(01-28-03) 10:01 PST STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) --

American pianist Keith Jarrett was named the winner Tuesday of the $117,000 Polar Music Prize for his ability "to effortlessly cross boundaries in the world of music."

The award was founded in 1989 by Stig Anderson, manager of Swedish pop group ABBA, through a donation to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.

Jarrett was the first musician to win the award solo. It has been split between pop artists and classical musicians.

The academy cited Jarrett's fusion of musical genres, from jazz and pop to gospel and classical music, as well as his improvisational skills.

"Through a series of brilliant solo performances and recordings that demonstrate his utterly spontaneous creativity, Keith Jarrett has simultaneously lifted piano improvisation as an art form to new, unimaginable heights," award committee chairman Aake Holmquist said at a news conference in Stockholm.

Jarrett wasn't at the news conference, but is expected to travel to Sweden to collect the award May 12 from King Carl XVI Gustaf, Holmquist said.

Born in Allentown, Pa., in 1945, Jarrett toured the world as a pianist with the Charles Lloyd Quartet in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He also toured with Miles Davis' electric fusion group.

His recordings include "Facing You," "La Scala" and "Koln Concert."

Last year's winners were South African singer Miriam Makeba and Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina.

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Polar Music Prize website (which includes a complete list of all past year winners):
http://www.polarmusicprize.se/ Don't forget to checkout the "VIDEO - ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PRIZEWINNER 2003" which includes Keith Jarret performing a beautiful rendition of: 'Mona Lisa'.

Scott


[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 01-28-2003).]

Isn't that a kick in the pants....he beat Uncle Dave out by only one vote.

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jam on,
Terry
http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

Grrrreat pianist! I recently discovered the "classical Keith Jarrett". A surprising record: 24 Preludes and Fugues - Dmitri Shostakovich.

-- José.

A great achievment for sure But....the sad thing is that most people you ask don't even know what or who your talking about Scott.

My firsat intro. to Jarrett was the Koln concert....the man is a master at improv.


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jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

[This message has been edited by trtjazz (edited 01-28-2003).]