Brad Mehldau Trio - Alone Together (Piano Solo / Montreal 2000)

[Vicehual]

This is still tonalism... he hasn't go that far as "atonal", he is just elaborating. Atonal is not the same as "not understandable", but for some reason it has got that reputation. Brad is a genius, because he knows on whom shoulders should stand, and he puts both heart, mind, and fingers, he is not partial...

[Kwchief09]

Im not sure what this whole "technical vs emotional" argument is about. Does he not create a broad range of emotional textures and ideas while utilizing freakish technique? Quit thinking of ways to pull the music apart and LISTEN to it. Its called music theory for a reason. Its a theoretical explanation for the methods used to express.

[v2iame]

sooo... hmmm... anyone wanna transcribe this?

[tothemax91]

Where's the rest!

[nobodady1]

how does he do it?

[jazzdanijazz]

Increíble!!!!!

[das499]

...

[Sandemose]

Man, and I who have problems with Bm-

E7-Gm7-C7...I sure got more than I asked for. Yes. Brad, as always is tearing stuff apart.

Best, Sandemose

[joe1joe2joe1]

i think i just jizzed a little

[smitschagen]

J.S. Bach is smiling from heaven, he would have done similar things if he lived now

fuga and passaqualia on a theme

man is this difficult even to listen to

[Mondhund]

wow, the man with the 2 brains... I mean how else can you handle this complexity?

[keelan111]

Basically, he's doing for jazz tonality what Bartok did for Classical tonality - problematizing it.

[ChrisLeePiano]

its not "pretty easy" actually. I'm a professional jazz pianist and it's really difficult to get to the level of his expertise. And good listeners, especially who knows how to listen to post bop stuff can easily follow what he's doing. So he's not doing wahtever he wants just cuz not many people know what hes doing.

[pfmfan38]

long discussion, he follows some line indeed, But fantasy is indeed damn necessary in jazz, isn't it ? AND,

Hard to hear any melody in this vid, rithm I'm just not able to follow. You mazy say this is technically superb, but music is not only technique: it's about emotions. I just don't lke this piece, as well as others of extraordinary pianist's. Ciao

[ChrisLeePiano]

right. this is more of a technical improvisation than an emotional and lyrical solo. But being able to use these odd metered polyrhythms and motific development without an accompniment is worthy or praise.. His ballads are also amazing in emotional way.

[Sandemose]

Is music about emotion? Says who? I dont think so. Emotion = music is not an axiom.

Best, Sandemose

[LeoceFelice]

@Sandemose: at least I say ! But I'm not alone !

So why to enjoy music? It would be enough to say "this shit is technically incredible and I'd never be able to play such a horrible no-tune: no need to enjoy, but great". This wouldn't work.

I'm not referring to this vid, careful, I'm talking theoretically.

Have fun my friend !

[JohnnyJohnnyJohnny]

@Sandemose I've always had trouble with people's obsession with relating diatonic and metrically "safe" playing is somehow more emotional.

If anything, I think outside playing, atonality, and non-standard meter are more emotional because they're an unbiased representation of how everyone feels at their core: uneven, confused, and complicated. Allegorically, I'd even venture to say that mature love is non-diatonic.

[Sandemose]

@JohnnyJohnnyJohnny duuude, wicked comment. I dig.

Best, Sandemose

[tapintoamerica]

chris lee--i do agree with you he's fantastic. and i really dig modern jazz including mehldau, rosenwinkel,... still, as a jazz pianist can you tell me if the melody is played here over a strict metronome rhythm? i do find it hard to listen to reharmonizations that don't adhere to a strict time. it has more of a feeling of an exercise and less of music, somehow. joe pass would do that too, although he often wouldn't...peace

[ChrisLeePiano]

Melody isn't played over a strict metronome rhythm. In fact, he is extending and streching out (on purpose) his solos over the tune's chord progressions in pretty precise time. It's almost impossible for someone to improvise especially solo piano to be "metronome strict" timing. it's probly because he's playing the song in 7 and using a lot of counter lines and swtiching the solos between left and right hands. It took me years to understand it but,.. after awhile it grows in you. Just my opinion

[ChrisLeePiano]

and yeah he "mentions" the melody rather than flat out showing it to the audience. It's more of a "melodic development" which goes further and further with reharms and rhythmic variations.. It's true that it's hard to listen to, but that's what makes it fun at the same time. Just my thoughts as well. Afterall, the best music is what sounds the best to each of us.

[MCalixte89]

@ChrisLeePiano youre right...hes fantastic but he plays for musicians. only musicians mostly can appreciate sojme od hi works, but he should be playing for for the audience thugh..Bill Evans is my favorute pianist but that problem is what makes Oscar Peterson more popular

[Utubegoogleguy]

The camera person is doing some amazing work also. Watch how the shots go instantly from side to side, then zoom out, from same position, and there's no camera guy where you thought he'd have to be to get the shot just prior to the zoom out. Amazing!!

[LucaAnzalone]

There are jazz pianists. And there is Brad.

[drlluc]

im not agree, bran is a jazz pianist 100%, you hear in his notes some stuff about the masters and he is only a perfecte example (and a very good player) of the actual jazz. brad is so good, a master, but is a jazz pianist completly

[soypolitico]

he is the Roger Federer of jazz piano. And by that, I mean he is the star of our times. I'm sure there is some analogy there...

[niepce38]

lol then Ethan Iverson is Rafael Nadal

[jazzmuziq]

nasty playing..

all these polyrhythms and melody switching and interplaying btwn two hands and reharmonization. Sickest pianist. One of my 3 favorite pianist of all time with Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea

[Utubegoogleguy]

It's actually pretty easy though, because no one listening can even keep track of what the beat or rhythm really is, so there's never a chance for him to make a mistake. Check out Red Garland or Oscar Peterson, even Erroll Garner.

[jbowers56]

Maybe you can't keep track of it...

[MCalixte89]

@jazzmuziq im shocked Bill Evans isn't on that list