Keith Jarrett tells New York Times he’s unlikely to perform live again

As one of the most singular talents in over half a century of jazz, Keith Jarrett’s influence has been ever present, his output profound as well as prolific. So when he retired from public performances in 2018, with his label ECM citing an unspecified health issue as the reason, the public were left to wonder what the real cause was.

Snuffing out such rumours with an extremely frank interview with Nate Chinen for the New York Times on 21 October, Jarrett has revealed that he had in fact suffered a stroke in February 2018, and another one in May that year – and is unlikely to perform live ever again. Speaking to the NYT, Jarrett said: “I was paralyzed. My left side is still partially paralyzed. I’m able to try to walk with a cane, but it took a long time for that… took a year or more. And I’m not getting around this house at all, really.” He goes on to reveal that despite efforts to play with just his right hand, “I don’t know what my future is supposed to be. I don’t feel right now like I’m a pianist. That’s all I can say about that.”

It’s a huge loss of one of jazz’s contemporary giants from the live scene. Indeed, two recent live albums on his longtime label ECM, Munich 2016 and Budapest Concert 2016 (out on 30 October), are a more than fitting tribute to his creative prowess as a solo pianist, a format which has become the cornerstone of his career since that initial run of solo live recordings, from Facing You (recorded 1971), Solo Concerts: Bremen/Lausanne (two sets recorded in March and July 1973) and of course, The Köln Concert, on that epochal day, 24 January 1975.

The ECM vaults are surely groaning with unreleased Jarrett gems, yet his recorded work for the imprint is almost unparalleled in its abundance, with outstanding albums made with his ‘European’, ‘American’ and ‘Standards’ groups, plus his deep dive into the classical realm via explorations of the baroque organ, clavichord, harpsichord, string quartet and his interpretations of the music of Bach, Mozart, Handel, Shostakovich and Arvo Pärt. And of course he also made sizable sideman contributions in the groups of Miles Davis and Charles Lloyd, not to forget his celebrated duos with bassist Charlie Haden. Rumours have it that a deluxe 10LP set of the Complete Sun Bear Concerts will be released at some point soon, so it’s more than possible that more unreleased Jarrett music will see the light of day. For now though, Jarrett can look back on his monumental achievements with pride. Read the full New York Times interview here

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