Köln 75 With Live Performance by Chris Gestrin

Experience the transcendent power of improvised music for a special VIFF Live concert and film screening. Renowned Vancouver pianist Chris Gestrin performs a solo set of Keith Jarrett–inspired music to accompany this special event screening of Köln 75 — a film that captures the compelling, entertaining, and, until now, unknown back story of jazz pianist Keith Jarrett’s one-hour, entirely improvised concert, which became the best-selling solo album in jazz history.

Chris Gestrin is a stalwart of Vancouver’s jazz scene — a renowned pianist, multi-keyboardist, composer, engineer, and producer who has worked on over 500 albums covering a wide range of musical styles. From avant garde electronic improvisations to greasy soul organ music, introspective piano jazz to top-of-the-charts pop, rock, and hip-hop, Gestrin is in high demand for his eclectic talents and ability to bring a high level of musical inspiration to any situation.

Keith Jarrett’s legendary performance in January 1975 nearly didn’t happen. Based on a true story, Köln 75 explores how the concert was conceived and orchestrated by the efforts of an up-and-coming teenage concert promoter, Vera Brandes (played by Mala Emde). Vera’s enthusiasm led her to multitasking — from organizing the Cologne Opera House as the concert venue, to promoting the event, selling the tickets, and convincing Jarrett to perform when he almost dropped after 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 Emde’s joyful portrayal of the enthusiastic and unstoppable Vera. Köln 75 captures the compelling, entertaining, and, until now, unknown back story of Jarrett’s one-hour, entirely improvised concert, which became the best-selling solo album in jazz history.

Missed it at VIFF? Catch it at the VIFF Centre after the festival.

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