Press Release Köln Concert 51

Köln Concert 51 — 51st Anniversary Concert
Sunday 25 January 2026 at 6.30pm

The Hex Hall For All, Acland Burghley School, London NW5



On Sunday 25 January 2026, internationally acclaimed British pianist Dorian Ford will present Köln Concert 51, a live tribute and reimagining of Keith Jarrett’s landmark 1975 Köln Concert — the original event became the bestselling solo piano album in history and one of the most influential works of improvised music.

This performance follows the triumph of Köln Concert 50, which Ford performed in Cologne in January 2025 on the exact anniversary of the original concert; the event sold out, drew audience members from the 1975 performance itself, and received major acclaim in the press. In the months that followed, this important and exciting tribute was staged at the Liverpool International Jazz Festival and the Aberdeen Jazz Festival, building on its earlier success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024, where critics hailed it as “one of the true glories of the Festival.”

Köln Concert 51 continues this artistic journey — not as a recreation, but as a living improvisational response to a piece that has shaped half a century of musical history.

Back to Where It Began — Acland Burghley Alumnus Supporting Hall for All

Dorian Ford’s passion for supporting music-making in Camden stems back to his studies at both Acland Burghley School and WAC (now Collage Voices).

Acland Burghley is now the London home of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, a partnership that has transformed the school into one of the capital’s most vibrant musical hubs. Presenting Köln Concert 51 here — as Ford’s first UK performance since the anniversary concert in Germany — highlights the school’s growing cultural significance and the role it plays in nurturing musical creativity.

This performance will support the local community and young musicians across Camden, with a number of free tickets reserved for local music students and a generous donation to Hall for All at Acland Burghley.

A Living Tribute — Not a Re-enactment

Ford’s approach is rooted in the spirit of the original Köln Concert: spontaneous invention shaped by melody, time and touch. Rather than reproduce Jarrett’s performance note for note, he blends recognisable passages with his own improvisations, allowing the music to evolve anew:

“From the first note, it was clear that Ford was not merely playing the piano; he was telling a story, channelling the spirit of Jarrett while infusing his own unique flair.” — Performance China, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

This creative philosophy echoes Ford’s comments in a recent Deutsche Welle interview:

“In a way, I’m advocating for this piece to be part of the concert repertoire of the solo piano world — like a Beethoven sonata.”

The result is a performance that honours the original while looking firmly forward — improvisation as dialogue rather than imitation.

The Enduring Story of the 1975 Köln Concert

The story behind Jarrett’s Köln Concert remains one of the most extraordinary in modern musical history. Scheduled for 24 January 1975 at the Cologne Opera House at 11:30pm, the performance was beset with disasters: Jarrett arrived after a 430-mile overnight drive from Switzerland, exhausted, hungry and suffering from severe back pain. The wrong piano had been placed on stage — a rehearsal Bösendorfer with limited volume and faulty pedals — and Jarrett initially refused to play.

Only the pleading of the 18-year-old promoter, Vera Brandes, convinced him to perform. What followed was a completely improvised, hour-long outpouring that blended jazz, gospel, classical and folk influences into a cohesive and transcendent whole.

The recording released later that year went on to sell more than four million copies, becoming the bestselling solo piano album of all time and influencing generations of musicians across genres.

Today, with Jarrett no longer performing after his 2018 strokes and two forthcoming feature films revisiting the origins of the concert, the Köln Concert continues to inspire reinterpretation and reflection.

Critical Acclaim for Dorian Ford

Ford’s Köln Concert project has earned exceptional praise from audiences and critics alike:

“Never before has a concert and its aftermath moved me as much… my head just won’t let go.” 
— Klaus Erich Haun, audience member at both the 1975 concert and Köln Concert 50

“Dorian Ford’s reinterpretation was quite stunning in its execution and intensity… I was totally engrossed from start to finish.” — Liverpool International Jazz Festival

Beyond this project, Ford has enjoyed a long-established and widely respected career:

“It is gratifying to see a pianist of Dorian’s calibre present the heart and soul of the music so eloquently and so authentically.” — Ronnie Scott, after Ford’s performance at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club

“An incandescent piano trio.” — John Fordham

“Some kind of genius… an intelligent improviser.” — Hugh Wood, composer

Dorian Ford

Dorian Ford studied with jazz innovator Ian Carr at WAC in Camden, and later at Berklee College of Music, where he twice won the Chick Corea Jazz Masters Award. His career spans performances at Ronnie Scott’s, Wigmore Hall, the Edinburgh Festival, and major venues across Europe, Australia and Japan. His music has appeared in film, television and radio.

Ford first encountered the Köln Concert more than 40 years ago and has since explored it through transcription, performance, and now, creative reinvention. His 50th anniversary performance in Cologne — described in the press as deeply atmospheric and emotionally powerful — marked a significant milestone in this lifelong engagement.

Köln Concert 51 represents the next step in that journey.