La Scala (Live)

For this live solo concert (recorded at the Teatro alla Scala in Milano, Italy, and released in 1997), pianist Keith Jarrett performs two lengthy improvisations simply titled "La Scala, Pt. 1" and "La Scala, Pt. 2." Most of the music is quite lyrical and romantic. The first part (which lasted nearly 45 minutes) does have a section using a droning rhythm reminiscent of American Indian music before resolving back into a ballad. The second section (a mere 27 and a half minutes) starts out dissonant, gradually evolves into a peaceful section, and then concludes with the original dissonant ideas. As an encore, Jarrett performs a melodic and very beautiful six-minute rendition of "Over the Rainbow," receiving a well-deserved thunderous ovation at its conclusion. The music overall develops slowly but always holds the listener's interest, reinforcing one's viewpoint of Keith Jarrett as one of the top pianists of the 1980s and '90s.