Archived · Jazz and Beyond · Jazz · 2 min read
Joshua Redman and Brad Mehldau - Nearness (Nonesuch Records 7559-79456-0 )
Joshua Redman and Brad Mehldau - Nearness (Nonesuch Records 7559-79456-0 ) Released to coincide with their world tour of 2016 and their performances at…
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Released to coincide with their world tour of 2016 and their performances at various venues in Australia, this perfect musical pairing of two of the most prominent and highly respected improvising virtuoso performers in Jazz today, is in fact their first duo recording. Brad Mehldau first came to prominence as a member Joshua Redman’s quartet in the 1990s before becoming a bandleader himself. The pair reunited in 2010 when Redman was featured on Mehldau’s album Highway Rider. In 2013, Mehldau was featured as a performer and producer on Redman’s recording Walking Shadows.Nearness features live performances captured during a previous 2011 European tour, comprising of three original tracks and three familiar jazz standards. There is a meticulousness to the continuous process of abstraction that Mehldau applies to a tune with a certain density of information. This can be followed by a stripped down emotionally direct interpretation of a ballad that comes from nowhere and knocks the wind out of you with its simplicity and clarity. Highlights of the recording are a sixteen minute rendition of Hoagy Carmichael’s The Nearness of You which displays Mehldau’s harmonic skills with a particularly skilful unaccompanied break from Redman on tenor sax. Another highlight is their interpretation of the Mehldau composition Old West with Redman’s dexterity and lyricism on soprano saxophone a sheer joy to listen to. On all of the tracks there are musically intelligent conversations between two stellar artists with Redman chasing the tune while Mehldau deconstructs the harmony and rhythm. As performers their virtuosity is unparalleled and highly recommended listening.
Barry O’Sullivan
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