5 Facts About Keith Jarrett’s The Köln Concert

The entire 66-minute performance is one continuous improvisation. Keith Jarrett walked on stage and created the music on the spot, with no prewritten material.

The concert was split across two LP sides for the original release. Side one contains the first part, and side two contains the rest of the single take.

Jarrett used a poorly tuned, small piano that night. The instrument was out of tune and had weak bass notes, forcing him to adapt his playing style.

The concert almost didn’t happen due to Jarrett’s exhaustion. He arrived after a long drive and nearly canceled, but the promoter convinced him to play.

It remains the best-selling solo piano album in history. Despite its spontaneous creation, the recording has sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide.