By the time German radio captured this live set at NDR Funkhaus in 1972, Keith Jarrett had been playing with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian for six years. Their first recording together was on 1967's Life Between the Exit Signs, followed by El Juicio with Dewey Redman (from which two of the pieces here are drawn), and Mourning of a Star, both from 1971. Jarrett collectors will note that this performance was issued some years ago as a wholly inferior-sounding bootleg sandwiched between 1974 New York sessions with different personnel, blunting its considerable impact. This ECM presentation sounds as clean, balanced, and full as is possible considering the original broadcast source. It showcases this trio in full power and in possession of an astonishing rapport. The date commences with Jarrett's solo intro to the ballad "Rainbow," briefly quoting from "Moon River" and other songs before the rhythm section kicks in, already anticipating where he will go. Motian is swinging off the backbeat while Haden first walks, then punctuates, the pianist's phrases. From the very outset this moves from mere timekeeping to extraordinary post-bop interplay. Piano, bells, and bass introduce the ballad "Everything That Lives Laments," but Haden claims the center. His harmonic solo with intermittent strummed chords creates the ground for Jarrett's flutes to offer a wide-ranging, folk-like melody. Motian's spectral percussion creates space and dimension. "Piece for Ornette," on which the pianist plays soprano saxophone, uses its subjects' notion of simple, repetitive melody as a jumping-off point for spiraling improvisation to move through bop, modal, and free playing. The blistering pace that Motian and Haden set almost provokes Jarrett to take the music further outside. He responds in kind and the conversation with the rhythm section is spectacular. "Take Me Back" is a groove-laden exercise in funky gospel and soul-jazz extrapolated to the breaking point but

1		Rainbow
2		Everything That Lives Laments
3		Piece For Ornette
4		Take Me Back
5		Life, Dance
6		Song For Che

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