Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Track Listings
| Disc: 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Storm | |||
| 2. It's All Right With Me | |||
| 3. Secret Love | |||
| 4. Unrequited | |||
| 5. Resignation | |||
| 6. Trailer Park Ghost | |||
See all 8 tracks on this disc
| |||
| Disc: 2 | |||
| 1. Things Behind The Sun | |||
| 2. Lithium | |||
| 3. Lilac Wine | |||
| 4. Martha My Dear | |||
| 5. My Favorite Things | |||
| 6. Dat Dere | |||
| Disc: 3 | |||
| 1. Storm / It's All Right With Me | |||
| 2. Secret Love | |||
| 3. Unrequited | |||
| 4. Resignation | |||
| 5. Trailer Park Ghost | |||
| 6. Goodbye Storyteller [for Fred Myrow] / Exit Music [for a Film] | |||
|
See all 11 tracks on this disc
| |||
Product Description
Review
As a jazz pianist, Brad Mehldau has always been at his best in two formats: the classic piano-bass-drums trio and as a solo player. Later in 2011, Nonesuch plans to re-issue his great The Art of the Trio recordings as a six-disc box set. Meanwhile, on Live in Marciac, Mehldau is heard playing alone before an enthusiastic audience at the August 2006 Marciac Jazz festival – his first solo release since 2004’s Live in Tokyo.
Live in Marciac consists of two CDs plus a DVD, altogether over 100 minutes of music. Remarkably, across its length the virtuosity and excitement levels never dip. After repeated hearings, the music sounds as fresh as ever. Typically for Mehldau, the repertoire is a mix of original compositions and an eclectic selection of songs.
Alongside standards by Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hammerstein are songs by Mehldau favourites Radiohead, Nick Drake and The Beatles. More surprising is the inclusion of James Shelton’s Lilac Wine – popularised by Jeff Buckley – and Nirvana’s Lithium. Although classically trained, Mehldau clearly listens widely, and is a magpie for a catchy melody.
Despite such diversity, the album has an overall sense of unity. Without going to excessive lengths, Mehldau explores each piece forensically, teasingly playing around with its melody and occasionally investigating side alleys. As is his habit, he revisits pieces he has explored before; for instance, this is his third version of Radiohead’s Exit Music (For a Film). Mehldau is constantly playing, never still, with both hands ranging across the entire keyboard. His music is so rich that at times it is possible to believe two players are at work.
The DVD is the first ever of Mehldau in concert; he is seen performing all but one of the album tracks. Being able to watch Mehldau’s hands, fingers, facial expressions, concentration, effort and sweat enhances the listening experience, providing an intimacy even denied to audience members. The DVD also offers the opportunity to see a scrolling transcription of Resignation while Mehldau plays it, making it the cherry on the top of an already excellent album.
--John Eyles
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Product Description
CD+DVD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Brad Mehldau's new album is superb. As a musician he has it all: great technique, fierce intelligence and a sense of adventure in his choice of material. He plays wonderfully with others as his trio work and collaborations with Pat Metheny show, but playing live solo seems to bring out something extra special. Right up there with the previously released and also stunning Live In Tokyo.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A. Zona
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
After Elegiac Cycle (recorded in studio in 1999) and Live in Tokyo (recorded live in 2003), this Live in Marciac (recorded live on August 2nd 2006) is the third solo piano album from Brad Mehldau. About 100 minutes of music divided in two CDs (60+40) plus a DVD containing the video recording of the same concert with the same tracks in the two CDs except for the last one. The ingredients are basically the same of most of other Mehldau's albums: a beautiful blend of original compositions, renowned jazz standards, rock-pop tunes. I have to confess that I'm a big fan of Brad Mehldau, I have all his CDs and seen him live in concert several times. So I was looking forward to listening this new release but honestly I was not expecting results much different than those already heard. Primarily because the repertoire proposed is mostly made of compositions already in his previous solo or trio recordings. However I was wrong and nicely surprised: Mehldau plays here more unrestrained than ever, more dynamic than ever, always full of energy. Each track is reinvented and a new perspective comes out. A real delight. In addition the recorded sound is great and the piano sound is beautifully captured (warm, natural and with a full and realistic dynamic range), better than the previous Live in Tokyo.
The DVD is a nice plus and its image quality is fairly good. Frankly there in not much going on, just Brad sitting and playing the piano, close-ups are conventional and you won't discover much about the way he moves his fingers along the piano keyboard. The DVD audio is only 2.0 Dolby Digital (two-channel stereo) and I found it of inferior quality as compared to the stereo tracks on the two CDs. I would consider the DVD just a bonus, but I won't recommend buying this Live in Marciac just for the video. Listen and enjoy the two CDs instead!
The DVD is a nice plus and its image quality is fairly good. Frankly there in not much going on, just Brad sitting and playing the piano, close-ups are conventional and you won't discover much about the way he moves his fingers along the piano keyboard. The DVD audio is only 2.0 Dolby Digital (two-channel stereo) and I found it of inferior quality as compared to the stereo tracks on the two CDs. I would consider the DVD just a bonus, but I won't recommend buying this Live in Marciac just for the video. Listen and enjoy the two CDs instead!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Quite why it has taken 5 years for this two cd/one dvd set to be released is something of a mystery, but the wait has been well worthwhile.
Those familiar with the work of Mehldau will need no recommendation from me. However,what the title does not reveal is that this is a SOLO album and in my opinion Mehldau isat his best in this setting He is also before a live audience which seems to inspire him.My previous Mehldau favourite was 2003's Live in Tokyo which was also a solo effort.Although Brad Mehldau is a fine composer and there are several excellent examples here such as "Unrequited',I think he is at his best when he interprets other composers songs.There are the predictable standards such as Cole Porters 'It's Alright With Me' and Jazz Standards such as Bobby Timmon's 'Dat Dere' but what I am most impressed with are his interpretatons of less predictable items.He is an exquisite player of Nick Drake's songs and like the Tokyo session this contains a superb [and suptly different]treatment of "Things Behind The Sun' This makes you realise hat a great songwriter Drake was. What Mehldau seems to be able to do is to bring out the essence of a song rather than try to impress with how clever his technique is.He achieves the same with such diverse as Kurt Cobain;s 'Lithium' and Radioheads 'Exit Music' Even more impressive is the way in which he breaths new life into such wee worn pieces as My Favourite Things and 'My Secret Love'..a thing of delicate exquisite beauty.
The accompanying Dvd covers some of the concert and a transcription of 'Resignation' Highly recommended.
Those familiar with the work of Mehldau will need no recommendation from me. However,what the title does not reveal is that this is a SOLO album and in my opinion Mehldau isat his best in this setting He is also before a live audience which seems to inspire him.My previous Mehldau favourite was 2003's Live in Tokyo which was also a solo effort.Although Brad Mehldau is a fine composer and there are several excellent examples here such as "Unrequited',I think he is at his best when he interprets other composers songs.There are the predictable standards such as Cole Porters 'It's Alright With Me' and Jazz Standards such as Bobby Timmon's 'Dat Dere' but what I am most impressed with are his interpretatons of less predictable items.He is an exquisite player of Nick Drake's songs and like the Tokyo session this contains a superb [and suptly different]treatment of "Things Behind The Sun' This makes you realise hat a great songwriter Drake was. What Mehldau seems to be able to do is to bring out the essence of a song rather than try to impress with how clever his technique is.He achieves the same with such diverse as Kurt Cobain;s 'Lithium' and Radioheads 'Exit Music' Even more impressive is the way in which he breaths new life into such wee worn pieces as My Favourite Things and 'My Secret Love'..a thing of delicate exquisite beauty.
The accompanying Dvd covers some of the concert and a transcription of 'Resignation' Highly recommended.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 8 reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A favourite in a favourite jazz festival settings
I might be a Brad Mehldau addict but I can't find a more adventourus and skilled pianoplayer of today. In his own right he beats everything on the scene. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Rolf L
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intellectual Jazz
Like several other reviewers, my previous peak of enjoyment for Brad Mehldau was Live in Tokyo, an extraordinary album that balances his smart, stylish approach to performance &... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Sordel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb!
This is a pretty late release of a live Mehldau solo outing in France in 2006. But what a concert! His brilliance as an improviser is breathtaking, especially when you see him at... Read more
Published on 28 April 2011 by J. Lamede
2.0 out of 5 stars
diapointed
Sorry Brad but your music realy needs 'The Trio' I found the music 'Pounding and not the subtle tuneful feel that you usualy exhibit
Published on 13 April 2011 by D. M. Lambert
4.0 out of 5 stars
mehldau magic
This CD/DVD encapsulates Brad Mehldau's great musical talent and ablity to generate outstanding harmonic and
rhythmic sound that not only moves one but also transports the... Read more
rhythmic sound that not only moves one but also transports the... Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2011 by MIKE
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
