Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Brad Mehldau Trio: Blues and Ballads
Brad Mehldau Trio: Blues and Ballads
ByBrad Mehldau
pianob.1970
There has been, from the beginning of Mehldau's career, a sense of the cerebral in his approach, with its classical music influences and his deep technical virtuosity. Throw the sometimes dense and erudite writing for selected liner notes (mostly earlier in his career) into that mix, and "Too deep for me" might be a reaction of the perennial everyman.
Except for the beauty.
Melhdau, along with is often lofty intentions and classical influences, has always kept a firm grip on the the more common man side of sounds: Paul McCartney's "Junk" on the masterpiece four disc 10 Year Solo (Nonesuch Records, 2015). Brian Wilson's "God Only Knows" from the same set. Burt Bacharach's "Alfie' from Day Is Done, (Nonesuch Records, 2005), (as fine a piano trio recording as you'll find); Paul Simon's "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover" from that same set. Elvis Costello's "Baby Plays Around," from Where Do You Start (Nonesuch Records, 2012). These wonderful plebeian pieces considered besidefrom the Mehldau oeuvreSteve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians," a segment of Philip Glass' "String Quartet No. 5," or Brahms' "Intermezzo in E Minor, Op.119: No.2.
The trio opens Blues and Ballads with the memorable "Since I Fell For You," a 1945 tune penned by Buddy Johnson for his Buddy Johnson Orchestra, with his sister, Ella Johnson as vocalist. The tune attained huge popularity in 1963, when Lenny Welch's version hit number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. The trio have slowed it down, so every nuance of mood and emotion in the tune can be savored. Drummer

Jeff Ballard
drumsb.1963

Larry Grenadier
bass, acousticb.1966

Bill Evans
piano1929 - 1980

Scott LaFaro
bass1936 - 1961

Paul Motian
drums1931 - 2011
Elsewhere the trio explores the splendid simplicity of The Beatles "And I Love Her," the melodic genius of Cole Porter's "I Concentrate On You," the pretty poignancy of Jon Brion's "Little Person," the joyous buoyancy of

Charlie Parker
saxophone, alto1920 - 1955
Every recording by this top notch piano trio is a cause for celebration. This one is not an exception. ">
Track Listing
Since I Fell for You; I Concentrate on You; Little Person; Cheryl; These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You); And I Love Her; My Valentine.
Personnel
Brad Mehldau
pianoBrad Mehldau: piano; Larry Grenadier: bass; Jeff Ballard: drums.
Album information
Title: Blues and Ballads | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Nonesuch Records
Tags
Comments
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Brad Mehldau Concerts

Christian McBride & Brad Mehldau @ Clarice Smith...
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts CenterCollege Park, MD

Christian McBride & Brad Mehldau @ The Flynn
Flynn Center for The Performing ArtsBurlington, VT

Christian McBride, Brad Mehldau
Sanders TheatreCambridge, MA

Christian Mcbride & Brad Mehldau
Dakota Jazz Club & RestaurantMinneapolis, MN

Christian Mcbride & Brad Mehldau
Dakota Jazz Club & RestaurantMinneapolis, MN
Christian Mcbride & Brad Mehldau
Dakota Jazz Club & RestaurantMinneapolis, MN
Christian Mcbride & Brad Mehldau
Dakota Jazz Club & RestaurantMinneapolis, MN

Christian McBride & Brad Mehldau @ Chicago Symphony...
Chicago Symphony CenterChicago, IL
Support All About Jazz

Go Ad Free!
To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
New York City
Concert Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses
| More...
