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THE BRAD MEHLDAU TRIO
Progression: Art of the Trio, Volume 5
 Warner 9362-48005-2
2CD
Amazon
UK
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The fifth volume of Brad Mehldau’s ongoing "Art
of the Trio" series builds on and extends the success of the past
four volumes. This is turning into one of the truly great series of
recordings, with each new volume bringing fresh delights.
Mehldau is again joined by Larry Grenadier on bass
and Jorge Rossy on drums. And it must be emphasised that the series
title is absolutely spot on - this is the art of the trio. Any
successful piano trio (as opposed to just piano plus rhythm section)
relies on a certain mysterious alchemy to make the whole greater than
the sum of its parts, and Grenadier and Rossy are as vital to the creative
process as Mehldau. For example, Grenadier’s solo on (the Mehldau original)
"Sublation" is a model of its type - swinging, integrated,
creative and economic. The three have played live together for over
six years, and they do not record material until it has been allowed
to grow and blossom in a live context. On this album (as on AOTT
Volumes 2 and 4) they were again recorded live at the Village Vanguard
in NYC, a venue that seems to bring out the best in them.
Progression is also an apt title for this album;
the trio is developing and progressing with each new release. It is
instructive to compare the version of Nick Drake’s "River Man"
here with the version on the 1998 (studio recorded) album Songs (AOTT
Volume 3). The studio version is a pleasing tiptoe around the melody,
with the occasional embellishment or variation, which fades out before
five minutes have elapsed. This live version is longer and far less
reverential, less self-consciously a cover of a non-standard piece.
(Or is "River Man" on its way to becoming a standard?) It
uses the melody more impressionistically and as a basis for improvisation.
It sounds like what it is - a song that the trio has lived with and
explored for a few years. It is crammed with invention from all three
players, and its eleven minutes flash by. It typifies the trio’s music;
Mehldau favours songs – from diverse sources (The Meat Puppets?!) -
with strong melodies, being particularly fond of standards. Here, these
include "The more I see you", "It might as well be spring",
"Secret Love" and "Cry me a river". Their melodies
give an accessible way into the trio’s music, but Mehldau then uses
them to tell his own stories, taking as much time and going down as
many byways as he feels like. Along the way, Mehldau uses his virtuosity
sparingly, rarely putting on a technical display. However, when he does
let rip, as on the start "Alone Together", it is awesome and
breathtaking. Mostly (mercifully!) the technique is subservient to the
feel and mood of the songs.
Mehldau gets the prize (again!) for the heaviest sleeve
notes of the year. This time, they constitute a philosophical, polemical
and poetical treatise on the relationship between music and language,
which would not disgrace the pages of an academic journal. Mehldau does
not admit much of a role for the humble reviewer: "To speak of
music is a folly, a futile attempt to break through its wordless fortress."
and "Speech-language by comparison [to music] is crippled from
the outset, a waterlogged form of communication." (Like doing a
dance about architecture, eh Brad?) OK, I’m off to consider my career.
John Eyles
CD Reviews
