Composer's note: I was already an established composer and a double bassist with Phoenix
Symphony when I was introduced to the solo piano improvisation of Keith Jarrett in the mid-1970's. I had improvised with rock and jazz bands and used improvisation in my compositions, but the quality of Jarrett's music was beyond what I had thought possible. It had contrast, variety, tremendous imagination and, yet, structural integrity. The music was
solid enough to have been composed, but it obviously wasn't it was too spontaneous and free. This mind-expanding experience triggered a life-long preoccupation with free improvisation that has also influenced my composition, in one way or another, ever since. More listening excerpts here.