| Ritual | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 1982 [1] | |||
| Recorded | June 1977 | |||
| Studio | Tonstudio Bauer Ludwigsburg, West Germany | |||
| Genre | Contemporary classical music | |||
| Length | 32:02 | |||
| Label | ECM 1112 | |||
| Producer | Manfred Eicher | |||
| Keith Jarrett chronology | ||||
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| Keith Jarrett orchestral works chronology | ||||
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Ritual is an album of contemporary classical music written by Keith Jarrett and performed by Dennis Russell Davies on solo piano in June 1977 and released on ECM in February 1982. [2] [1]
In the original notes for the CD release, pianist Dennis Russell Davies wrote about his relationship with Mr. Jarrett, his music, and how this project came about:
I first worked with Keith Jarrett while conducting a program of new music with The Ensemble at New York’s Lincoln Center in 1974. On this occasion, Keith played the solo part in Carla Bley’s "3/4". Aside from his enormous improvisatory skills, I was most impressed by his love for and playing of the concert grand piano, and what I sensed was a growing impatience with the electronic sound sources that seemed poised to take over not only jazz, but so-called "serious" new music as well.
I felt that a collaboration between Keith and my orchestra at that time, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, would be an ideal way to explore the potential of combining Keith’s instrumental approach with that of a traditional chamber orchestra, particularly one with proven abilities in the music of our time.
During one of several intense rehearsal periods together, Keith—who had heard my own piano playing—mentioned a new work, "Ritual", that he wanted me to perform.
As I worked with the piece, I received enormous satisfaction from the opportunity to express, through Keith’s music, my admiration for his artistry. And although I could never, in improvisation, begin to assume his qualities as a creative force, "Ritual" is a vehicle through which I can bring his spirit to the listener.
Those who know Keith will hear him in this music—it couldn’t have been written by anyone else.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [3] |
The AllMusic review by Richard S. Ginell awarded the album 3 stars, noting, "Ritual has several of the characteristics of Jarrett's solo improvisations—the repetitive vamps and ostinatos, wistful lyricism, ruminative episodes developing organically out of what preceded them—but without the jazzy/bluesy feeling that runs through the solo concerts. Also, the piece begins in a mournful way unusual for the usually optimistic Jarrett. In any case, it is a thoughtful, absorbing composition, thoroughly tonal harmonically, played with assured technique and appropriate use of classical expressive devices by Davies. Classical listeners as well as Jarrett devotees will find much to savor here." [3]
All tracks are written by Keith Jarrett
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ritual" | 18:37 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ritual" | 13:25 |
| Total length: | 32:02 | |
Keith Jarrett is an American pianist and composer. Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey and later moved on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s, he has also been a group leader and solo performer in jazz, jazz fusion, and classical music. His improvisations draw from the traditions of jazz and other genres, including Western classical music, gospel, blues, and ethnic folk music.
Tabula Rasa is a musical composition written in 1977 by the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. The piece contains two movements, "Ludus" and "Silentium," and is a double concerto for two solo violins, prepared piano, and chamber orchestra.
Solo Concerts: Bremen/Lausanne is a live solo triple album by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett recorded at the Salle de Spectacles d'Epalinges in Lausanne, Switzerland and the Kleiner Sendesall in Bremen, Germany on March 20 and July 12, 1973, respectively and released on ECM November that same year—Jarrett's debut solo live album for the label.
Sun Bear Concerts is a live box set by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett compiling five solo piano concerts performed over two weeks during his November 1976 tour in Japan and released on ECM in January 1978.
Facing You is a solo album by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett, recorded on November 10, 1971 and released on ECM March the following year—the first of a half-century of releases for the label.
Radiance is a double-album by American pianist Keith Jarrett recorded in October 2002 in Japan at two different concerts—Osaka and Tokyo —and released by ECM in May 2005. In April 2006, a video recording of the live performance at Tokyo concert was released as Tokyo Solo.
Dark Intervals is a live solo album by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett recorded at the Suntory Hall in Tokyo on April 11, 1987 and released on ECM the following year.
The Out-of-Towners is a live album by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett recorded at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich on July 28, 2001 and released by ECM on August 30, 2004. Jarrett's trio—the Standards trio—features rhythm section Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette.
Changeless is a live album by the Keith Jarrett Trio recorded at various venues over a week in October 1987 and released on ECM two years later. The trio—Jarrett's "Standards Trio"—features rhythm section Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette.
Over the years, Keith Jarrett has recorded in many different settings: jazz piano trio, classical and baroque music, improvised contemporary music, solo piano, etc. Well known for his tremendous impact on the piano and jazz scene, as a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and first class improviser, Keith Jarrett's original output embraces many different musical styles and spans a period of almost 50 years, comprising a generous production of more than 100 albums.
Concerts is a live solo triple album of by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett recorded at the Festspielhaus in Bregenz, Austria on May 28, 1981 and the Herkulessaal in Munich, West Germany on June 2, 1981 and released on ECM September the following year.
Arbour Zena is an orchestral work composed by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett which was recorded in October 1975 and released by ECM the following year. The trio features saxophonist Jan Garbarek and bassist Charlie Haden backed by members of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mladen Gutesha.
Hymns/Spheres is a solo double album by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett recorded on the Karl Joseph Riepp "Trinity" Baroque pipe organ at the Benedictine Abbey in Ottobeuren in September 1976 and released on ECM later that year.
In the Light is a double album of contemporary classical music composed by Keith Jarrett, recorded in February 1973 and released on ECM April the following year—his fourth release for the label.
Invocations/The Moth and the Flame is a solo double album by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett recorded in October 1980 and November 1979 respectively and released on ECM in May 1981.
The Celestial Hawk: For Orchestra, Percussion and Piano is an album of contemporary classical music by Keith Jarrett recorded at Carnegie Hall with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Keene, on March 22, 1980 and released on ECM November that same year.
Book of Ways: The Feeling of Strings is a solo double album by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett recorded over four hours in July 1986 and released on ECM September the following year, comprising nineteen clavichord improvisations.
Bridge of Light is a contemporary classical album composed by American jazz pianist and composer Keith Jarrett recorded in March 1993 and released on the ECM New Series April the following year, featuring the Fairfield Orchestra conducted by Thomas Crawford.
Munich 2016 is a live solo double-album by American pianist and composer Keith Jarrett recorded at the Philharmonic Hall in Munich on July 16, 2016 and released on ECM in November 2019.
Budapest Concert is a live solo double-album by American pianist and composer Keith Jarrett recorded at the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Budapest on July 3, 2016 and released on ECM in October 2020.
