDavismd
Absolutely right. Rick Beato has become a part of ‘modern history’ and we are benefactors. I so appreciate his approach to music. 🎉
@AndrewJanusson
My thoughts exactly
@BillBenzon
I agree whole-heartedtly. The juxtposition of Jeith-now listening to Jeith-then playing "Solar" is inspired.
@hansmachado9163
Profoundly touching! A gift for us all.
THANK YOU!
@grumpydwarf74
Mr. Beato, I constantly watch your channel and never felt the need to leave a commentary, but this time I want to express my deep gratitude for this insight into the great soul of Mr. Jarrett. He wouldn’t know about it, he has no idea of who am I, and yet he has been a source of comfort through different periods of my life, actually changing it for better. Thank you for dedicating such a beautiful effort through these times of… let’s call it intelectual turmoil.