In honor of Keith Jarrett’s 81^st birthday, WKCR 89.9 FM will present an 11.5-hour Keith Jarrett birthday broadcast tomorrow, Friday, May 8, from 9:30 AM to 9 PM ET. As Rachel Smith of WKCR writes:

Segments will alternate between his classical and jazz recordings (in keeping with our usual schedule, which features classical music 9:30-12 and 3-6, and jazz 12-3 and 6-9, on Fridays.)

The broadcast can be heard on the radio at 89.9 FM in the New York metropolitan area or streamed online at wkcr.org.

More details on the WKCR website.

Thanks to Rachel for the link.

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Bremen Zwei will broadcast the February 2, 1975 solo concert in Bremen on Saturday, March 29, at 10 PM CET. This concert was recorded just days after the Köln concert.

Listen live at Bremen Zwei’s website.

Thanks Hartmut for the link.

Update (April 27, 2025). Due to technical difficulties, the concert will be broadcast again on May 29, 2025 at 10 PM CET.

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BBC Radio 4 has produced a programme about Keith Jarrett’s landmark recording. From their description:

“Fifty years after Keith Jarrett performed the Koln Concert to a sellout crowd, Kevin le Gendre explores the enduring appeal of the biggest selling solo piano record of all time, and unpicks a new musical language born out of adversity.”

The 28-minute programme features Jacob Collier, Geoff Dyer, Nikki Yeoh, Django Bates, and Maki Namekawa. It was broadcast on January 14, 2025 and will be available for over a year on the BBC Radio 4 website.

Thanks to Jason for the link.

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BR-Klassik will broadcast a previously unreleased portion from the July 12, 1973 concert at the Sendesaal in Bremen to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of this concert, released by ECM as Solo Concerts: Bremen / Lausanne.

Here’s an (automatic) translation from the article above:

Jarrett Unheard: Archive Discovery

On July 12, 1973, Keith Jarrett performed one of his first piano solo concerts at the Bremen Sendesaal. Despite being plagued by back pain, he impressed the audience with his two sets, which can now be heard on the ECM release “Concerts: Bremen / Lausanne.”

However, the second half of the first set has remained unreleased to this day and slumbers in the archive. In this improvised half, Jarrett transforms the romantic tone into an energetic boogie-woogie improvisation.

On the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of this concert, Keith Jarrett’s tones, which until now have only been heard by a few, are finally to be presented to the public.

The 40^th anniversary of that concert was already commemorated by a “virtual concert” at the Sendesaal:

Forty years later, on July 12, 2013, a “virtual concert” (that is, without Keith Jarrett) will take place at the same venue. A complete recording of the 1973 concert will be played, “including the unpublished portion of the first set” (“inklusive des unveröffentlichten Teils des ersten Sets”).

The broadcast will take place on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 23:30 on BR-Klassik.

Thanks to Matthias for the information!

Update (July 22, 2023). A recording of the broadcast is available online. Thanks to Simon for the link!

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A 23-minute interview with Dennis Russell Davies about his collaborations with Keith Jarrett was broadcast by MDR Klassik, a German radio station, in early December 2021.

“When Dennis Russell Davies talks to Keith Jarrett – on the phone or at Jarrett’s home – they look back fondly on concerts they’ve played together and on great moments at his home, where the musician still lives.” (DeepL translation)

Davies has visited Keith Jarrett several times since his stroke. As we know, Keith has lost most of his ability to play the piano. He won’t be able to play in front of an audience anymore, but he’s still playing for himself. Davies witnessed Keith improvise on the piano, playing only with his right hand. Davies was enthusiastic about it and hopes that Keith will compose new music in the near future.

Thanks to Arnulf for the link and the summary of the interview.