This is a strangely moving and disturbing document in the long discography of
Keith Jarrett: a solo piano album recorded in his rural New Jersey home studio in 1998 at a time when he was reportedly suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. In stark contrast to his other solo albums, this one consists of short, simple, straightforward interpretations of ballads, songs in the public domain, and one very pretty original ("Meditation"), all taken at funereal tempi with hardly any virtuoso flourishes. Scattered amidst the assortment of standards like "Someone to Watch Over Me," "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good," and "I Loves You Porgy" are nostalgic throwbacks like the hoary old "My Wild Irish Rose" (he plays the tune absolutely straight) and even the
Mario Lanza hit "Be My Love." Sad as it is to say under the circumstances, these performances lack color, contrast and life; and while you pull for
Jarrett to summon the energy to make music again, the results are touching for a while but soon pall. Also in contrast to
Manfred Eicher's usual sonic standard at
ECM, the sound is dull and lacking in luster, though some listeners might find that it gives the album a certain homey charm. ~ Richard S. Ginell