Keith Jarrett - Mysteries / Shades

This two-fer CD combines pianist Keith Jarrett's 1976 releases Mysteries and Shades, originally released on Impulse as separate LPs.

Both dates feature Jarrett on piano, Dewey Redman on tenor saxophone, Charlie Haden on bass, Paul Motian on drums, and Guilherme Franco on percussion. Mysteries mixes avant-garde with exotic melodies that find the musicians incorporating Pakistani flute, Chinese musette, and an abundance of percussion. Shades includes extra percussion supplied by the entire band, with Jarrett and Redman sticking to their main instruments, continuing exploratory, yet melodic music, played with a bit more heat than on Mysteries. New liner notes are absent, but the original packaging -- front and back cover art and liner notes -- remain intact.

Al Campbell ~ AllMusicGuide