A Multitude of Angels

A Multitude of Angels is a four-CD collection of solo piano performances by Keith Jarrett recorded in Italy in October 1996 and released by ECM Records twenty years later.

A Multitude of Angels
Live album by
Keith Jarrett
ReleasedNovember 4, 2016
RecordedOctober 23–30, 1996
VenueModena, Ferrara, Torino, and Genova, Italy
Length4:57:06
LabelECM, 2500-03
ProducerKeith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett chronology
Creation
(2014)		 A Multitude of Angels
(2016)		 After the Fall
(2018)
Keith Jarrett solo piano chronology
La Scala
(1995)		 A Multitude of Angels
(1996)		 The_Melody at Night, with You
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
DownBeat[2]
The Guardian[3]
The Irish Times[4]
Financial Times[5]
PopMatters[6]
Stereophile [performance][7]
The Times[8]

According to ECM, these performances document "the conclusion of Keith Jarrett's experiments with long-form improvisation in performances" and, as Jarrett explains in his liner notes, these were his last concerts with no breaks within each set.[9]

Music and recording

The music comes from four concerts recorded in Italy: in Modena, Ferrara, Torino, and Genova, on October 23, 25, 28, and 30, 1996, respectively.[2] Jarrett recorded the concerts himself on a DAT machine.[2] Each consists of one performance without breaks; these were among the last times that Jarrett took this approach to performance.[2] After the concerts, he withdrew from playing in public, because of chronic fatigue syndrome.[2]

Release and reception

A Multitude of Angels was released by ECM Records on November 4, 2016.[9] John Fordham of The Guardian commented that, "Jarrett has always favoured exhaustive documentation, but the intensity, variety, and astonishing technical command of these performances might well persuade devoted fans and intrigued improv enthusiasts alike of his view that these were landmark moments".[3]

John Garratt of PopMatters wrote that, "The four-disc box set A Multitude of Angels is the new turning point in Jarrett's career where he pushed himself too hard. His temporary illness is our gain. [...It] tells the music world what Keith Jarrett fans already knew – that the man could be an endless fountain of music, a one-man jam-band that only needed 88 keys to balance the Law of Fate with the Law of Accident (according to his liner notes). Since that's the case, this box will not alter anyone's perception of Jarrett or change his reputation overall."[6]

Track listing
Disc one: Recorded in Modena on October 23, 1996 – Teatro Comunale
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Part I"Keith Jarrett34:18
2."Part II"Keith Jarrett31:19
3."Danny Boy"Frederic Weatherly5:00
Total length:1:10:37
Disc two: Recorded in Ferrara on October 25, 1996 – Teatro Comunale
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Part I"Keith Jarrett43:48
2."Part II"Keith Jarrett29:58
3."Encore"Keith Jarrett3:26
Total length:1:17:12
Disc three: Recorded in Torino on October 28, 1996 – Teatro Regio
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Part I"Keith Jarrett42:23
2."Part II"Keith Jarrett31:35
Total length:1:13:58
Disc four: Recorded in Genova on October 30, 1996 – Teatro Carlo Felice
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Part I"Keith Jarrett31:41
2."Part II"Keith Jarrett31:43
3."Encore"Keith Jarrett5:52
4."Over the Rainbow"E.Y. Harburg & Harold Arlen6:03
Total length:1:15:19
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References
  1. Jurek, Thom. "Keith Jarrett: A Multitude of Angels". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  2. Oullette, Dan (February 2017) "Jarrett's Pivotal Moment". DownBeat. p. 80.
  3. Fordham, John (November 10, 2016) "Keith Jarrett: A Multitude of Angels Review – A Career Pinnacle". The Guardian.
  4. Larkin, Cormac (November 8, 2016). "Keith Jarrett - A Multitude of Angels album review: a master at the pinnacle of his powers". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  5. Hobart, Mike (December 2, 2016). "Keith Jarrett: A Multitude of Angels – review". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  6. Garratt, John (16 December 2016). "Keith Jarrett: A Multitude of Angels". popmatters.com. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  7. Lehnert, Richard (15 December 2016). "Recording of January 2017: A Multitude of Angels". Stereophile. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  8. Bungey, John (2 December 2016). "Jazz: Keith Jarrett: A Multitude of Angels". The Times. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  9. ECM Records Keith Jarrett: A Multitude of Angels accessed May 26, 2020
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