Is The Jack DeJohnette Piano Album a good place to start with Jack DeJohnette?

Yes, The Jack DeJohnette Piano Album is recommended as a starting point for new Jack DeJohnette listeners. An intricate exploration of melody and rhythm, merging jazz improvisation with contemplative piano textures. Released in 1985, The Jack DeJohnette Piano Album marked a significant turn in DeJohnette's career as he ventured deeper into solo piano work after years as a prominent drummer in jazz. This album showcases his versatility, highlighting his ability to blend free jazz elements with more structured melodic forms, following his influential collaborations with artists like Miles Davis and Keith Jarrett.

Who is The Jack DeJohnette Piano Album for?

The Jack DeJohnette Piano Album works well if you're into steady meditative exploration, reflective moments of calm and lyrical melodies for deep focus.

How many songs are on The Jack DeJohnette Piano Album?

The Jack DeJohnette Piano Album has 8 tracks, running approximately 43 minutes.

The Jack DeJohnette Piano Album

Jack DeJohnette · 1985

43 min · 8 tracks · jazz

An intricate exploration of melody and rhythm, merging jazz improvisation with contemplative piano textures.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Minority Start here — This track opens the album with an expansive improvisational exploration that sets the tone for the entire project, blending complex rhythms with lyrical melodies.
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Spiral — Offering a meditative quality, this piece highlights DeJohnette’s ability to create intricate textures while maintaining emotional depth, showcasing his virtuosity.
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Time After Time — This interpretation exemplifies DeJohnette’s skill in reimagining familiar themes through a jazz lens, providing a reflective contrast to the album's more avant-garde moments.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

65 /100

Treeline

Higher than 88% of albums we've rated

The album showcases intricate melodies and thoughtful pacing, making it a notable entry in jazz piano.

What we noticed

The album maintains a consistent tempo range, with several tracks employing a slow to moderate pace that allows for deep exploration of harmonic textures.
There are moments where DeJohnette employs silence and space effectively, creating a contemplative atmosphere that contrasts with the more intricate passages.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady meditative exploration
reflective moments of calm
lyrical melodies for deep focus
patient unfolding of themes
immersive piano improvisation

Maybe skip if you

seeking high-energy engagement
prefer short standalone tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — Represents a shift to solo piano, showcasing a new direction in DeJohnette's career.
Career context: Released in 1985, The Jack DeJohnette Piano Album marked a significant turn in DeJohnette's career as he ventured deeper into solo piano work after years as a prominent drummer in jazz. This album showcases his versatility, highlighting his ability to blend free jazz elements with more structured melodic forms, following his influential collaborations with artists like Miles Davis and Keith Jarrett.
Stylistic neighbors: Tony Williams· Chick Corea· Brian Blade