In January 1975, piano virtuoso Keith Jarrett played in Koln, Germany, an improvised concert which became one of the biggest selling solo jazz records of all time, selling over 4 million copies.
That the concert got off to the worst possible start helps explain its legendary status. The notoriously perfectionist Jarrett had asked for a grand piano. However, the organisers mistakenly ordered a baby grand that was in poor condition. Moreover, Jarrett arrived exhausted from an epic drive and suffering back pains. On seeing the baby grand he initially refused to play but was eventually persuaded. Despite or perhaps because of so many difficulties, he gave the performance of a lifetime.
50 years on from this iconic concert, pianist Scott Flanigan, founder of Scott’s Jazz Club and one of the most in-demand keyboardists on the Irish jazz scene, pays tribute to this seminal concert on a grand piano in one of Belfast’s most atmospheric venues, St Joseph’s church in Sailortown.
The second half of this concert will feature Scott in a rare duo format with celebrated harpist Gráinne Meyer.
Two different worlds collide in this concert - jazz piano with traditional harp, resulting in uplifting, thought-provoking and well-crafted music by two musicians at the height of their powers.
Scott Flanigan is one of the foremost keyboard players in Ireland. He performs regularly across the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Germany, and has recently performed with Van Morrison, the Ulster Orchestra, Larry Coryell, Jean Toussaint, Jim Mullen and Linley Hamilton. As a leader, Scott successfully tours his own contemporary piano trio, as well as a hard-swinging organ quartet. He also runs the successful Scott’s Jazz Club in East Belfast, a weekly jazz club bringing the best in Irish jazz to local audiences.
Harpist and Pianist Gráinne Meyer has recently completed a postgraduate diploma in classical and Irish traditional music at the TU Dublin conservatoire of music, receiving tuition from Cliona Doris, Denise Kelly and Gráinne Hambly. She previously received an honours music degree from the University of York, where she was awarded the Thomas Beecham scholarship.
