Highway Rider [Double CD]

This double-CD release from Brad Mehldau offers a variety of settings: Brad solo piano (one track); duet between Brad and Joshua Redman on tenor sax (one track); Mehldau trio (Larry Grenadier on acoustic bass and either Jeff Ballard and/or Matt Chamberlain on drums and/or percussions) (three tracks); Mehldau trio plus Joshua Redman (three tracks); Mehldau trio plus Joshua Redman and a chamber orchestra (five tracks); two tracks with the chamber orchestra only. Settings assorted as to describe a variety of landscapes, from joyful atmospheres to dark scenarios in a continuous up and down of sounds and musical ideas (all Brad original compositions). A musical travel between the easier pieces in trio and with Redman (in some ways vaguely recalling their Moodswing 1994 recording) to the slower and often shady orchestral parts.

If you like the more conventional jazz releases of Mehldau (solo, trio, duo and quartet with Pat Metheny, duo with Joel Frahm 2004 Don't Explain) and you were disappointed by his 2001 release Largo, maybe this Highway Rider is not for you. If you enjoyed Brad jazz releases as well as Largo, maybe you will like HR too. Just keep in mind that HR is not Largo Part 2 (even if both releases have in common the same producer). While in Largo there is an homogeneous music presentation and you know you are listening to rock-influenced jazz, in HR you are travelling between modern acoustic jazz and something more similar to contemporary classical music with jazz contaminations. Whichever the case, just one attention: HR requires repeated listening to be fully appreciated. At first it's easy to be disoriented by its unpredictability.

One additional comment about sound quality: the music was edited and mixed with some unnatural stereo positioning of instruments and dynamic compression. A similar (but heavier) approach was also used in Largo. The result is less pleasant as compared to other productions capturing the natural ambience of the recording location and the full dynamic range of instruments. Full marks to the music, 3.5 stars to the recorded sound, 3 stars to the flimsy cardboard CD package.

Someone once said that it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive. That saying seems to have a particular relevance to this latest release from Brad Mehldau.

I should begin by stating that I'm a long-time Mehldau fan and I'm generally well disposed to his explorations beyond the confines of his regular trio. Lately though, I've been finding his recorded output rather less interesting. This most recent cd feels as if it may have been conceived as a concept, though having listened to it a few times I'm left wondering what the motivation for making it was. I'm guessing that Mehldau wanted to try his hand at several things such as exploring the possibilities of working with a larger sound palette, and allowing himself a greater compositional freedom. These are admirable and understandable motivations for an artist at the point in their career that Mehldau has reached. However, it doesn't quite work for the listener.

Generally, I like Mehldau's compositions - I think 'House on Hill' is an outstanding disc of all-Mehldau material. However, the compositions on 'Highway Rider' are too baggy and rather lacking in pace and dynamics. This is compounded by the orchestration which, rather than embellishing them, seems to further sap the energy from the tunes. Also, the assignment of certain themes and melodies to particular orchestral instruments often leaves them sounding fairly trite. If you want an example of how it can all work beautifully, then try John Scofield's excellent disc 'Quiet' or Kenny Wheeler's 'Other People'. I can't help feeling that a producer other than Brion might have challenged some of these tendencies. However, as someone else has noted in their review here, Brion's production is itself rather flat and strange sounding. The result is that it all feels like a bit of a joyless plod.

Given all I've said above, I find I do keep listening to 'Highway Rider'. Maybe I'm travelling hopefully along with Brad? Not a total turkey then, but certainly not an outright triumph either.

There is an unwritten rule in jazz,that all musicians should at some stage work with an orchestra,some fail,and some like this magnum opus pass with flying colours.throughout this intiguing journey the musical landscape changes.
The musicianship is second to none,as usual Meldhau plays with feeling and depth,with the ever reliable Jeff Ballard on drums,Matt Chamberlain also Drums,Larry Grenadier on bass and Joshua redman on tenor sax.
This is a disc to listen to and treasure,