Brad Mehldau
PROJECTS:
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).
APRÈS FAURÉ
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, including music from Elliot Smith.
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
