Keith Jarrett Trio: Setting Standards (ECM/Ode)

Pianist Keith Jarrett's career and recent work has been well covered at Elsewhere so all that needs be said about this triple set is that it collects the two albums in his Standards series with bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack deJohnette in which the trio explored with sensitivity and contemporary relevance the Great American Songbook, and their daring Changes album -- all recorded in a single day in New York in '83.

That project, to a greater or lesser degree, continues today -- and Jarrett, walking away from the intensity of utterly improvised music of his own creation in the 70s, sounds the better for it.

If those Standards albums went past you then you could dive right in here with the 25th anniversary edition, or perhaps go to Jarrett's superb solo The Melody At Night, With You from 2000 and work backwards.

Either way, this is a superb collection.