To mark the 50th anniversary of The Köln Concert, the WDR Funkhausorchester has released Memories Of Tomorrow – The New Köln Concert, a 12-movement orchestral tribute based on Jarrett’s motifs. Composed by Bernd Wilden and pianist Stephan Görg, the performance was recorded live in Cologne on February 21, 2025.
Thanks Helmut for the link.
The trailer for Köln 75, a film about the story behind The Köln Concert, is now available. Directed by Ido Fluk, it follows Vera Brandes and the challenges leading up to Keith Jarrett’s 1975 performance. The film premieres at the Berlinale.
Thanks David for the link.
“Köln 75”, by director Ido Fluk, will be premiered at the Berlinale (Berlin International Film Festival) in February and released on March 13, 2025 (at least in Germany).
Here’s what Ido Fluk shared on Facebook:
KÖLN 75 will premiere at the Berlinale! Truly an honor. Cannot wait for you to see it. It’s a film about love and passion: for music, for youth, for the act of creation, a reverberating string reaction of events and improvisation that started with Vera Brandes and lead to Keith Jarrett’s 1975 masterpiece, The Köln Concert.
This thing is a labor of love, interminable, indefatigable love, and I am so thankful for my partners in this, because it truly takes – not a village – but a city:
Producers and true partners in this: Sol Bondy, Fred Burle, Daniela Ramin of One Two Films and Oren Moverman who have been there from the very start.
The real Vera Brandes, who was generous enough with her story, and the brilliant and brave Mala Emde, who embodied Vera Brandes, who became Vera Brandes, who carries this film on her very strong shoulders.
My brilliant cast: John Magaro, Michael Chernus, and Alexander Scheer, Jördis Triebel and Ulrich Tukur, Shirin Lilly Eissa, Leo Meier, Enno Trebs, Leon Blohm, Susanne Wolff and Marie-Lou Sellem.
My creative collaborators: DP Jens Harant, Editor Anja Siemens, PD Jutta Freyer, AD Gregor Stitzl, Costume Designer Ola Staszko
Casting Emrah Ertem HMU Sabine Schumann & Waldemar Pokromski. Music and sound: Stefan Rusconi, Gregor Bonse, Tarn Willers, Hubert Wałkowski, Frederik Van de MoortelCo-producers and EPs Lilianne Lasalle, Ewa Puszczynska, Dries Phlypo, Leontine Petit, Erik Glijnis, Julianne Hausler, Jennifer Fox
Stephen Kelliher and Bankside team.
Tobias Lehmann and Fabien Arséguel of alamode.And many many many more!
Thanks to Nate for the information.
There are 7 days left to contribute to a crowdfunding campaign for a Köln Concert film documentary. The project sounds very intriguing.
“During an unexpected investigation in search of the mysterious piano from the Köln Concert, the behind-the-scenes of a myth are gradually revealed.”
For more information, you can go to their KissKissBankBank page.
Thanks to Hartmut for the link.
Palle Danielsson died on 18 May 2024, at the age of 77. He played on multiple Keith Jarrett albums with the so-called European quartet, such has Belonging and My Song.
This is a statement from his sister Monica Dominique:
Bassist Palle Danielson fell asleep at his home after a period of illness on May 18.
He lived to be 77 years old.
He leaves behind his life partner the artist Ulla Lööf.
Early in his career, Palle became an obvious profile in the Swedish jazz world, but perhaps better known internationally through his collaborations with greats such as Bill Evans, Eje Thelin, Peter Erskine and others.
But perhaps he became best known through his many years of collaboration with Keith Jarrett and his “European Quartet” with whom he toured all over the world for several years.
Palle has been awarded several times for his efforts in music with e.g. The Monica Zetterlund
Scholarship, the Jan Johansson Scholarship and most recently last year, he was awarded the
honorary Lifetime Achievement Award by the Swedish Jazz Association. Palle was the brother of composer and pianist Monica Dominique, who toured together for many years with their duo program. In 2012 came the album “Togetherness”.
Palle was not just a beloved little brother. He was also a highly respected and extremely
knowledgeable fellow musician. I don’t think everyone really understands how famous he was internationally. The grief is double and very heavy now.
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