At this point people are thinking not only about their jazz picks of the year, but their picks of the decade, 2000-2009. That’s running through my mind as I listen to Mika Pohjola’s gorgeous new solo piano recording Great Tunes By My Friends, which highlights the music of Guillermo Klein, Ben Monder, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Chris Cheek, Fernando Huergo, Reid Anderson and Drew Gress. I’m not necessarily tagging Mika’s record, or any of the albums on which these tunes first appeared, as picks of the decade. (Some of the material is over a decade old, I believe.) But Great Tunes does play out like a historical survey of sorts, and it focuses the mind on the lasting contributions of the above-named artists, presenting their work in a beautifully stripped-down context. Food for more thought.
The decade (shudder)
Incidentally, you might be wondering why there’s a previously unavailable two-volume recording of standards by Keith Jarrett-Gary Peacock-Jack DeJohnette on the Blue Music Group website. Jarrett is ultra-exclusive with ECM, of course, and has been for many years. Is he OK with this? Um, not even remotely OK. ECM and manager Steve Cloud termed the Swedish radio broadcast recording “illegal” and went after Blue Music Group, sparking the intervention of an arbitrator, who ruled in no uncertain terms in Blue Music’s favor.
20 Comments
Sounds like Dick Cheney is now interested in jazz.
You lost me, Mr. White…
Just sayin if Jarrett wants to deal only w ECM, why should Blue Music release his music? Isnt this sorta big firm trying to steal from the small business? I hope Blue Music at least pays taxes and just doesnt pal around with lobbyists. Sounds liek a Dick Cheney type maneuver.
I don't want to take a position on the matter, but ECM is very much the bigger, more established business of the two. It's been around for decades and has a licensing deal with Universal. Blue Music Group is an online startup and very small, to the best of my knowledge.
Uh – interesting stuff this Jarrett-ECM-Blue Music case. Very controvercial to say the least. So some lawyer said its fine Blue Music can do this, really? I know Fernando Huergo (killing bass player) has a bucnh of cds on Blue Music, but this Jarrett thing is a little… wow. But, why not… actually. What else do u know bout this?
A court-empowered arbitrator ruled in Blue Music's favor in Sweden. That might cover all of Europe, I'm not sure. I'm told that ECM is considering further legal action in the U.S. but I have no direct knowledge of it.
okay, thanks. interesting, ECM is in europe and their starting legal battles here w/ Blue Music? i guess they cant in their homeland. but i guess it's a big deal so start anywhre you can.
Greetings from Sweden. In principal a decision made in Sweden about a thing like this is covering the whole world, not only in Europe. I have not seen this but there is a law "innehavanderätt" (about who has it is the owner if nobody can prove the opposite). Most countries in the world has this. It is a little scary if USA has another law for this too, or is this just because Keith Jarrett is American and so famous that Swedish law decision is not then accepted? Here in Sweden we have a big legal battle with Pirate Bay, which has had illegal downloads already many years. They must finally pay perhaps 500.000 Swedish crowns (about 50.000 euros) in compensation.
Man… totally stupid stuff. Will hurt everybody, and will the record sell after all this tasteless s**t? If it goes far, it will turn off everybody and no matter who puts it out it will be a failure forever. Business people should know when to stop.
David, it's great you have this blog… very interesting development. I found this from Blue Music Group's site. Have also read your stuff on AAJ. Are you doing liner notes for them now? Doesn't matter to me, just curious. -Jim
Keith Jarett is great pianist but, today how is he feeling in his health? Can he survive in a big court deal now? Manager is not doing very good job in this for Mr. Jarett, and better talk directly with Blue Music Group, and, only in my opinion, agree to a deal. I like Blue Music Group, very easy company, good email service all the time, and all technological detail in perfect function.
There was something on the radio about this. I am almost sure the U.K. would need to honour a Swedish arbitrator before an American one. Is this yet another American vs. European case? What's the status of the material in question? We're usually caught morally in the middle, but recently the E.U. has won us over in several disputes.
I'm thinking about the position of the United Kingdom in cases like these. Would this music be available here if it were declared illegal in the U.S? The legalities hardly hinder an entrance to the stores if released in Sweden, but it could be one of those rare cases where we would morally believe our "special relationship" with the Americans need to prevail first. That is rather shameful, but an often witnessed fact. No offense to Americans.
It is a possibility that Sweden could get right in Germany, even with ECM as a German enterprise. That probably does´nt matter at all. But why is it so hard for the American ECM then to just follow this? Is this because they want to protect American citizens' rights in their homeland, or what is this about? Jazz isn´t a good enough reason for courthouses in one country and not another one.
ECM and Keith Jarrett is very respected in Norway, almost norwegian musician (haha 🙂 Its a little bit surprising that somebody in Sweden would decide this way. Many nice records (also with Keith Jarrett) where made in Oslo in the famous Rainbow studio by a norwegian sound technicer, Jan Erik Kongshaug. They go automatically to ECM I think, so the swedish national radio should think this again.
I just saw the answers under and I agree with all three. Perhaps I am a little partician because I am Swedish, but I think this is a Swedish situation, because Mr. Jarrett came to Sweden to make the music. Most often a Swedish lawyer is not nationalistic about this.
I do´nt think it´s ECM behind this, it´s Jarret himself who is not happy. Here in Italy we love him as a musicisan but may be he is not feeling his responsability to be nice in the world? What more does he need anymore? Enrico Pieranunzi, great Italian jazz pianist, is not like this. I was in Umbria last year and was really disappointing to see Jarret, this greit greit artist, behave so bad on stage. And now fighting courts? Come on. We have many good words in Italian for this kind of people.
Fascinating story….but I can't find the Jarrett album on the BlueMusic web site. I assume it's been removed pending all this legal stuff getting sorted out?
Yes, it's been removed.
Hi there, it seems clear from the comments but just to be sure. Your statement" Is he OK with this? Um, not even remotely OK. ECM and manager Steve Cloud termed the Swedish radio broadcast recording "illegal" and went after Blue Music Group" is confusing to me.
It seems to be interpreted that KJ is not ok with Blue Music Groups decision but it could also be taken as KJ is not ok being ECM exclusive right. Thats how I read it until I got into your comments. But then if he was ok with EMC's release I don't suppose his manager would have called it illegal unless KJ's not ok with him either.