Staircase (album)


Staircase is the fourth solo piano album released on ECM by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett. It features Jarrett performing four solo piano "suites" recorded in the studio in May 1976.
Jarrett and producer Manfred Eicher had arrived at Studio Davout in Paris to record a soundtrack to Michèle Rosier's film Mon cœur est rouge. Finishing early with several hours of studio time left and impressed by the quality of the studio's piano, they spontaneously decided to record this album.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Richard S. Ginell awarded the album 4 stars, stating, "One can always admire Jarrett's lovely tone and flexible touch, yet when he gets stuck for ideas, the repetitions finally begin to grate. Maybe he really needs the stimulus of a live audience in order to get the creative and rhythmic juices flowing when flying solo.".

Track listing

Staircase:
  1. "Part 1" - 6:57
  2. "Part 2" - 7:58
  3. "Part 3" - 1:25
Hourglass:
  1. "Part 1" - 4:42
  2. "Part 2" - 14:03
Sundial:
  1. "Part 1" - 8:57
  2. "Part 2" - 4:55
  3. "Part 3" - 6:27
Sand:
  1. "Part 1" - 6:54
  2. "Part 2" - 8:48
  3. "Part 3" - 3:21

    Personnel