Though socially distanced, pianist Brad Mehldau is releasing music for us still under some sort of lockdown, either from COVID or riots. Stay safe and healthy, and enjoy…
Mehldau teams up with fellow top tier artists Joshua Redman/ts-ss, Christian McBride/b and Brian Blade/dr for a rich get together that sounds like another era far away. Redman’s soprano sax bops the blues well to Mehldau’s Monkish angles on “Floppy Diss” and is melodic to Blade’s suave brushes during “Father”. The pianist’s fingers are rich and classical as they flow to Redman’s breathy tenor on “Undertow” and the two get misty on the brooding “Your Part To Play”. McBride and Blade are like Ricochet Rabbits as Mehldau digs deep on the dark “Right Back Round Again” and McBride gives a deep gospel feel as his patented bass resonates on “Silly Little Love Songs”. Are we ever going to see these performed in concert?
In lockdown mode, Mehldau is by himself for these 15 solo tunes, twelve of which are personal statements regarding the current world situation and three are personal renditions of tunes that have titles that reflect a dash of hope. Of the latter, “Look For The Silver Lining” is a relaxed encouragement, and Neil Young’s “Don’t Let It Bring You Down” has digital digs that reflect the composer’s angst. As to the Suite, there are cheerful thoughts on “stopping, listening hearing,” a dash of Gershwin on “the day moves by-“, rich stride moments on “family harmony” and the bluesy “in the kitchen” and urgent drama for ‘uncertainty”. You feel as if you’re taking part in glancing over sections of Mehldau’s diary as he’s taking in the news and then glancing around his home in concern and yet appreciation for his family. Personal touches.