Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Noah Haidu: Slowly: Song For Keith Jarrett

Noah Haidu: Slowly: Song For Keith Jarrett

By Dan McClenaghan
May 11, 2021
View read count

Noah Haidu: Slowly: Song For Keith Jarrett

American poet Walt Whitman said it. Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan said it, too, on his Rough and Rowdy Ways (Columbia Records, 2020). They said: "I Contain Multitudes." Pianist

Keith Jarrett

piano
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Jarrett also contains multitudes—though it has never been reported that he has said so. Those multitudes include early work with the groups of drummer

Art Blakey

drums
1919 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Blakey, saxophonist

Charles Lloyd

saxophone
b.1938

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Lloyd and trumpeter

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis, before he connected with ECM Records in 1972 with Facing You, a recording that set an early template for Jarrett's personal mountain of further improvised, mostly live solo piano recordings. There was also his early career leadership of the free jazz-skirting American and European quartets; and his dozens of Standards Trio recordings with drummer

Jack DeJohnette

drums
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack DeJohnette and bassist

Gary Peacock

bass, acoustic
1935 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Peacock that dipped deeply into the Great American Songbook in a way that will probably never be equalled.

For his part, pianist

Noah Haidu

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Noah Haidu has been called a rising star. In 2020, he recorded Doctone (Sunnyside Records), a profile-bolstering tribute to pianist

Kenny Kirkland

piano
1955 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Kirkland, who was best known as a pianist and tunesmith for

Branford Marsalis

saxophone
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Branford Marsalis and

Wynton Marsalis

trumpet
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Wynton Marsalis. Haidu follows this up with another tribute, Slowly: Song For Keith Jarrett, taking on the tall order of an exploration of the artistry of one of jazz's brightest and most enduring stars.

At some point in the planning the question "Where do we start?" must have come up. Jarrett's discography and mastery of different styles is vast. Teaming up, for a trio effort, with veterans

Buster Williams

bass, acoustic
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Buster Williams on bass and

Billy Hart

drums
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Hart on drums, the answer that surfaced seems to have been: "Let us see if we can stir up Jarrett's way with a melody, his soul and humanity, his ability to bring the meaning of the lyrics into play, and to go deep, to get at the essence of the man's art."

A team effort from concept to execution, all three musicians of this superb piano trio contribute compositions, opening with the one-two caress of the gorgeous Williams- penned "Air Dancing," followed by Hart's' lighter-than-air "Duchess." Haidu's touch on both of these is exquisite, an adroit expression of the melodic threads, weaving them into magic. Composition-wise, Haidu offers up "Slowly," capturing Jarrett's truth-telling and restrained, wear-it-on-his-sleeve passion on a solo offering which, perhaps, nods to Jarrett's own improvised solo sets.

Jarrett's tender "Rainbow" is included, evolving into the Naidu-penned "Keith Jarrett," pushing Jarrett's compassion into full-blown joy, with the trio dynamic sounding as interactively empathic and innovative as you'll hear, past or present.

And no-one can nod to Keith Jarrett without addressing his Standards Trio. "What A Difference A Day Makes," "Georgia" and the closer, "But Beautiful" investigate this side of Jarrett's artistry with special reverence, not trying to mimic, but rather embracing the essence and expressiveness of The Man Who Contains Multitudes.

The decision to create this recording came about when Haidu learned of Jarrett's debilitating 2018 strokes that have, in all likelihood, ended the pianist's career. It is a masterfully realized, sumptuous and captivating seventy-six minutes of music. It is likely that others will offer tributes. No one will do it better.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Air Dancing; Duchess; What A Difference A Day Makes; Rainbow/Keith Jarrett; Georgia; Slowly; Lorca; But Beautiful.

Personnel

Noah Haidu

piano

Buster Williams

bass, acoustic

Billy Hart

drums

Album information

Title: Slowly: Song For Keith Jarrett | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Sunnyside Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

L.A. Jazz Quartet: Live at The Baked...
< Previous

Beyond Rivers
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.