Keith Jarrett

Keith Jarrett (born May 8, 1945 in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is an American pianist, composer and jazz icon.

His career started with Art Blakey, Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s he has enjoyed a great deal of success in both classical music and jazz, as a group leader and a solo performer. His improvisation technique combines not only jazz, but also other forms of music, especially classical, gospel, blues and ethnic folk music.

In 2003 he received the Polar Music Prize, being the first (and to this day only) recipient not sharing the prize with anyone else, and in 2004 the Léonie Sonning Music Prize.

In 2008 he was inducted into the prestigious Downbeat Hall of Fame by the Downbeat Magazine 73rd Annual Jazz Readers Poll.