Recorded in September 1971 at Atlantic Studios in New York, The Mourning of a Star is Keith Jarrett's third solo album. The album shows a transition toward a more introspective and spiritual style, combining acoustic piano with electric instruments like the Rhodes piano and organ.
The album includes original compositions by Jarrett, with a notable influence of modal jazz and contemporary classical music. The title track is a melancholic ballad reflecting mourning for a star, possibly referring to the death of a loved one or a cosmic metaphor.
The lineup includes musicians such as Dewey Redman (saxophone), Charlie Haden (bass), and Paul Motian (drums), who frequently collaborated with Jarrett at the time. The album was well received by critics and is considered a bridge between his earlier works and his later solo piano exploration.