Brad Mehldau and his forthcoming Nonesuch release, Highway Rider, are the subject of a segment that was slated to air on tomorrow's episode of NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday. It will now air on a future date, to be scheduled.

Highway Rider, the double disc of original work by Mehldau that reunites the pianist and producer Jon Brion for the first time since 2002's Largo, is due out next week. It is available for pre-order now in the Nonesuch Store with an exclusive bonus demo/commentary track in which Mehldau explains to Brion how he'd like the title piece to unfold. As with most CDs in the Nonesuch Store, orders include the album as high-quality, 320 kbps MP3s at no additional cost starting release day, March 16.

The Guardian gives the album a perfect five stars. "This one is the real deal," says reviewer John Fordham. "Highway Rider's contrasts and dramatic entries spring constant surprises, and show how much progress the mesmerising improviser has made as a big-ensemble composer."

Fordham also calls attention to the contribution of Mehldau's label mate Joshua Redman on saxophone, calling it "a key ingredient" to the proceedings. Also featured on the album are performances by Mehldau’s trio and drummer Matt Chamberlain, as well as a chamber orchestra, with orchestrations by the composer. Fordham concludes: "This is the kind of genre dialogue that gets classical/jazz crossovers a good name."

Read the complete review at guardian.co.uk.

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Brad Mehldau is currently on tour in Europe, performing solo sets throughout the Continent for the next two weeks. He returns to the United States to tour at the end of the month, beginning with a solo set at L.A.'s Largo, the source of his first pairing with Brion, on March 30. For more information, dates, venues, and links to purchase tickets, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.