Question and Answer

Pat, Have you ever recorded Jarrett's "The Windup"? A number of years ago I caught the end of a radio broadcast of a concert. You played it, I was too slow at finding a blank cassette. It was a real cooker! Thanks! Come back to Indy soon!

hi jeff,

it's true that we used to play that piece. i feel that keith is one of the greatest composers of our time, and i wish his music was played more - it offers something really special that you just can't find anywhere else, and there are not a lot of contemporary jazz composers you can say that about. you rarely see people play his music, mostly because it is quite difficult, and also i think because it is very personal and requires a real specific way of improvising that includes everything that a great bebop or standards improviser must have in hand, but must be willing to check at the door to get those tunes to sound specifically like what those tunes demand. in this sense, he reminds me a lot of monk. as much as i love his standards playing and his improvising in a free solo format, i really miss those great 8 or 10 tunes a year that he used to dish out via his amazing quartet records. to me, as well known as he is, he remains seriously underrated as a composer. that tune is really a gem, and totally unique.