New Vienna is the fourth concert recording to be released from Keith Jarrett’s final European solo tour, following Munich 2016, Budapest Concert, and Bordeaux Concert. This latest release takes listeners back to Vienna, a city that holds deep significance in Jarrett's career. Known for his iconic Vienna Concert (recorded at the Vienna State Opera), which he once described as speaking "the language of the flame itself," Jarrett’s return to the Austrian capital in 2016 brought another mesmerizing performance to the world stage. This time, he played in the historic Golden Hall of the Musikverein, an acoustic marvel where Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern once premiered works that reshaped the course of modern music.
New Vienna is a testament to Jarrett’s evolving artistry and mastery of improvisation. This final chapter in his European solo performances marks a shift from the long, sprawling forms that characterized his early solo concerts—such as those in Bremen, Lausanne, Köln, and the original Vienna Concert—to shorter, self-contained pieces. These distinct, contrasting pieces often come together to form a cohesive, impromptu suite. The performance from the Musikverein on July 9, 2016, encapsulates this approach perfectly.
The concert is divided into nine parts, each offering a unique glimpse into Jarrett’s creative process. Part I begins with a spontaneous whirlwind of sound, dense and complex, embodying the impetuous energy of a force of nature. Part II offers a stark contrast, with floating chords and a plangent melody that gradually unfolds. Part III brings rhythm to the forefront, showcasing Jarrett’s remarkable ability to develop interwoven patterns with each hand, a standout example of his technical skill.
Part IV delivers a hymnic, uplifting atmosphere, while Part V transports listeners to a place of pure balladry, seemingly channeled from the ether. In Part VI, the lyrical impulse refracts into something more abstract, only to be followed by Part VII, a tender song that could easily be imagined as a composition for Jarrett's Belonging quartet. Part VIII strips things down to the basics with a bluesy touch, and Part IX combines gospel and country elements, reflecting the vastness of Jarrett’s musical range.
The concert concludes with an evocative rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, a favorite encore piece that is phrased slightly differently than previous versions on La Scala, A Multitude of Angels, and Munich 2016. This final performance serves as a fitting close to yet another exceptional night of music.
As Keith Jarrett celebrates his 80th birthday, New Vienna is released as part of the continued legacy of his music. Although Jarrett has not performed live since 2017 due to health issues, his influence on solo piano music remains undiminished. The release of New Vienna—along with the ongoing interest in his past performances, including the 50th anniversary of The Köln Concert—reaffirms Jarrett’s enduring impact on the music world.
Jarrett’s collaboration with ECM Records dates back to 1971, when he recorded Facing You, a pivotal solo piano album that set the stage for his future performances. Facing You featured eight short pieces that were later recognized as a precursor to the genre-defining solo concerts that would follow. In the years since, Jarrett’s solo work has continually pushed the boundaries of improvisation and piano performance, leading to performances that are regarded as some of the most groundbreaking in jazz and contemporary music.
New Vienna is the latest in a series of concert recordings from Jarrett’s final European solo tour. These recordings, including Munich 2016, Budapest Concert, and Bordeaux Concert, showcase Jarrett at the peak of his abilities—creating new music in real time, while continually refining the solo piano idiom he had pioneered in the early 1970s.
Even after Jarrett’s performing career was cut short in 2018, ECM has continued to release exceptional albums drawn from a vast trove of recordings spanning genres and decades. These have included the intimate recordings from the Deer Head Inn, a venue that marked the beginning of his leadership as a piano trio artist. The album The Old Country features Jarrett with Gary Peacock and Paul Motian, offering a compelling snapshot of what Jarrett called "what jazz is all about."
With New Vienna, the 50th anniversary of The Köln Concert, and the continued release of unreleased and live material, Jarrett’s artistry remains a significant force in contemporary music. As noted by the committee citation for his Polar Music Prize, Jarrett’s solo performances and recordings have "lifted piano improvisation as an art form to new, unimaginable heights." New Vienna is yet another brilliant testament to his extraordinary musical journey.
