Brad Mehldau: Modern Music (2011)

Modern Music, a collaboration between pianists Brad Mehldau and Kevin Hays and composer/arranger Patrick Zimmerli is out this week on Nonesuch Records. The album features pieces written by each of the three musicians as well as works by Steve Reich, Ornette Coleman, and Philip Glass, performed by the two pianists in arrangements by Zimmerli.Mehldau and Hays have been friends for some years and both played early in their career with Joshua Redman, a musical friendship Mehldau has rekindled lately on tour and on last year’s album Highway Rider. Zimmerli is a mutual friend and played in the same high school programme as Mehldau back in their Connecticut days, with Zimmerli going on to make a career within the parameters of the contemporary - classical music world. Brought in to the project initially as producer he offered repertoire ideas including settings of Steve Reich’s ‘Music for 18 Musicians’ and Glass’ ‘String Quartet No 5’, and contributed title track ‘Modern Music’ plus other tunes. Mehldau’s ‘Unrequited’ which appears on the recently released Live In Marciac album is also on Modern Music but Mehldau in publicity material comments that this album was a challenge in that the improvisation was often not in his or Hays’ comfort zone. “On ‘Modern Music’ there’s a part that calls for us to improvise in the right hand while playing something written in the left hand.

Tracklist:
1. Crazy Quilt
2. Unrequited
3. Generatrix
4. Celtic Folk Melody
5. Excerpt from Music for 18 Musicians
6. Lonely Woman
7. Modern Music
8. Elegia
9. Excerpt from String Quartet #5
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Anthony Wilson: ST (1997)

This was a very impressive debut by guitarist Anthony Wilson, the son of veteran bandleader Gerald Wilson. Anthony, who had won the Thelonious Monk competition for best composition ("Karaoke," which is included on this set), is a fine bop-based guitarist who is a particularly inventive composer/arranger. Seven of the ten selections on this disc are his, as are all of the arrangements other than Lucky Thompson's "The Parisian Knights," which was transcribed by Wilson from the original record. His charts utilize such top L.A.-based players as trumpeter Carl Saunders, trombonist Ira Nepus, Louis Taylor on various reeds, tenorman Pete Christlieb, baritonist Jack Nimitz, pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Danton Boller and drummer Willie Jones III. Bennie Wallace takes a guest tenor solo on "Southern Gentleman." The solo stars are Christlieb, Saunders and Wilson, and overall, this is a highly enjoyable effort, a strong start to Anthony Wilson's career.

Tracklist:
1. Fargas Shuffle
2. The Parisian Knights
3. Karaoke
4. Leila
5. The New Fawn-Do!
6. Southern Gentleman
7. Pachinko
8. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
9. Monsignor
10. Remington Ride
Anthony Wilson
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John Scofield: Works for Me (2000)

John Scofield describes the ensemble on WORKS FOR ME, made up of young jazz stars like alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett, pianist Brad Mehldau, and bassist Christian McBride, as his "one-time-only dream band." Anchoring it all, moreover, is the grand elder statesman Billy Higgins on drums. In honor of this talented company, or maybe because of it, Scofield returns to the straight-ahead swing style (albeit with a few trademark funky episodes), that he has periodically pursued throughout his career.
What works about WORKS is the expert meshing of the quintet, a combination of the talents of Scofield and his younger sidemen and Higgins's lush, unifying swing. The music is fresh and vibrant; each piece, be it ballad, bop, or blues, bristles with energy. Choice cuts include the crackling "Not You Again," the darker ballad "Love You Long Time," and the fittingly titled "Do I Crazy?" ”

Tracklist
01 - I'll Catch You
02 - Not You Again
03 - Big J
04 - Loose Canon
05 - Love You Long Time
06 - Hive
07 - Heel To Toe
08 - Do I Crazy?
09 - Mrs. Scofield's Waltz
10 - Six And Eight
11 - Freepie
Personnel
John Scofield - guitar
Kenny Garrett - alto saxophone
Brad Mehldau - piano
Christian McBride - bass
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