J.S. Bach: The French Suites

Johann Sebastian Bach’s French Suites, penned between 1722 and 1725, tend to get buried by his Goldberg Variations and other keyboarded pillars. Similarly, Keith Jarrett’s abilities as a classical interpreter are often overshadowed by his reputation as an improviser. Both wrongs are exuberantly righted by this recording from 1991. Spanning three suites in minor keys and three in major, Jarrett’s readings elicit a voluminous sound from a finicky instrument. His technical flourishes are bare and robust, his tempos are respectfully balanced, and his sense of space is magnificent. The music demands such detail, and Jarrett delivers it through a microscope.