A conversation with brad mehldau, fred jung, all about jazz, retrieved 27 th april 2012. The duo recorded the love sublime album musically performing the poems of rainer maria rilke called the book of hours. Complete transcription and analysis by andre philippe isbn. All of which is to say that, like his forebears, pianists bill. Mehldau studied music at the new school, and toured and recorded while still. Welcome to brad mehldau, the transcriptions page, part 2 below is a collection of 20 files, containing leadsheets and transcriptions of. On elegiac cycle mehldau plays improvisations inspired by the theme of loss. The fivepiece trio, the art of the trio, is a reference, as well as his solo cds such as elegiac.
Loop productions is representing brad mehldau in france. Brad mehldaus first solo piano album is not only his best record to date, it is one of the most searching, most inventive solo piano albums since keith jarretts best solo concerts of the 1970s, and it throws virtually the whole maybeck series into a cocked hat, too. This essay is an excerpt from an extended interview conducted several years ago that appeared in the introductory material to the transcription book of brad s record from 1999, elegiac cycle. Still, in timo andres essay in the enclosed booklet adorned with the same. Introducing brad mehldau is an album by pianist and composer brad mehldau, released on the warner bros. Mehldau also has a solo piano recording entitled elegiac cycle and a record called places that includes both solo piano and trio songs. Looking back on elegiac cycle this essay is an excerpt from an extended interview conducted several years ago that appeared in the introductory material to the transcription book of brad s record from 1999, elegiac cycle. They are made up exclusively of original material and have central themes that hover over the compositions. Brad mehldaus new album, finding gabriel, is out now. Brad mehldau elegiac cycle birdland libreria milano. On elegiac cycle, mehldau s first solo piano outing, that tendency toward melancholy meets up with his rather obvious classical influences brahms, chopin, satie for a round of nine haunting and radiant originals. Brad mehldau is a pianist with a reputation for bill evansstyle quietude. Elegiac cycle released in 1999 was a revelation to me. Elegiac cycle by brad mehldau 93624735724 cd barnes.
Mehldaus most consistent output over the years has taken place in the trio format. T his collaboration between jazz pianist brad mehldau and the much. But a novel, a piece of music, a painting, would go one step further, a crucial. Two very different musicians hit a remarkable rapport on this double album. His first longterm trio featured bassist larry grenadier and drummer jorge rossy. His highly regarded 1999 elegiac cycle found him evincing the work of composers like brahms, chopin, and schumann.
Elegiac cycle is a solo studio album by american pianist brad mehldau. Mehldaus touch has always been light and deft, and. Check out elegiac cycle by brad mehldau on amazon music. For everyone finally, and to better enter the universe of the musician, these transcriptions are enriched by an interview with the composer and texts offering some keys to understanding all that makes the beauty and the completion of this album elegiac cycle. Elegiac cycle brad mehldau transcription pdf to excel. Brad mehldaus ruminative, harmonically nuanced jazz has long demonstrated a deep classical influence. Also included in the book is a recent interview with mehldau about the genesis of the record and where he stands with it now, and his approach to composition and playing. Mehldau studied music at the new school, and toured and recorded while still a student. In 2011, the french publisher outre mesure released in both english and french the complete transcription note for note of elegiac cycle, and some musical commentaries by philippe andre, the original manuscript lead sheets of brad mehldau and a long and recent interview by ludovic florin about the genesis of the record and where the musician stands with it now. While clearly informed by postbop traditions, mehldau also had one foot in a neoromantic style, explored most notably on his 1999 solo piano album elegiac cycle. Jeff ballard a virtuoso pianist among the most famous in the world of jazz, brad mehldau has largely performed on stage since the early 1990s.
Elegiac cycle is a studio work featuring all original compositions by mehldau. Bradford alexander mehldau is an american jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Brad mehldau is becoming a more interesting, more thoughtprovoking, more individualistic musician with each release breaking away from the same old models, finding new ones to integrate into his own personality. Looking back on elegiac cycle this essay is an excerpt from an extended interview conducted several years ago that appeared in the introductory material to the transcription book of brads record from 1999, elegiac cycle. During that same period, mehldau also released a solo piano recording entitled elegiac cycle, and a. Brad meldhau trio jazz numbered placement, duration. The 11 compositions on this cd were conceived on the road, and only midway through did mehldau realize that they developed similar ideas. Elegiac cycle is a beautifullycrafted cd that feature new material mehldau composed just before the making of this session.
A complete transcription of brad mehldaus record, elegiac cycle, has been released in france. Mon chien stupide bande originale du film brad mehldau. In it, brad looks back at the sources of inspiration that went into making the record at that time, like rilkes poetry and. Transcription book for mehldaus elegiac cycle released. Brad mehldaus ruminative, harmonically nuanced jazz has long evinced a deep classical influence. The art of the trio, volume one, warner records, 1997. He is first and foremost an improviser, and greatly cherishes the surprise and wonder that can occur from a spontaneous musical idea that is expressed directly, in real time. Brad mehldau biography, birth date, birth place and pictures. Elegiac cycle and places might be called concept albums. Music profile for brad mehldau, born 23 august 1970. The opening bard theme crops up throughout the record in different guises, and returns at the end. This book will allow jazz musicians to penetrate the universe of one of the most remarkable jazz pianists of this epoch with brad mehldau s original lead sheets. Provided to youtube by nonesuch ruckblick brad mehldau elegiac cycle. In the first elegy, rilke mentions a lament for linus from greek mythology.
Brad mehldau is an american pianist who has been able to make some very nice covers. He was a member of saxophonist joshua redmans quartet with bassist christian mcbride and drummer brian blade in the mid1990s, and has led his own trio since the early 1990s. Elegiac cycle, recorded in 1999, is a group of nine originals conceived for solo piano that form a cycle. New york barcelona crosssing,with perico sambeat, fresh sound, 1993. Grammy award winning jazz pianist brad mehldau has recorded and performed extensively since the early 1990s. Elegiac cycle and places might be called concept albums made up exclusively of original material with central themes that hover over the compositions. The label released its first album from the brad mehldau trioday is donein 2005. During that same period, mehldau also released a solo piano recording entitled elegiac cycle, and a record called places that included both solo piano and trio songs. The art of the trio, volume three, warner records, 1998. Havent heard such a great piano solo album in years. This idea of a theme reappearing at the end, transfigured, is an integral part of romantic song cycles like schuberts winterreise and cyclical music like schumanns.
The only potential disappointment arising from after bach may be for those who relished mehldaus written dissertations on some of his earlier releases such as the art of the trio 4. The brilliant, emotionally intense elegiac cycle warner bros. On elegiac cycle, mehldaus first solo piano outing, that tendency toward. I think the first real jazz record i listened to was an oscar peterson and joe pass duo album, one of those pablo things. Mehldau s touch has always been light and deft, and. Transcription book for mehldaus elegiac cycle released imntuesday september 2. Back at the vanguard warner bros, 1999 or the solo elegiac cycle warner bros, 1999. On elegiac cycle, mehldaus first solo piano outing, that tendency toward melancholy meets up with his rather obvious classical influences brahms, chopin, satie for a round of nine haunting and radiant originals.