Brad Mehldau
PROJECTS:
SOLO or BRAD MEHLDAU TRIO w/FELIX MOSEHOLM & JORGE ROSSY
One of the most lyrical and intimate voices of contemporary jazz piano, Brad Mehldau has forged a unique path, which embodies the essence of jazz exploration, classical romanticism and pop allure. From critical acclaim as a bandleader to major international exposure in collaborations with Pat Metheny, Renee Fleming, and Joshua Redman, Mehldau continues to garner numerous awards and admiration from both jazz purists and music enthusiasts alike. His forays into melding musical idioms, in both trio and solo settings, has seen brilliant re-workings of songs by contemporary songwriters like The Beatles, Cole Porter, Radiohead, Paul Simon, Gershwin and Nick Drake; alongside the ever evolving breath of his own significant catalogue of original compositions. With his self-proclaimed affection for popular music and classical training, “Mehldau is the most influential jazz pianist of the last 20 years” (The New York Times).
BRAD MEHLDAU, CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE, MARCUS GILMORE (trio)
One of the most lyrical and intimate voices of contemporary jazz piano, Brad Mehldau has forged a unique path, which embodies the essence of jazz exploration, classical romanticism and pop allure. From jazz to R&B, and pop/rock and hip-hop/neo-soul to classical, nine-time GRAMMY-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader Christian McBride is a luminary with one hand ever reaching for new heights. In all of his playing, drummer/composer Marcus Gilmore integrates a unique style where he is musically expanding rhythm, while supporting the diverse array of the finest musicians in the world with whom he plays. ***IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS PROGRAM IS NOT TO BE BILLED AS THE BRAD MEHLDAU TRIO - IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT IT BE BILLED AS "BRAD MEHLDAU, CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE, MARCUS GILMORE"
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE & BRAD MEHLDAU (duo)
Two of the most respected artists in contemporary jazz join forces in this duo. Hailed “one of modern jazz’s most innovative musicians” by Glide Magazine, Christian McBride says, “Brad is justifiably revered as one of the greatest pianists of all time. I’m very proud to have been friends and cohorts with him for almost 35 years. He was one of the first people I met when I moved to NYC in 1989, and it continues to be an uplifting experience every time we play together.” Named “one of our greatest living pianists” by NPR, Brad Mehldau says, “It is a dream come true to play with Christian in this duo setting. Playing with Christian, especially in this configuration, is both joyful and daunting all at once. His level of sophistication and swing, of emotional power and grace, is unsurpassed - not in the least on what he has achieved on his instrument, but also as one of our strongest voices in the music more generally, at the top of his game. I’m so honored to be on stage with him.” This longtime friendship and musical camaraderie has led to various collaborations through the years including the albums MoodSwing (1994), RoundAgain (2020), and LongGone (2023) with Joshua Redman and Brian Blade; trio tour dates with drummer Marcus Gilmore; and a recent duo performance at the Big Ears Festival that had the crowd utterly captivated. Booked in collaboration with Outer/Most Agency
APRÈS FAURÉ (solo)
Grammy Award winner Brad Mehldau is one of the most lyrical and intimate voices of contemporary jazz piano.Mehldau’s 2024 release on Nonesuch Records, Après Fauré coincides with the 100th anniversary of the passing of Gabriel Fauré, who has had a significant influence on Mehldau’s writing and playing. The first half of this performance will feature music from this release, toggling between Fauré’s Four Nocturnes and Brad’s original compositions reflecting on Fauré. The second half of the concert will feature contemporary music that overlaps with Fauré harmonically and melodically, to be announced from the stage.
PRESS QUOTES:
“Mehldau is the most influential jazz pianist of the last 20 years”
The New York Times
“One of our greatest living pianists”
NPR
“Universally admired as one of the most adventurous pianists to arrive on the jazz scene in years”
The Los Angeles Times
“Inside the music of Brad Mehldau is a conflict among rock, jazz and classical personalities. Ultimately, though, the pianist has figured a way to integrate all three pretty seamlessly”
The Philadelphia Inquirer
“The elliptical lines, volatile rhythmic figures and unexpected bursts of color and dissonance… prove that Mehldau writes as cleverly as he plays”
The Chicago Tribune
“Arguably the greatest jazz trio of modern times”
Mojo
“Mehldau achieves an almost spiritual resonance, chords echoing like amens”
Time Magazine
