The Brad Mehldau Trio is on tour in the Midwest this week and heads to the West Coast for shows in Seattle and Los Angeles next week. "It's a rare musician who shines in a solo performance," says Minnesota Public Radio of Mehldau's new 2CD/DVD solo album, Live in Marciac. But he "does so remarkably on a diverse collection of tunes that include his original compositions, jazz standards and rock tunes ... In a virtuoso performance, Mehldau builds on architecture and melody, delivering intimate, complex and intense interpretations of each song."
The Brad Mehldau Trio kicked off a two-night residency at Jazz at the Bistro in St. Louis, Missouri, last night, with two sets each night. The group is on tour in the Midwest—with shows to follow in Columbia, Missouri; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Evanston, Illinois—before heading to the West Coast for shows in Seattle and Los Angeles.
Minnesota Public Radio out of Minneapolis, where the Trio performs at the Dakota Jazz Club Sunday night, says Brad Mehldau "plays with precision and imagination" on his latest Nonesuch release, the 2CD/DVD solo album Live in Marciac. In a review of the new album, MPR's David Cazares says: "It's refreshing to encounter a musician who explores other genres and styles as the pianist Brad Mehldau does on Live in Marciac."
Cazares homes in on this willingness on Mehldau's part to go beyond any proscribed notions of genre in his repertoire and performances.
"It's a rare musician who shines in a solo performance," Cazares suggests. "But the 40-year-old does so remarkably on a diverse collection of tunes that include his original compositions, jazz standards and rock tunes ... In a virtuoso performance, Mehldau builds on architecture and melody, delivering intimate, complex and intense interpretations of each song."
Mehldau's ability to perform such a variety of musics at such a high level offers rewards even beyond their inherent appeal to Mehldau's dedicated fans. As Cazares concludes: "Mehldau shows that jazz need not be just for the artist and the connoisseur. By offering a varied palate, he's opening the door for the curious to enter—and listen."
Read the complete review at minnesota.publicradio.org.
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A bit further north, the Winnipeg Free Press gives Live in Marciac four-and-a-half stars. "Brad Mehldau may have made his name leading a trio, but his solo performance is just as important to his stature as one of the best jazz pianists of his time," says the Free Press. "This is his third solo album and it will prompt comparisons to Keith Jarrett, but rather than view Mehldau as the Jarrett of his generation, just accept him as an utterly superb jazz pianist."
Read the review at winnipegfreepress.com.
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To pick up a copy of Live in Marciac, head to the Nonesuch Store now. For more on Mehldau's upcoming performances, go to nonesuch.com/on-tour.
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