Product Review

A specially priced coupling of two shows by the Jarrett trio filmed live in Tokyo in 1993 and 1996. The material was previously released as single DVDs but has been now out of print for several years. The discs were originally issued, separately, as Live At Open Theater East 1993 and Trio Concert 1996. The 1993 set is an open air concert that tackles a large slice of jazz history from "Basin Street Blues" to Sonny Rollins' "Oleo", Jarrett's own "The Cure" and much more. "Solar/Extension" is a characteristically creative sequence - 26 minutes long! - which spins Miles Davis's "Solar" into a marvellous improvisation led by Jarrett. The 1996 date is the filmed footage that corresponds to the trio's "Tokyo `96" CD but adds extra material - including a glowing "All The Things You Are" and a jaunty account of Ray Bryant's "Tonk". Amongst the DVD's highlights, a beautiful performance of "My Funny Valentine", leading into Jarrett's own "Song".