50 Years Of The Koln Concert

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20250114

Fifty years after Keith Jarrett performed the Köln Concert to a sell-out crowd, Kevin le Gendre explores the enduring appeal of the biggest selling solo piano record of all time, and unpicks a new musical language born out of adversity.

That night in January 1975 is full of stories - of Keith Jarrett's long journey, no food, poor sleep and arriving at the Cologne Opera House to find a broken piano. The concert was almost cancelled and the legendary recording beloved by millions nearly never happened. Yet could these problems be at the heart of the album's bewitching new sound world?

Multi Grammy award winner, Jacob Collier, sits at the piano to unpick Jarrett's evocative harmonies that have captured millions of hearts far beyond the jazz world. Writer Geoff Dyer applauds Jarrett's gorgeous lyricism and discusses the momentous achievement of improvising live for over an hour, not knowing what the first note would be. British jazz pianists Nikki Yeoh and Django Bates reflect on Jarrett's influence and tell stories of gigs where limitations lead to magic. And pianist Maki Namekawa, who now performs a transcription of The Köln Concert, shares peoples' stories of why they love to listen in some unique circumstances.

And in testament to the album's blockbuster success, we hear from a few of the many guests who have picked the Köln Concert on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.

Presenter: Kevin le Gendre

Producer: Erika Wright

Sound Mixing: Richard Courtice

Production Coordinator: Elisabeth Tuohy

Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar

A TellTale Industries production for BBC Radio 4

50 years since Keith Jarrett's K\u00f6ln Concert, Kevin le Gendre unpicks its enduring appeal.

Fifty years after Keith Jarrett's sold-out Köln Concert enthralled a crowd, Kevin le Gendre explores the album's enduring appeal.

[LISTEN NOW]

2025011420250221 (R4)

Fifty years after Keith Jarrett performed the Koln Concert to a sellout crowd, Kevin le Gendre explores the enduring appeal of the biggest selling solo piano record of all time, and unpicks a new musical language born out of adversity.

That night in January 1975 is full of stories - of Keith Jarrett's long journey, no food, poor sleep and arriving at the Cologne Opera House to find a broken piano. The concert was almost cancelled and the legendary recording beloved by millions nearly never happened. Yet could these problems be at the heart of the album's bewitching new sound world?

Multi Grammy award winner, Jacob Collier, sits at the piano to unpick Jarrett's evocative harmonies that have captured millions of hearts far beyond the jazz world. Writer Geoff Dyer applauds Jarrett's gorgeous lyricism and discusses the momentous achievement of improvising live for over an hour, not knowing what the first note would be. British jazz pianists Nikki Yeoh and Django Bates reflect on Jarrett's influence and tell stories of gigs where limitations lead to magic. And pianist Maki Namekawa, who now performs a transcription of The Koln Concert, shares peoples' stories of why they love to listen in some unique circumstances.

And in testament to the album's blockbuster success, we hear from a few of the many guests who have picked the Koln Concert on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.

Presenter: Kevin le Gendre

Producer: Erika Wright

Sound Mixing: Richard Courtice

Production Coordinator: Elisabeth Tuohy

Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar

A TellTale Industries production for BBC Radio 4

After 50 years of Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert Kevin le Gendre unpicks its enduring appeal

Fifty years after Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert enthralled a sellout crowd, Kevin le Gendre explores the album's enduring appeal and how a gig nearly cancelled led to a new sound world.

Fifty years after Keith Jarrett performed the Köln Concert to a sell-out crowd, Kevin le Gendre explores the enduring appeal of the biggest selling solo piano record of all time, and unpicks a new musical language born out of adversity.

Multi Grammy award winner, Jacob Collier, sits at the piano to unpick Jarrett's evocative harmonies that have captured millions of hearts far beyond the jazz world. Writer Geoff Dyer applauds Jarrett's gorgeous lyricism and discusses the momentous achievement of improvising live for over an hour, not knowing what the first note would be. British jazz pianists Nikki Yeoh and Django Bates reflect on Jarrett's influence and tell stories of gigs where limitations lead to magic. And pianist Maki Namekawa, who now performs a transcription of The Köln Concert, shares peoples' stories of why they love to listen in some unique circumstances.

And in testament to the album's blockbuster success, we hear from a few of the many guests who have picked the Köln Concert on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.

50 years since Keith Jarrett's K\u00f6ln Concert, Kevin le Gendre unpicks its enduring appeal.

Fifty years after Keith Jarrett's sold-out Köln Concert enthralled a crowd, Kevin le Gendre explores the album's enduring appeal.

[LISTEN NOW]

20250114

Fifty years after Keith Jarrett performed the Koln Concert to a sellout crowd, Kevin le Gendre explores the enduring appeal of the biggest selling solo piano record of all time, and unpicks a new musical language born out of adversity.

That night in January 1975 is full of stories - of Keith Jarrett's long journey, no food, poor sleep and arriving at the Cologne Opera House to find a broken piano. The concert was almost cancelled and the legendary recording beloved by millions nearly never happened. Yet could these problems be at the heart of the album's bewitching new sound world?

Multi Grammy award winner, Jacob Collier, sits at the piano to unpick Jarrett's evocative harmonies that have captured millions of hearts far beyond the jazz world.

Writer Geoff Dyer applauds Jarrett's gorgeous lyricism and discusses the momentous achievement of improvising live for over an hour, not knowing what the first note would be. Also, British jazz pianists Nikki Yeoh and Django Bates reflect on Jarrett's influence and tell stories of gigs where limitations lead to magic

And in testament to the album's blockbuster success, we hear from a few of the many guests who have picked the Koln Concert on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.

Presenter: Kevin le Gendre

Producer: Erika Wright

Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar

A TellTale Industries production for BBC Radio 4

After 50 years of Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert Kevin le Gendre unpicks its enduring appeal

50 years after Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert enthralled a sellout crowd Kevin le Gendre explores the album's enduring appeal and how a gig nearly cancelled led to a new sound world.

New arts feature for Radio 4

[LISTEN NOW]