Staircase is a solo double album by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett recorded in May 1976 and released on ECM the following year.
Background Jarrett and producer Manfred Eicher had arrived at Studio Davout in Paris to record a soundtrack to Michèle Rosier's film Mon cœur est rouge (French: "My Heart Is Red").Mon cœur est rouge at Internet Movie Database accessed March 28, 2016 Finishing early with several hours of studio time left and impressed by the quality of the studio's piano, they spontaneously decided to record this album.Ian Carr, Keith Jarrett: The Man and His Music page 93
Reception
The AllMusic review by Richard S. Ginell states, "One can always admire Jarrett's lovely tone and flexible touch, yet when he gets stuck for ideas, the repetitions finally begin to grate. Maybe he really needs the stimulus of a live audience in order to get the creative and rhythmic juices flowing when flying solo."Ginell, R. Allmusic Review accessed September 16, 2011
Jarrett biographer Wolfgang Sandner called the album "an impressive study in sound" and an "unbelievable synthesis of sonic art", and commented: "There is no other Keith Jarrett recording that comes so close to achieving the pianistic ideal of lyricism as does this astounding album."
Track listing
Personnel
Musician Keith Jarrett – piano
Technical personnel Manfred Eicher – producer Roger Roche – recording engineer Barbara Wojirsch – layout, cover design Franco Fontana – photography
References