Brad Mehldau Art Of The Trio Vol. 5: Progression CD

On this, Brad Mehldau's fifth installment of trio records, he returns to his jazzier roots by playing a series of standard tunes including "Long Ago and Far Away," "Alone Together," and "How Long Has This Been Going On." Recorded live at the Village Vanguard, this two-disc set offers listeners 13 chances to hear this band's cerebral swing. The opening track, the Mack Gordon/Harry Warren tune, "The More I See You" shows off Mehldau's improvisational skill as he whips around the keyboard, playing flurries of notes.

Other songs such as "Cry Me A River" bring out Mehldau's experimental edge, as he employs a series of soft yet sharp accents on the piano. Sometimes lyrical, sometimes percussive, Mehldau playing runs the gamut from familiar jazz stylings to eccentric, free-floating detours. Only true fans only will spend the time to read Mehldau's liner notes though. A dry, lengthy discourse on music and mankind--squeezed into a nine-point font--gives the feeling that Mehldau is digging in a little deeper than may be necessary.

Includes liner notes by Brad Mehldau.

Recorded at Village Vanguard, New York, New York on September 22-24, 2000.

Personnel: Brad Mehldau (piano); Jorge Rossy (drums).

Audio Mixer: James Farber.

Recording information: Village Vanguard, New York, NY (09/22/2000-09/24/2000).

Personnel: Brad Mehldau (piano); Larry Grenadier (bass); Jorge Rossy (drums).

CMJ (10/8/01, p.29) - "...Encompasses a mix of standards and originals....with arching, ever-shifting post-bop accompaniment that perfectly accompanies the pianist..."
Down Beat (12/01, pp.73-4) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Exhilarating..."
JazzTimes (12/01, p.138) - "...Gives evidence of of his artistic growth....he patiently reveals new ways of looking at a familiar composition..."
Mojo (Publisher) (11/01, p.106) - "...The swingers are harder and more inventive, the ballads deeper, amazingly he's just getting better..."