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Brad Mehldau Trio Groovin' High at SFJAZZ

By Roy Strassman
April 26, 2025
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Brad Mehldau Trio
SFJAZZ Center
San Francisco, CA
April 3, 2025

SFJAZZ Center honored the Bay Area's jazz fans with the

Brad Mehldau

piano
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Mehldau-

Christian McBride

bass
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Christian McBride-

" data-original-title="" title="">Marcus Gilmore trio, in town for a four-night run from April 3-6, 2025. Opening night was a real treat for the ear, eye, and soul. Casually dressed, the players took the stage, exuding a quiet confidence characteristic of master musicians.

The set opened with Mehldau's catchy "26," which swung and lifted off with a gospel feel �� la

Les McCann

piano
1935 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Les McCann. Mehldau often approaches his work by employing separate sections in his compositions—akin to symphonic movements—and with pleasing effect. In this piece, he transitioned from the motif into a relaxed 6/8 that carried the tune to airy rhythmic heights and then back to restate the original theme.

Next up was

Clifford Brown

trumpet
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Clifford Brown's "Brownie Speaks," which rocketed forth with a

Bud Powell

piano
1924 - 1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Bud Powell growl but featured

Bill Evans

piano
1929 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Evans-like chord voicings, while McBride kept step with his walking bass. Gilmore anchored the sound with delicate and tasteful drumming, adding sparse yet significant syncopation to the palette.

This was followed by Mehldau's well-known composition, "Squirrels," which showcased lively and intricate solos from all three players.

Collectively, the band members have performed with many musical titans, both past and present. Most notably, Christian McBride has played with

McCoy Tyner

piano
1938 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner,

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock,

Freddie Hubbard

trumpet
1938 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Freddie Hubbard, and

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea. Marcus Gilmore has collaborated with Chick Corea,

Pharoah Sanders

saxophone, tenor
1940 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Pharoah Sanders, and

Pat Metheny

guitar
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Pat Metheny. (

Tony Williams

drums
1945 - 1997

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Williams,

Milford Graves

drums
1940 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Milford Graves, and

Elvin Jones

drums
1927 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Elvin Jones are his primary influences.) Mehldau has recorded in a trio setting with

Lee Konitz

saxophone, alto
1927 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Konitz and

Charlie Haden

bass, acoustic
1937 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Haden and has worked and recorded with

Charles Lloyd

saxophone
b.1938

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Lloyd. Nonetheless, he prefers functioning within his own trio context.

The following selection was Mehldau's composition, "In the Bubble," which featured a captivating point-counterpoint section between him and McBride, who later performed a lyrical bass solo that gave way to an awe-inspiring drum solo by Gilmore.

The audience collectively sighed when the band launched into a beautiful rendition of "When I Look into Your Eyes." The song included a melodic bowed bass solo followed by a piano solo with shades of

Junior Mance

piano
1928 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Junior Mance and even a soup?on of

Ramsey Lewis

piano
1935 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Ramsey Lewis.

The set concluded with a performance of "Love Is So Special," followed by the now-standard standing ovation and then the now—obligatory encore—interesting in that the musicians, even at the end of the night, were still swinging, first trading eights, then fours, twos, and even ones.

Overall, it was an intimate and thoughtful performance that reminded us that, thankfully, San Francisco remains a place where world-class jazz can still be heard on a very cool Thursday night.

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