Brad Mehldau

With his intense playing style Brad Mehldau – born in Jacksonville, Florida on August 23, 1970 - epitomizes the image of the jazz pianist. Combining virtuoso solos and blending them with pop, rock, and classical influences, he adds subtle nuances to his music, making it accessible to audiences beyond the hardcore jazz fans. His is a style which has won him accolades from around the world and has influenced musicians across genres. Able to play two melodies simultaneously, Brad Mehldau is able to construct extraordinarily complex jazz passages within his songwriting. He began his recording career playing on saxophonist Chris Hollyday's album The Natural Moment (1991). A year later, he formed his own trio with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jorge Rossy and released his debut album Introducing Brad Mehldau (1992). During this period, he struggled with drug addiction and relocated to Los Angeles, California in an effort to recover. Brad Mehldau has been cited as one of the most influential jazz pianists of the late 20th century. In 2018, he released an album of solo piano music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. The album, After Bach, featured Mehldau's take on “The Well-Tempered Clavier” as well as two compositions of his own. He reconvened with his trio and released the album Seymour Reads the Constitution (2018). The following year, he issued the album Finding Gabriel, which won the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. In 2020, he released the solo piano release Suite: April 2020, which was followed by Variations on a Melancholy Theme, an album recorded in 2013 with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra but unreleased until 2021. Over the course of his career, Brad Mehldau collaborated with many artists including Chris Thile, Lee Konitz, Joshua Redman, Scott Weiland, Renée Fleming, Allen Toussaint, and many others. Nominated for 11 Grammy Awards since his debut album, he finally won the 2020 award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Finding Gabriel. In April 2022, Brad Mehldau released the album Jacob’s Ladder, which was an album that blended religious themes with his progressive rock and jazz fusion influences. The album – which features musical assistance from Chris Thile, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and others – includes original compositions as well as cover versions of songs by Yes, Gentle Giant, and Rush. Brad Mehldau returned to his influences with the release of 2023’s Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays The Beatles. The album featured songs penned by John Lennon & Paul McCartney and George Harrison as well as a cover of David Bowie’s “Life On Mars?”

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