Köln 75 is now available on streaming services such as Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

Keith Jarrett’s legendary performance in January 1975 nearly didn’t happen. Conceived and orchestrated by the efforts of a teenage concert promoter, Vera Brandes, she convinced Jarrett to perform when the Bösendorfer Imperial Grand piano he was promised was nowhere to be found. “Köln 75” joyfully captures this unknown backstory that gave us the best-selling solo album in jazz history.

Thanks to Nate for the information.

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Jack DeJohnette, versatile jazz drummer known for Miles Davis fusion recordings, dies aged 83

Jack DeJohnette, the jazz drummer celebrated as one of the genre’s true greats – who worked with stars including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Charles Lloyd – has died aged 83. A press representative for ECM, the record label that released many of his recordings, confirmed the news, while his personal assistant added that he died from congestive heart failure.

Jack’s connection with Keith goes back to the late 1960s. They first played together in Charles Lloyd’s quartet in 1966-68, then again with Miles Davis in 1970-71, and later formed Keith’s long-running trio with Gary Peacock, from 1983 to 2014.

Thanks for all the music, Jack.

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This was announced in April 2025, but I missed it at the time, so thanks to David for letting me know that The Köln Concert is “among the 25 audio works chosen this year to join the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, which preserves works deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” that are at least 10 years old.”

The New York Times has an article about some of the works included in the registry this year.

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To mark the 50^th anniversary of The Köln Concert, the WDR Funkhausorchester has released Memories Of Tomorrow – The New Köln Concert, a 12-movement orchestral tribute based on Jarrett’s motifs. Composed by Bernd Wilden and pianist Stephan Görg, the performance was recorded live in Cologne on February 21, 2025.

Thanks Helmut for the link.

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The trailer for Köln 75, a film about the story behind The Köln Concert, is now available. Directed by Ido Fluk, it follows Vera Brandes and the challenges leading up to Keith Jarrett’s 1975 performance. The film premieres at the Berlinale.

Thanks David for the link.

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