My Life

Some of you have been asking me about the music I play in my classes. I am a big fan of the jazz pianist Keith Jarrett, and I have been listening to his music for many many years.

He was born in the USA in 1945 and has had a long career. He performs three types of music: jazz solo piano improvisation, jazz trio, and classical music.

Jazz solo piano improvisation
The most famous of these is the Koln Concerto. It is the biggest selling solo piano record in history. Jarrett plays for about one hour with no preparation, no idea what he is going to play. The music just pours out of him.

Jazz trio
A jazz trio is a piano, a double basss, and drums. With the double bass player Gary Peacock and the drum player Jack DeJohnette, the Keith Jarrett Trio have been playing standard jazz songs all over the world for 20 years. In 2000 the Trio played in London. Although I was living in Taiwan at the time, I flew all the way back to London to attend this concert. I sat in the third row from the front. It was the most amazing experience of my life. I kept the program and framed it. It hangs above my piano at home.

Classical Music

Keith Jarrett also records classical music, especially Handel, Bach and Shostakovich. It's unusual for a jazz pianist to be able to play classical so well, and for a classical pianist to play jazz, but Keith Jarrett can play anything he wants. He is a genius in all kinds of music.

I hope he will come to Taiwan. If he does, I urge you all to go and hear him. You will not regret it. Enjoy the music!