Thanks to Jonas for this exciting news! ECM will release a Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden duo album called “Jasmine” in May 2010 (ECM 2165). The album is already listed on Amazon Germany with a release date of May 7, 2010. This remains to be confirmed, but the album was apparently recorded at Keith Jarrett’s home studio in New Jersey in March 2007.

Update (March 11, 2010). From Steve Lake (ECM Records, originally posted on JazzCorner.com): “Early in 2007, Jarrett was asked to contribute to a Haden documentary (“Rambling Boy”) and they played briefly together, for the first time since the 1976 break-up of the American Quartet . A few months later, Jarrett invited Haden to his home studio and they recorded in duo over a four day period. “Jasmine” comprises the material they liked best from these sessions. Emphasis is on standards and love songs, but the overall feel and atmosphere is perhaps closer to Jarrett’s solo “Melody At Night…” than anything else in his discography. Intimate, then, and deeply melodic.”

Update (March 23, 2010). More information about “Jasmine” from Jazzwise Magazine: “The eight tracks are mostly love songs from the standards book, though one notable surprise comes in the form of ‘One Day I’ll Fly Away’, as made famous by Randy Crawford.”

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The audiophiles among you might be interested to know that “Paris / London: Testament” is available as lossless 96 kHz / 24 bit FLAC files on HDtracks (officially, of course). Eleven of the twenty tracks are available as individual downloads for $2.49. The complete album is available for $30.56.

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"Paris / London: Testament" cover

Here’s the tracklist for “Paris / London: Testament” (from Universal Music Classical):

CD 1

1. Part I – Salle Pleyel, Paris (13:47)
2. Part II – Salle Pleyel, Paris (10:35)
3. Part III – Salle Pleyel, Paris (7:05)
4. Part IV – Salle Pleyel, Paris (5:33)
5. Part V – Salle Pleyel, Paris (8:45)
6. Part VI – Salle Pleyel, Paris (6:30)
7. Part VII – Salle Pleyel, Paris (6:58)
8. Part VIII – Salle Pleyel, Paris (10:10)

CD 2

1. Part I – Royal Festival Hall, London (11:08)
2. Part II – Royal Festival Hall, London (8:10)
3. Part III – Royal Festival Hall, London (6:50)
4. Part IV – Royal Festival Hall, London (5:58)
5. Part V – Royal Festival Hall, London (10:34)
6. Part VI – Royal Festival Hall, London (6:52)

CD 3

1. Part VII – Royal Festival Hall, London (8:59)
2. Part VIII – Royal Festival Hall, London (8:00)
3. Part IX – Royal Festival Hall, London (3:55)
4. Part X – Royal Festival Hall, London (5:35)
5. Part XI – Royal Festival Hall, London (8:25)
6. Part XII – Royal Festival Hall, London (8:29)

The encores (“Over the Rainbow”, “Time on My Hands”, etc.) will apparently not be included.

According to Universal Music Classical, “in his liner notes, Jarrett gives a highly personal account of the music’s inspirational genesis, which is outstanding, even by his own high standards, with powerful emotions never far from the music’s surface.”

The album will be released in early October 2009 (e.g. October 2 in Germany and October 6 in the US).

Update (September 10, 2009). You can listen to samples from each track on Amazon Germany.

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