The Old Country: More From The Deer Head Inn

Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Paul Motian (ECM)

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The Old Country: More From The Deer Head Inn
by Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Paul Motian
Label: ECM Records
Recorded: September 16, 1992
Release Date: November 8, 2024

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The impending release of The Old Country: More From The Deer Head Inn offers a new glimpse into a legendary night from 1992, when Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Paul Motian came together in a rare, one-time-only performance at the Deer Head Inn. For anyone who loves Jazz, this is more than just another archival release. It is an unexpected window into the trio’s singular chemistry, bringing to light previously unheard pieces from a performance that has already attained near-mythical status.

Recorded in the intimate confines of the historic Deer Head Inn, nestled in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, the album revisits a storied chapter in Jazz history. Jarrett, who had first performed at the venue as a 16-year-old in 1961, returned to its stage three decades later, bringing together two long-time collaborators for a night that still echoes in Jazz lore. It’s an evening captured with all the warmth and spontaneity that characterizes great live Jazz: no promotion, word-of-mouth buzz, and a packed house of listeners both inside and straining to hear from the porch outside.

What makes The Old Country so special is that it documents the only occasion on which these three titans—Jarrett on piano, Peacock on bass, and Motian on drums—performed together as a trio. The interplay between them is nothing short of revelatory, weaving through standards with a kind of ease that belies the deep history each musician brings to the table. On The Old Country, Jarrett, Peacock, and Motian craft a rare and intimate dialogue, their shared history and instinctive rapport creating spellbinding renditions of Jazz standards that feel both deeply familiar and refreshingly new.

Jarrett's signature lyrical phrasing, combined with Peacock’s fluid basslines and Motian’s deft, ever-sensitive touch on the drums, elevates timeless standards into moments of pure improvisational magic. The trio’s take on Straight, No Chaser by Thelonious Monk is a prime example. Jarrett leans into the chromatic angles of Monk’s melody, while Peacock and Motian, who had worked together extensively in the 1960s with Bill Evans, reconnect with remarkable fluidity. Thirty years on, The Old Country offers listeners a chance to witness a once-in-a-lifetime trio performance, where Jarrett’s melodic brilliance meets Peacock and Motian’s dynamic interplay in a set that flows effortlessly between joy, reflection, and spontaneity.

The repertoire on The Old Country touches on well-worn standards but breathes new life into them. Gershwin’s How Long Has This Been Going On, Jule Styne’s I Fall in Love Too Easily, and the title track, Nat Adderley’s The Old Country, all receive the trio’s distinctly personal touch. Each player contributes their unique voice while maintaining the integrity of the songs. As with many of Jarrett’s best performances, these tracks oscillate between structured lyricism and moments of free-flowing spontaneity, creating an emotional landscape that feels at once intimate and grand.

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Beyond the music, the release holds deeper significance. With Jarrett’s retirement from live performance in 2020, following two strokes, this album serves as a reminder of his enduring artistry and profound influence on the Jazz world. It also revisits a moment in time where the history of these three musicians converged in a setting that felt more like a family reunion than a formal concert. The care with which the material has been curated—selected by Jarrett and ECM’s Manfred Eicher from the original 1992 recordings—ensures that the essence of this night, and this singular trio, is preserved for a new generation of listeners.

For fans of Keith Jarrett, especially those who appreciate his explorations of the American songbook, The Old Country is essential listening. Far from being merely an extension of At The Deer Head Inn, this album is a treasure trove of masterfully crafted music that offers a deeper insight into the unique alchemy between these three legendary musicians.

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Personnel
Keith Jarrett • piano
Gary Peacock • double bass
Paul Motian • drums

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Tracklist:
1. Everything I Love
2. I Fall In Love Too Easily
3. Straight No Chaser
4. All of You
5. Someday My Prince Will Come
6. The Old Country
7. Golden Earrings
8. How Long Has This Been Going On

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