Part of Music City Mondays
Keith Jarrett’s legendary performance in January 1975 nearly didn’t happen. Based on a true story, KÖLN 75 follows how the concert was conceived and orchestrated by the efforts of a teenage up and coming concert promoter, Vera Brandes (played by German actress Mala Emde). Her enthusiasm set her to multitasking — from organizing the concert venue (the Cologne Opera House), promoting the event and selling the tickets, to convincing Jarrett to perform when he almost dropped out when the Bösendorfer Imperial Grand piano he was promised was nowhere to be found. John Magaro plays Jarrett with his own intensity, a sublime counterpoint to Mala Emde’s joyful portrayal of the enthusiastic and unstoppable Vera. KÖLN 75 captures the compelling, entertaining and — until now — unknown backstory about Jarrett’s one-hour, entirely improvised concert, which became the best-selling solo album in jazz history.
“An enjoyably off-beat blend of biopic, historical pageant and music-geek lecture… full of charm, celebrating not just the power of music but also the giddy idealism of youth.” —Stephen Dalton, Film Verdict
“Has an infectious spirit, goosed along by fourth-wall-breaking jazz tutorials offered up by a rumpled music critic (Michael Chernus), who whets our appetite for Jarrett’s genius…. You don’t need to be a Keith Jarrett fan to enjoy KÖLN 75, but for anyone who is, the movie is a savory anecdote that colors in his fluky rapture.” —Owen Gleiberman, Variety
