Keith Jarrett’s “Pastel Morning”

When I originally transcribed and recorded Keith Jarrett’s composition, “Pastel Morning” in 2009, my Dad heard my recorded version and asked, “What do you like about THAT?” Hmmm…

I have re-listened to this piece numerous times since then. I still like it —even if I’m the only one. I never previously made an accompanying video-presentation for it. And, as always I am able to find numerous things in ANY previous version that I feel can be improved.

So, I made a few tweaks to “this-and-that” including using a different Fender Rhodes, and remixed a new version of “Pastel Morning.” I used the updated recording to produce this synchronized visualization.

I hope that you enjoy this new version more than the original one that my Dad seemingly didn’t… A link to play the original 2009 recording is below as part of the original 2009 Post. 😉

Original 2009 Post:

Pastel Morning Transcription

I planned to record Keith Jarrett’s Pastel Morning for more than twenty (20) years. I always believed that I would eventually “get around to it.” The melody and mood of the piece still have the same soothing effect on me as the piece did when I first heard it. I transcribed the notation onto paper from a Rhapsody online recording using pencil, paper, and lots of erasers.

In my performance of this piece, I have attempted to remain faithful to the 1973 recording from the Keith Jarrett and Jack DeJohnette album: “Ruta and Daitya.” The original orchestration featured a Fender Rhodes electric piano with an unidentified accompanying instrument. The Fender Rhodes is panned to the right of the sound-stage and the synthesizer is panned to the left of the sound-stage.

The Fender Rhodes that I played is the highly-regarded, now “discontinued” emulation: Mr. Ray 73 Mark II. In my recording, the accompanying instrument is Digital Performer’s Proton Virtual Instrument.

I hope that you enjoy my performance.