1973 · Album
Fort Yawuh
Recorded February 24, 1973, Village Vanguard · Impulse! Records
Fourth Way at the Vanguard
A live quartet night at the Village Vanguard that turned Jarrett's American band into something unmistakably its own.
The session took place at the Village Vanguard on February 24, 1973, with Keith Jarrett leading what became known as his American Quartet. Charlie Haden held down the bass and Paul Motian drove the drums, while Dewey Redman played tenor saxophone. Percussionist Danny Johnson joined the group for the date, adding a layer of color to the rhythmic fabric. Recorded live, the music carries the feel of a room listening closely, with the band reacting to one another in real time rather than polishing takes in a studio.
The title is an anagram of "Fourth Way," a nod to George Gurdjieff's idea of a fourth path to self-awareness. Whatever one makes of the philosophy, the record sounds like a band searching for something together. Jarrett's writing and playing move between open, floating passages and driving grooves, and Redman's tenor brings a rough, earthy voice to the proceedings. Haden anchors the ensemble with a steady, singing bass line that keeps the more adventurous moments grounded.
As a document of Jarrett in this period, it is a solid, engaging live set rather than his most celebrated work. Critics have been mixed: the Encyclopedia of Popular Music gave it two stars out of five, while The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings gave it three out of four. It makes most sense for listeners already interested in the American Quartet, and it is a reasonable entry point for those who want to hear the band in front of an audience.
Who's playing
Charlie Hadenbass
Keith Jarrettpercussion
Danny Johnsonpercussion
Paul Motianpercussion
Dewey Redmanpercussion
Where next?
More by Keith Jarrett
All 29 albums →
The musicians on this record
Liberation Music Orchestra 1970
Charlie Haden
plays bass here
plays bass here
Conception Vessel 1973
Paul Motian
plays percussion here
plays percussion here
The Ear of the Behearer 1973
Dewey Redman
plays percussion here
plays percussion here
