Brad Mehldau, Pat Metheny - Metheny / Mehldau
List Price:
Our Price: $11.53
You Save: $9.43 (45%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.45 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: Brad Mehldau, Pat MethenyEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2006-09-12
Music Label: Nonesuch
Product features:
- METHENY PAT / MEHLDAU BRAD METHENY - MEHLDAU
- Unrequited
- Ahmid-6
- Summer Day
- Ring Of Life
- Legend
- Find Me In Your Dreams
- Say The Brother's Name
- Bachelors III
- Annie's Bittersweet Cake
- Make Peace
Music reviews of Metheny / Mehldau
Music Review: Compelling
Rating: 5 Stars
That's the only way I can describe this CD. It literally compelled me to sit still and listen. Usually I can listen to a new CD in the background while I work but no, with this one I had to stop everything, sit down and listen.
These two are established giants in jazz - Metheny in guitar and with the Pat Metheny Group and Mehldau in piano and with the Brad Mehldau trio. They speak on the inner sleeve notes of having been huge fans of each other; Metheny says the first time he heard Mehldau's solo on the song "Chill" (from the Joshua Redman Quartet CD "MoodSwing") on his car radio, he had to pull over in his car to listen to it. I reviewed that record just recently so I know what he speaks about. For me personally, it was Mehldau's work on John Scofield's album "Works For Me" that made me stand up and take notice. From the solo on the first song "I'll Catch You", I was like, wow. I've been a huge Brad's fan ever since.
Mehldau on the other hand woke up to Metheny after hearing the live version of "Are You Going With Me?" on the PMG CD "Travels". Everything Metheny does is magic to me so again, I could identify.
Pat writes seven out of the ten songs, Brad the other three. On eight out of the ten they play as a duo and on the other two - "Ring of Life" (a real swinger, with Pat on guitar synth) and "Say The Brother's Name", they form a quartet with Larry Grenadier on bass and Jeff Ballard on drums. (Grenadier and Ballard formed the trio with Mehldau on last year's "Day Is Done".)
Each song is a delight and it's really interesting to see how the two almost seem to articulate their mutual respect for each other in the playing. No one tries to outplay the other and I almost get the sense that they support each other through their respective solos. It's like, play brother, I got your back. They play with each other as opposed to against each other like some players do. I'm used to hearing this kind of playing between Metheny and Lyle Mays but Brad is a totally different kind of piano player and this makes it all the more interesting to listen to.
My only worry was with the song "Say The Brother's Name". Pat did this song with John Scofield on their joint project "I Can See Your House From Here" and that song is one of my all time favourites. It's almost sacrosanct. I couldn't see it being bettered here and I was worried it would be all messed up in my psyche and stuff. Stupid, I know but what can I say?
In reality, the song is just performed very differently here (duh!). It's a bit faster, with a bit more kick to the drums, which makes it a bit livelier and the increased pace makes it seem a bit longer. (It's actually three seconds shorter). I think they did a good job with it. I'll never like it more than the old version but I like it enough.
"Make Peace", with Pat on baritone acoustic guitar, is a song for our time if there ever was one. It rounds off the album beautifully.
I doubt I'd have to persuade any fan of either man here to get this album but even if you've never bought anything by Pat Metheny or Brad Mehldau before and want to try them out - this is a great place to start. It showcases what each man is about, musically and brings it all together in a compelling but enjoyable package. Five stars easily.
PS. I read somewhere recently, that this is the first of two sets of songs the duo recorded together. The second set is due to be released in a second album due out sometime next year.
Description of Metheny / Mehldau
For Brad Mehldau, this collaboration started at that "life-changing moment" when, as a 13-year-old, a friend played him "Are You Going With Me" from the Pat Methany Group's 1982 live double-album, Travels. Years later, Pat Methany heard "Chill" from saxophonist Joshua Redman's 1994 album Moodswing that featured Brad Mehldau on piano. Since, the two artists have forged an artistic partnership based on shared inspiration, not just mutual admiration. This album features music by both Methany and Mehldau, and was recorded at Right Track Studio (NYC) in December of 2005.This is a dream pairing: Pat Metheny, the Baby Boomer guitar god whose musical palette embraces everything from Ornette Coleman to contemporary jazz, teams with pianist Brad Mehldau, the brooding Gen X prince of the piano on the verge of becoming himself. After admiring each other for years, they're now on the same label, and this dynamic duel extends their mutual admiration into a very personal and simpatico release that recalls the intimacy of that 1960s Jim Hall/Bill Evans masterpiece, Undercurrent. Save for Mehldau's bandmates drummer Jeff Ballard and bassist Larry Grenadier forming a quartet on the bop-mazed "Ring of Life" and the Afro-Caribbean cadences of "Say the Brother's Name," it's two for the road on the rest of the recording. When you hear selections like "Unrequited," "Ahmid-6," and "Make Peace," you know that this CD is only the start of something big from these two artists. --Eugene Holley, Jr.
Jazz CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Jazz CDs
Curtis Brothers Quartet - Blood, Spirit, Land, Water, FreedomRelease date: 2009-10-01; Music CD
![Jazz Casual - 3-Pack Vol. 1 (Count Basie, Carmen McRae, John Coltrane) [VHS] Image](/images/Jazz-Casual-3-Pack-Vol-1-Count-Basie-Carmen-McRae-John-Coltrane-VHS-6305320578-X.jpg)
Jazz Casuals: Coltrane Basie & Mcrae - Jazz Casual - 3-Pack Vol. 1 (Count Basie, Carmen McRae, John Coltrane) [VHS]Rhino / Wea; Release date: 1999-05-04; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $43.28
![Jazz Legend: Part 2 1970-1987 [VHS] Image](/images/Jazz-Legend-Part-2-1970-1987-VHS-6303400787-X.jpg){kind=small}
Buddy Rich - Jazz Legend: Part 2 1970-1987 [VHS]Warner Brothers Pub.; Release date: 2000-10-20; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $10.75
Price in other shops:
![Living Legend of the Electric Guitar [VHS] Image](/images/Living-Legend-of-the-Electric-Guitar-VHS-6302658225-X.jpg){kind=small}
Les Paul - Living Legend of the Electric Guitar [VHS]Bmg Video Label; Release date: 1993-02-09; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $19.95
Price in other shops:
![Hurricane [VHS] Image](/images/Hurricane-VHS-6302251281-X.jpg){kind=small}
Herbie Hancock - Hurricane [VHS]View Video; Release date: 1992-04-07; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $2.50
Cocktails for Twoby band leader Spike Jones
Music CD
Best price: $19.95
![Dave Grusin and the NY/LA Dream Band [VHS] Image](/images/Dave-Grusin-and-the-NY-LA-Dream-Band-VHS-6301724496-X.jpg)
Dave Grusin - Dave Grusin and the NY/ LA Dream Band [VHS]Umgd; Release date: 1990-06-26; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.93
Price in other shops:
![Diane Schuur & Count Basie Orchestra [VHS] Image](/images/Diane-Schuur-Count-Basie-Orchestra-VHS-630164770X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Count Basie, Diane Schuur - Diane Schuur & Count Basie Orchestra [VHS]Grp Records; Release date: 1996-01-30; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops:
Damals in HamburgRelease date: 1999-08-11; Music CD
Best price: $23.54
Ben Webster - Ben WebsterRelease date: 2006-12-20; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Similar CDs
Pat Metheny - Road to YouPAT METHENY GROUP; Release date: 2006-02-07; Music CD
Best price: $8.43
Price in other shops:
Further ExplorationsRelease date: 2012-01-17; Music CD
Best price: $11.66
Price in other shops:
Pat Metheny Trio - Day TripRelease date: 2008-01-29; Music CD
Best price: $12.47
Price in other shops:
Pat Metheny - The Way UpRelease date: 2005-01-25; Music CD
Best price: $9.89
Price in other shops:
Like MindsRelease date: 2003-09-09; Music CD
Best price: $12.33
Price in other shops:
Pat Metheny - Trio 99-00Release date: 2000-02-08; Music CD
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops:
Pat Metheny - What's It All AboutRelease date: 2011-06-14; Music CD
Best price: $8.58
Price in other shops:
Brad Mehldau - OdeRelease date: 2012-03-20; Music CD
Best price: $9.12
Price in other shops:
Pat Metheny - One Quiet NightMETHENY,PAT; Release date: 2009-05-05; Music CD
Best price: $11.17
Price in other shops:
Brad Mehldau, Pat Metheny - Metheny Mehldau QuartetRelease date: 2007-03-13; Music CD
Best price: $11.35
Price in other shops: