Keith Jarrett

Keith Jarrett (born May 8, 1945 in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is considered one of the most important jazz pianists. His career started as a keyboardist for Art Blakey, Charles

Keith Jarrett (born May 8, 1945 in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is considered one of the most important jazz pianists. His career started as a keyboardist for Art Blakey, Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s, he has enjoyed a great deal of success in both classical and jazz music, as a group leader and a solo performer. His improvisation technique combines not only jazz, but also other forms of music, especially classical, gospel, blues, and various ethnic-folk musics.

Born on Victory in Europe Day (the day the Allies celebrated victory in Europe following World War II), Jarrett grew up in Allentown with significant exposure to music. In his teens, he learned jazz, quickly becoming proficient. He moved from Allentown to Boston, where he attended the Berklee School of Music and played cocktail piano. After about a year in Boston, Jarrett moved to New York City, where he played at the renowned Village Vanguard club. While in New York, Art Blakey hired him to play with his Jazz Messengers band, and he subsequently became a member of the Charles Lloyd Quartet (a group which included Jack DeJohnette, a frequent musical partner throughout Jarrett's career). The Lloyd quartet's 1966 album Forest Flower was one of the most successful jazz recordings of the late sixties. Jarrett also started to record as a leader at this time, in a trio with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian.