Keith Jarrett born May 8, is an American pianist and composer. Since the early s, he has also been a group leader and solo performer in jazz , jazz fusion , and classical music. His improvisations draw from the traditions of jazz and other genres, including Western classical music, gospel , blues , and ethnic folk music.
In , Jarrett received the Polar Music Prize and was the first recipient to be recognized with prizes for both contemporary and classical music. In February , Jarrett suffered a stroke and has been unable to perform since. A second stroke in May left him partially paralyzed and unable to play with his left hand. Jarrett was born on May 8, , in Allentown, Pennsylvania , [ 1 ] to a mother of Slovenian descent.
Jarrett possesses absolute pitch and displayed prodigious musical talents as a young child. He began piano lessons before his third birthday. At age five, he appeared on a television talent program hosted by swing bandleader Paul Whiteman. Jarrett attended Emmaus High School in Emmaus, Pennsylvania , where he learned jazz and became proficient in it. He developed a strong interest in contemporary jazz , and was inspired by a Dave Brubeck performance he attended in New Hope.
Jarrett's appearance on the Messengers' live album Buttercorn Lady marked his commercial recording debut. The tour also laid the foundation for a lasting musical bond with DeJohnette. Jarrett began to record his own tracks as a leader of small groups at first in a trio with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian. Life Between the Exit Signs , his first album as a band leader, was released by Vortex followed by Restoration Ruin , which Thom Jurek of AllMusic wrote was "a curiosity in his catalog".
Unusually, he also sings. After Corea left in , Jarrett often played electric piano and organ simultaneously. Jarrett has often cited Davis as a vital musical and personal influence on his own thinking about music and improvisation. His keyboard playing features prominently on Live-Evil and he plays electric organ on Get Up with It.
