| LearnJazzPiano.com archives: wow i think keith jarrett was such a jerk... | |
| nate_smith -- 07/15/2007, 20:02:50 -- #35871 | |
| Perugia Incident On July 10, 2007, Keith Jarrett began a concert in Perugia, Italy with the following speech[1][2]: "I don’t speak Italian, but I hope that somebody who speaks English tell those assholes to shut off those fucking cameras. Until you don’t do it, music won’t be at its best and you will have spent your money for nothing. I’m speaking to you, you, you, and you, and also you up there. If I see one single flash during the concert, I and Gary and Jack reserve to ourselves the right to stop playing and leave this goddamn city. It’s your privilege to be here, not mine." In response, the Umbria Jazz Festival announced it would never invite Jarrett to perform again.[3] [edit]Media ------------ i was just reading about some of his history on wikipeida, and i never relized that he was such a pertensious jerk. i love his music and he is one of the biggest influences on my playing, but i don't wanna look up to someone who is such a premadonna. he doesn't serve music, he force music to serve him. nate | |
| CynBad -- 07/15/2007, 20:32:44 -- #35871 | |
| LMAO That is just SO Keith Jarrett. But believe me, you will meet plenty of artists lacking in EQ. Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. You can respect Jarrett's musicianship and learn from him without liking or respecting him as a person. Yeah, he's an odd one, but I love his playing. | |
| superp9 -- 07/15/2007, 23:33:19 -- #35871 | |
| HAHA!!! Oh man! That is so funny, I can't even describe it with text. It's so satisfying because I don't even like his music (although I will admit that he is a brilliant piano player). Wow, talk about not even giving people a chance to like. I actually have a friend who is trying to learn how to be an asshole because he thinks it will land him more girls...I should just hand him this quote. | |
| knotty -- 07/16/2007, 07:29:39 -- #35871 | |
| Totally with Cynbad on this one. It goes back to musicians with big egos. Read some of Keith Jarrett's words on his CDs. The guy's obviously from a different planet. Yet he touches me more than most, and that's really all I care about ... | |
| Mike -- 07/16/2007, 10:57:26 -- #35871 | |
| Well ya... where do you draw the line... I have never had much respect for junkies. So... Charlie Parker, Bill Evans, Billie Holliday... Should I stop respecting their music because I do not respect the personal lives they had? That would mean i would have to stop respecting almost every major Jazz musician in History. So my inclination would be to not care whether Keith Jarretts ego gets out of hand or not. I still think he is the better command of the piano than any other pianist performing today. To my knowledge he is not a junkie either. | |
| jmkarns -- 07/16/2007, 12:24:25 -- #35871 | |
| There are usually eight sides to every story. What pushed the man to this point? How close were the flash bulbs? Was the audience warned ahead of time? Was this a papparrazzi moment? | |
| jwv76 -- 07/16/2007, 22:02:41 -- #35871 | |
| Well, there's no two sides about referring to the place you're playing as "this goddamn city." That's insulting the whole audience, not just the people taking pictures. | |
| tune -- 07/17/2007, 08:55:28 -- #35871 | |
| Didn't he have a problem with Wynton Marsarlis' music too? What was that all about? Too traditional for him? He gets out there too. | |
| Scot -- 07/17/2007, 12:25:47 -- #35871 | |
| I'll bet dealing with Italy for a few days would piss any foreigner off :) | |
| DrJazz -- 07/17/2007, 16:53:46 -- #35871 | |
| KJ is renowned for getting paranoid about cameras and recording gadgets in the audience. I think it's become an obcession with him. He made a similar speech (although not so insulting) when he played in London some years ago. Supposedly the flashes spoil his concentration. There's no excuse for insulting your audience, or for making comments like 'this goddamn city'. However, I do believe KJ is different to most other people. He's just on another level, which is one of the things which makes his playing so special. Unfortunately it also makes it very hard for him to deal with conditions that to other people are 'normal'. I used to think he was real poser too, with all the groaning and contorting. Now I think he HAS to behave like this in order to play the way he does - it's not an act. After reading his biography by Ian Carr I felt I understood him a lot better. Perhaps all geniuses are assholes? Charlie Parker certainly knew how to behave like one. It doesn't make their music any less good though. | |
| jazzvirtuoso -- 07/17/2007, 22:42:24 -- #35871 | |
| I can't stand Jarret are the terrible squeaks he makes while playing. :( I find no intrest in his playing. Absolutley NONE!!!!!!!!! Seriously, if someone were to give me a ticket to his concert(i certainly wouldn't buy one) I'd throw it away. Most all of his interviews reeks of a pretentious asshole. Personally, I can't see what all the clamour is about, but to each his own. JV' | |
| CynBad -- 07/18/2007, 08:59:03 -- #35871 | |
| His playing is devine -- he's a musician's musician, a fantastic pianist. BUT, he does NOT need to do those contortions and make those ridiculous sounds to play that way. Lots of other great artists don't do that sh#t. Yes, he's a pretentious prima donna and it DOES mar his performances, in my opinion. I prefer to hear him on recordings, and I wish I had some kind of digital filter to remove his voice. And PLEASE don't say that "geniuses" (stop using that word, too) all act like a-holes. It's not true. Some of the greatest artists are some of the nicest, most gracious, ego-less people you will ever meet. Have you ever met Horace Silver? | |
| JHMurray -- 07/18/2007, 10:46:56 -- #35871 | |
| Oh, that Keith! I reckon chronic fatigue can make anyone grouchy after so long. I once heard from someone who saw him live that he stopped in the middle of a tune because someone in the audience was coughing. He proceeded to reprimand the offender. I still have always loved his music. As far as his squirming and moaning, I sort of suspect it started out as kind of a put-on, but became a habit over time. Now he can't help it. Seeing his old videos with Miles, etc., it looks more like theatrics, compared to recent performances. But I don't know or care that much. And by the way, not all geniuses or great musicians are jerks. McCoy Tyner is one of the nicest guys in the business. | |
| Whacky -- 07/18/2007, 11:23:25 -- #35871 | |
| and not all jerks are geniuses :) | |
| Mike -- 07/18/2007, 22:57:02 -- #35871 | |
| Then again in the late seventies at a concert he was giving in Amherst Massachusetts McCoy Tyner said "White men can't Swing". Then he proceeded to play like a mother fucker. | |
| jazzvirtuoso -- 07/19/2007, 01:52:17 -- #35871 | |
| White men can't Swing Wow, i cant imagine McCoy saying something like that... JV' | |
| MoJazz -- 07/19/2007, 03:34:36 -- #35871 | |
| Sheesh, Keith Jarrett being nice to his audience? I wonder if Jack and Gary really feel the same way he does, despite what he told the crowd. Anyways, Jarrett does like to sing and has a special offer for his fans who really like his singing. Clonk on the link below and enjoy! ;-} http://www.planetcanadice.com/Skits/KJOffer.mp3 | |
| CynBad -- 07/19/2007, 12:48:40 -- #35871 | |
| JV, all kinds of people say bigoted crap like that all the time. Sometimes they're just kidding; sometimes not. Whatever. I'm used to it by now. You just have to put on blinders and do your own thing. | |
| nate_smith -- 07/19/2007, 15:38:03 -- #35871 | |
| mo jazz. i love that clip!!! that is so freakin' HILARIOUS!!!!!!! i thought i was gonna piss myself | |
| DrJazz -- 07/26/2007, 16:20:32 -- #35871 | |
| I didn't mean to imply that all geniuses are assholes! But I think sometimes the pressure of being so different to other people can lead some of them in that direction... I agree that both McCoy Tyner and Horace Silver are some of the nicest guys you could meet. I've been lucky enough to perform opposite both of them (and talk with them over dinner before the gig) and they were both charming. But that doesn't mean that on a different occasion they might not have behaved differently. The pressures connected with being on the road for weeks on end can really get to you. Miles Davis used to say a lot of bad things about white musicians. But that didn't stop him hiring John McLaughlin, Joe Zawinul, Bill Evans (the pianist AND the sax player!), Keith Jarrett, etc, etc. Maybe black musicians do this stuff as a way of getting back for something racist that was said to them by a white person. Cynbad is right - you just have to ignore this kind of BS and get on with playing music, which transcends everything in the end... | |
| Mike -- 07/26/2007, 21:35:13 -- #35871 | |
| I get impatient with peeps who do not understand K jarrets vocalizations. But gotta admit that link is very funny M Jazz. | |
| jmkarns -- 07/31/2007, 12:17:00 -- #35871 | |
| Futher thoughts about Mr. Keith Jarrett. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=26493 | |
| nate_smith -- 07/31/2007, 18:00:51 -- #35871 | |
| thats was well said! i'm glad that someone stood and said something. i REALLY LOVE the music Keith Jarrett produces, but with an attitude I can enjoy his playing soley from my radio, and never seek him out as a player and watch one of his shows. | |
| Mike -- 08/01/2007, 00:04:36 -- #35871 | |
| On the other hand..........Or on the flip side. Keith Jarrett is such a great pianist and such an important pianist in he history of Jazz piano I do not really care if some people were insulted by his behavior in one concert and did not get an encore. Too bad... better make sure no one is taking pictures while he is playing next time huh?Or dont go to any more of his concerts anymore... he does not care and neither do I. His Greatness is established and a fact for all time accepted by all great Jazz players and already recorded in all credible jazz history books. | |
| Mike -- 08/01/2007, 00:08:52 -- #35871 | |
| Oh i guess I am an A hole for saying that... U know what.. I do not care... Dont go to anymore of my performances either. I am almost fifty years old. I have given enough. I dont feel I have to prove anything else. I never became famous but I made a living at it. I played with some great players. I dont care either. I am no Keith Jarrett but I do not care if people like what I say and do either. So I can relate.Dont go to my performances anymore... Dont read my threads anymore... Who cares. | |
| Brotherdavies -- 08/01/2007, 07:53:25 -- #35871 | |
| Listen to Oscar Petersons solo recording of Someone to Watch Over Me -and listen to Jarrets. I can't listen to Oscars busy version but I could listen to Jarrats all day! | |
| jazzvirtuoso -- 08/01/2007, 23:23:54 -- #35871 | |
| Surely you arent comparing Jarret to Oscar. Oscar could rip Keith Jarret a new one even after his stroke. And Mike man, please tell me when your next gig is so I can remember not to go. :) Otherwise call it what it is, being insensitive to your audience is non-professional, arrogant, immature, rude, unthankful and self-defeating behaviour. And if your point is that he can act any way he wants cuz he's the Great Keith Jarret Virtuoso-Genius then you might as well apply that arguement to anyone... So if a police stops and pulls you over because you ran a red light, does that give him the right to snatch you out of your car and beat the living hell out of you? Mike your arugument is illogical at best and insulting to say the least. BTW when did you say your concert was again? JV' | |
| CynBad -- 08/02/2007, 08:56:56 -- #35871 | |
| JV, hey! Lay off of Mike! Mike is a funny guy! I'm a Mike fan ;-) And, I've got to agree with brotherdavies... I prefer the Jarrett version of just about ANYTHING over the Oscar version... Different strokes for different folks... | |
| MoJazz -- 08/02/2007, 14:34:40 -- #35871 | |
| Here's the vid of Keith's "speech" at the Umbria Jazz Festival. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB9mMABRM0c&NR=1 IMO, I think he was really irritated that the fans were still taking pictures. I know when I went to see Jarrett (and other shows) that a warning is printed on the ticket and when you enter the venue that cameras and recorders are prohibited. And, quite possibly the person introducing the trio may have also inform the crowd about this. However, you still have some fans that ignore the warnings and continue to take pics and record (that's how we got this clip at youtube!!) So, Keith just pissed on the crowd with rude and derogatory statements. Yet,I think he crossed_the_line with his comment about the city of Perugia. | |
| Mike -- 08/03/2007, 12:40:27 -- #35871 | |
| listen to Mr Roberts solo on Someone to Watch Over Me. He kung fues both Keith and Oscar. Chop Chop they were kung Fu fighting. Oscar never stood a chance because he only had one hand working because of a stroke. Keith was totally lost because he is kind of femine and has fatigue syndrome and makes weird nasal sounds with every chop, So Mr Robers Kicks karate A even though he is dead. Who cares what Keith said at a Concert? oops apparently some of you folks... If you showed me an old video of Charlie Parker all messed up on heroin and booze saying nasty things to an audience ( odds are it must have happened with someone abusing drugs and alcohol to that extent) do you think that would stop me from having my students study the omnibook? not! What about Miles playing with his back to the Audience. Fact is audiences often suck three cheers to Keith for having the cajoles to speak to them with nasty words! I never have had the balls to do it myself when they deseverved it. I was always to woried about paying the rent | |
| Mike -- 08/03/2007, 17:14:11 -- #35871 | |
| If only more of us would learn from Mr Jarrett about how to tell our audiences just exactly where it is they should go. | |
| jazzvirtuoso -- 08/03/2007, 21:59:08 -- #35871 | |
| Actually, you've took the conversation/disccusion to another level, when you threw in the kung-fu stuff. Because the focus here is not/should not really be about competiton or to the subtle refference to see who could be more demeaning, you almost fooled me that time, lol. Speaking of conversations isn't that what your doing when you go to play for someone? Please advise, how can you communicate with someone when you are debasing them all at the same time? The reverse however is not true, the audience came to hear mr Jarrett, the oneus is on him to communicate firstly and foremostly by doing what he gets paid to do which is playing. He (Mr Jarret) preemptied that with his devaulating, insulting, and vulgar language. See, the problem is not that keith was upset about the camera's, it was the way he handled the problem that caused the outrage. Thats not to say that he couldn't/ shouldn't have tried to explain his position, its just that the method's he used were quite unprofessional. Now, besides that, I find your view insulting in that it almost assumes that you are the only one here who has experinced a rude audience, quite a few of us here are pros (I stop playing pro 2 years ago). Everyone worth their salt has had to endure these type's of crowd's to varying degree's. If I applied your methods elsewhere I would have slapped quite a few grocery store clerks out a long time ago, or ran other drivers off the road. But just because you can do something doesnt mean that you should take advangtage of and abuse your power. Otherwise, I'm through with this conversation (if that what it was even to begin with). :) Later' JV' | |
| Mike -- 08/03/2007, 22:26:01 -- #35871 | |
| well yah I think it was a discussion. The value of it like many discussions certainly could be debated. So sorry I insulted you...lol, not. Really if you took anything I said personally thats quite a stretch and or maybe just quite an ego to think I was talking about you in particular so much that you would be insulted. I never meant to imply that I thought no one else here has performed in public... I am well aware that many if not most have. What I am saying is that many if not most are like me and have not told your audiences where to go before when they have desevered it. Oh geez we are going to end this thread now???? I was just starting to enjoy it. | |
| jazzvirtuoso -- 08/03/2007, 23:02:02 -- #35871 | |
| Ok, now were getting somewhere... There are about five or more different ideas running in this thread: 1. Is keith Jarret an asshole? 2. Should you be able to tell you audience to go to hell? 3. Genius is devine, and genius's should be held to different standards and allowed to do and say certain things beyond those with lesser talent. 4. Audiences should give their full and complete attention and particpation at musical venues. 5. Will I be attending your next concert? :) JV' | |
| Scot -- 08/05/2007, 11:22:20 -- #35871 | |
| Personally, the bottom line to me is the fact that the only person that has to be at a Keith Jarrett concert is Keith Jarrett. No one else has to be there, so why complain? If someone pays to see him play, they either know what they are in for, or they haven't done their homework and get what they deserve. | |
| nate_smith -- 08/05/2007, 20:02:31 -- #35871 | |
| ACTUALLY Scot I don't believe any concert goer deserves to be treated like that. Music is a unverisal art form and should understood as such. I don't believe that you Jarrett has a right to talk to his audiences like that. One of the biggest rules I've learned from professionals is not to be an asshole because you lose gigs. And Jarrett lost that gig; didn't he? I just think that having a little more respect for the music is whats needed here. You said it yourself that Music choose us. Therefore, doesn't that make us servants of it. Just my thoughts Nate | |
| jazzvirtuoso -- 08/05/2007, 20:13:03 -- #35871 | |
| ACTUALLY Scot I don't believe any concert goer deserves to be treated like that. Music is a unverisal art form and should understood as such. I don't believe that you Jarrett has a right to talk to his audiences like that. One of the biggest rules I've learned from professionals is not to be an asshole because you lose gigs. And Jarrett lost that gig; didn't he? I just think that having a little more respect for the music is whats needed here. You said it yourself that Music choose us. Therefore, doesn't that make us servants of it. Just my thoughts Nate Amen, brother nate! To me its not rocket science, but if someone wants to pay to hear Jarrett talk to them like an ass i guess it is their bussiness. I cant stand his grunts, and i'm not that crazy about his playing either, so I know it wont be me. later JV' | |
| Mike -- 08/10/2007, 00:08:26 -- #35871 | |
| Ill take your tix anytime man. | |
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