Keith Jarrett recorded Standards, Vol. 1 in January 1983 at Power Station Studios in New York, with Gary Peacock on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums. This spontaneously formed trio focused on reinterpreting jazz standards from the 1930s to the 1960s.
The album was produced by Manfred Eicher, founder of ECM Records, and released that same year. The recording session was so productive that the material was split into two volumes, published simultaneously. Standards, Vol. 1 includes versions of composers such as Cole Porter and Miles Davis.
The record received critical acclaim for its fresh approach and the trio's chemistry. It became a landmark in contemporary jazz, revitalizing the standard repertoire. The cover, with a minimalist photograph, is characteristic of ECM's visual style.