Brad Mehldau
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- letters2
Been enamoured for a long time now. Just saw him again. The man is pure genius. And certainly Larry Grenadier and Jeff Ballard always command equal respect.
anyone else a fan?
- Baskerville0
Yeah, I'm a big fan. First heard of him about 3 years ago when I was working in a studio and they played him all the time.
I've since got about 4 or 5 of his albums (I love live in tokyo just him on his own).
I saw him about a year ago here in london with his trio and it was spellbinding. He demanded complete silence but it was worth it. I can't think of another musician who writes so well and can also reinterpret others' music, particularly radiohead!I recently got his collaboration with pat metheny (methenymehldau) and it's great, took a while but I've been a metheny fan for years so I guess I was bound to like it.
I play the piano and guitar and both men are masters of their instruments. A great source of inspiration!
- letters20
I've seen him a few times live. The best was in a very small venue out here in northern Italy – really off the path on the way up to Aosta in Saint Vincent (saw Dee Dee Bridgewater there as well which was great). It was the trio and about 250 people. was an amazing performance.
- robotron3k0
I don't know, Mehldau steps into some pretty big shoes as a trio. And Bill Evans he's not. dunno, maybe I've got to listen to some more recordings, but technically he's good, I just think he seems to lack soul.
- harlequino0
Yeah after Bill Evans in particular, its hard for me to dig on any newer piano based ensembles. Bill was decades ahead of anyone else at the time. I dunno, Monk is the only other one I hold that high up, IMHO. Jarett and Corea maybe, but I dunno.
But I am psyched about a jazz thread. :D
- letters20
I definitely put Mehldau in the same league as Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett. I could never say one is better than another, they are all different, however given Mehldau's youth, I have high expectations.
- letters20
Brad clearly doesn't get as much love as Kim Deal here...
- Baskerville0
Wow a jazz piano thread!
Obviously it's too early to be making comparisons with bill evans, but I really love Mehldau's version of Monk's Dream, it's just crazy. His left hand is on fire!
- letters20
I wouldn't ever compare Mehlldau to Evans – they are different and will remain so.
His version of Monk's Dream is amazing. Left hand on resignation is crazed as well – in a different way. Even his amazing handling of cuts like Dear Prudence and Blackbird astound me.
And thinking of his work as well on some of the soundtracks that he has been involved in could lead very interesting places.
but come on, his Love Theme from Spartacus has some merit in the Evans conversation! :)
- letters20
Scary Piano does to me what Jaws did to me the first time – but it keeps on doing it.
- robotron3k0
dunno, I haven't had a chance to see him live yet does he still demand that everyone be silent while he plays?
- letters20
I don't know of him demanding it, doesn't really have to. though, that being said, if he did, I'd be fine with that demand. Hell, Jarrett demanded it and as far as I'm concerned, they're allowed.