Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Keith Jarrett / Gary Peacock / Jack DeJohnette: After The Fall

Keith Jarrett / Gary Peacock / Jack DeJohnette: After The Fall

By Karl Ackermann
February 13, 2018
View read count

Keith Jarrett / Gary Peacock / Jack DeJohnette: After The Fall

In the year between ECM releases Tokyo '96 (1997) and Whisper Not (1999), Keith Jarrett's iconic Standards Trio returned to live performances following a two-year break. Jarrett's bout with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome left him physically and emotionally drained, but with the condition in check, his expressive passion and physical enthusiasm return in full force with After The Fall.

The two-disc set was recorded at a concert in Newark, New Jersey in late 1998. If it appears that picking familiar selections from the Great American Songbook provided a comfortable re-entry for Jarrett, the fiery improvisations in this session indicate that the trio was ready for a convincing and hard-driving outing. Not many trios could turn "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" into a bebop potboiler that sheds holiday trappings, early on.

Disc 1 opens with "The Masquerade Is Over" by Herb Magidson and Allie Wrubel. A tranquil introduction is ignited when Jack DeJohnette's accelerated pacing urges Jarrett into a more animated space. The trio doesn't come up for air until near the end of a fifteen-plus minute marathon. The general tone is set for a number of cookers, including

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane's "Moment's Notice,"

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins' "Doxy" and

Bud Powell

piano
1924 - 1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Bud Powell's "Bouncin' With Bud." The trio offers a white-knuckled version of

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker's "Scrapple From The Apple" featuring an astounding interchange between DeJohnette and Jarrett. Gary Peacock shines on Pete La Roca's buoyant "One For Majid" and with his extended solo on "Autumn Leaves." The trio include two ballads with one of their staples, "When I Fall In Love," closing the collection.

The late ECM releases of Jarrett's 1996 solo collection A Multitude of Angels (2016) and After The Fall with DeJohnette and Peacock are tributes to the extraordinary resilience of the pianist. His pre-sabbatical and return are both marked by a relentless determination to perform with his impeccable and unique approach to improvisation. As for the Standards Trio, After The Fall is a reminder of why—and how—the now-defunct group redefined the piano trio. An excellent and highly recommended album.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

CD 1: The Masquerade Is Over; Scrapple From the Apple; Old Folks; Autumn Leaves; Bouncin' with Bud. CD 2: Doxy; I'll See You Again; Late Lament; One for Majid; Santa Claus Is Coming to Town; Moment's Notice; When I Fall in Love.

Personnel

Keith Jarrett

piano

Keith Jarrett: piano; Gary Peacock: double bass; Jack DeJohnette: drums.

Album information

Title: After the Fall | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: ECM Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Take Five with Chris Abelen
< Previous

Dust Shines
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.