The Melody At Night, With You

Pianist Keith Jarrett is famous for his landmark The Koln Concert album, which documented a transcendent concert-length improvisation from 1975. He went on to become one of jazz’s most prolific, notable, and demanding solo musicians (both of himself and his audience), but he suffered a debilitating case of chronic fatigue syndrome in the late ‘90s. Recorded at his home studio as a Christmas present for his wife in late 1997, this will be remembered as the first steps of his return. We get a subtlety of touch, phrasing, and lyricism here. He digs deep into the melodies for tender readings of “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “I Loves You, Porgy,” and “Something to Remember You By.” Also included here are remarkably straight readings of the folk standards “My Wild Irish Rose” and “Shenandoah.” Newly remastered for iTunes, this new version only enhances the album's quiet beauty.