Brad Mehldau is an American jazz pianist. He first recorded in 1991, for saxophonist Christopher Hollyday's The Natural Moment.Nicholson, Stuart (September 19, 1999) "Some Call It Plagiarism. In Brad Mehldau's Hands, It's Sheer Genius". The Observer. p. D8. Mehldau has recorded more than forty albums as leader or co-leader, many more as a sideman, and for several soundtracks.
Discography An asterisk (*) after the year indicates that it is the year of release.
As leader/co-leader Mehldau plays piano on all albums, unless otherwise indicated.
Year recordedTitleLabelNotes1993New York-Barcelona Crossing, Volumen 1 Fresh SoundQuartet, co-led with Perico Sambeat (alto sax), Mario Rossy (bass), Jorge Rossy (drums); in concert1993New York-Barcelona Crossing, Volumen 2 Fresh SoundQuartet, co-led with Perico Sambeat (alto sax), Mario Rossy (bass), Jorge Rossy (drums); in concert1993When I Fall in LoveFresh SoundTrio, as "Mehldau & Rossy Trio", with Mario Rossy (bass), Jorge Rossy (drums); in concert1994Consenting AdultsCriss CrossQuintet, as "MTB", with Mark Turner (tenor sax), Peter Bernstein (guitar), Larry Grenadier (bass), Leon Parker (drums); released 20001995Introducing Brad MehldauWarner Bros.Trio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jorge Rossy (drums) on most tracks; Christian McBride (bass), Brian Blade (drums) on some 1996The Art of the Trio Volume OneWarner Bros.Trio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jorge Rossy (drums)1996Marian McPartland's Piano JazzJazz AllianceSolo piano; duo with Marian McPartland (piano); conversation; radio broadcast, released on CD in 2007Conrad, Thomas (June 2007) "Marian McPartland/Brad Mehldau: Piano Jazz". JazzTimes.1997Live at the Village Vanguard: The Art of the Trio Volume Two Warner Bros.Trio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jorge Rossy (drums); in concert1998Songs: The Art of the Trio Volume ThreeWarner Bros.Trio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jorge Rossy (drums)1999Elegiac CycleWarner Bros.Solo piano1999Art of the Trio 4: Back at the Vanguard Warner Bros.Trio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jorge Rossy (drums); in concert2000Places Warner Bros.Some solo piano; some trio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jorge Rossy (drums)2000Progression: The Art of the Trio, Vol. 5 Warner Bros.Trio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jorge Rossy (drums); in concert2002LargoWarner Bros.With Larry Grenadier, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Darek Oleszkiewicz (bass), Matt Chamberlain, Jim Keltner, Jorge Rossy (drums), Victor Indrizzo (drums, percussion), Jon Brion (guitar, guitar synth, piano percussion), various others (horn instruments); Mehldau also plays vibraphone2002Anything GoesWarner Bros.Trio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jorge Rossy (drums)2003Live in TokyoNonesuchSolo piano; in concert2002–05House on HillNonesuchTrio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jorge Rossy (drums)2005Day Is Done NonesuchTrio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jeff Ballard (drums)2005Metheny MehldauNonesuchDuo, co-led with Pat Metheny (guitars, guitar synth); some quartet tracks, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jeff Ballard (drums) added2005Metheny Mehldau Quartet NonesuchQuartet, co-led with Pat Metheny (guitars, guitar synth), Larry Grenadier (bass), Jeff Ballard (drums); some duo tracks, with Metheny2006Brad Mehldau Trio LiveNonesuchTrio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jeff Ballard (drums)2006Love SublimeNonesuchDuo, co-led with Renée Fleming (vocals)2006Live in MarciacNonesuchSolo piano, in concert2007Long Ago and Far AwayImpulse!Duo, co-led with Charlie Haden (bass); in concert; released 20182009Highway RiderNonesuchWith Joshua Redman (soprano sax, tenor sax), Larry Grenadier (bass), Jeff Ballard (drums, percussion), Matt Chamberlain (drums), The Fleurettes (vocals), orchestra; Mehldau also plays various other instruments2010Love SongsNaïveDuo, co-led with Anne Sofie von Otter (vocals)2010Modern MusicNonesuchDuo, co-led with Kevin Hays (piano)2008–11OdeNonesuchTrio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jeff Ballard (drums)2008–11Where Do You StartNonesuchTrio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jeff Ballard (drums)2011NearnessNonesuchDuo, with Joshua Redman (saxophones)2013Variations on a Melancholy ThemeNonesuchWith Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; released 20212014*Mehliana: Taming the DragonNonesuchDuo, as "Mehliana", co-led with Mark Guiliana (drums, electronics); Mehldau also plays synthesizers, Fender Rhodes2004–1410 Years Solo LiveNonesuchSolo piano; in concert2012–14Blues and BalladsNonesuchTrio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jeff Ballard (drums)2012–14Seymour Reads the Constitution!NonesuchTrio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jeff Ballard (drums)2015–16Chris Thile & Brad MehldauNonesuchDuo, with Chris Thile (mandolin, vocals)2017After BachNonesuchSolo piano2017–18Finding GabrielNonesuchWith Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet), Chris Cheek (baritone sax, tenor sax), Charles Pillow (baritone sax, alto sax, soprano sax, bass clarinet), Joel Frahm (tenor sax), Michael Thomas (alto sax, flute), Sara Caswell (violin), Lois Martin (viola), Noah Hoffeld (cello), Mark Guiliana (drums), Aaron Nevezie (effects), Kurt Elling, Gabriel Kahane, "Snorts" Malibu and Becca Stevens (vocals)2020Suite: April 2020NonesuchSolo piano2020Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays The BeatlesNonesuchSolo piano; in concert2020–21Jacob's LadderNonesuchWith various; Mehldau plays multiple instruments2022The Folly of DesirePentatoneDuo, with Ian Bostridge (vocals)2017–23After Bach IINonesuchSolo piano2023Après FauréNonesuchSolo piano2023Solid JacksonCriss CrossQuintet, as "MTB", with Mark Turner (tenor sax), Peter Bernstein (guitar), Larry Grenadier (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)2025Ride into the SunNonesuchWith John Davis (bass), Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion), Daniel Rossen (guitar, vocals), Chris Thile (mandolin, vocals), Felix Moseholm (bass), orchestra
Promotional album (not for sale): Deregulating Jazz (trio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jorge Rossy (drums)) (Warner Bros., released 2000)"Brad Mehldau – Deregulating Jazz". AllMusic. Retrieved April 5, 2014."Brad Mehldau – Deregulating Jazz". discogs.com Retrieved April 5, 2014.
Compilation with other tracks by Eliane Elias, Dave Grusin, Herbie Hancock, and Bob James: Portrait of Bill Evans (JVC, around 2002)
Compilation containing some additional material: The Art of the Trio: Recordings 1996–2001 (Nonesuch)Kelman, John (November 28, 2011) "Brad Mehldau: The Art of the Trio – Recordings 1996–2001". All About Jazz.
As sideman Year recordedLeaderTitleLabel1991The Natural MomentNovus1992Somethin's Burnin' Criss Cross1992A Good ThingKoch Jazz1992 Downtown Sounds Criss Cross 1993Young at ArtConcord1994Signs of LifeCriss Cross1994MoodswingWarner Bros.1994Yam YamCriss Cross1995AdemuzFresh Sound1996 Moving InConcord1996 Alone TogetherBlue Note1997Anthony WilsonMAMA1997Another Shade of Blue Blue Note1997AdamaStretch1998*TeatroIsland1998*Timeless Tales (For Changing Times)Warner Bros.1998In This WorldWarner Bros.1998*12 Bar Blues Atlantic1999RoadhouseVerve1999VineFresh Sound1999Close Enough for Love EmArcy1999The Water Is WideECM1999Hyperion with HigginsECM2000Portrait in SoundStretch2000Works for Me Verve2001*Play It CoolWarner Bros.2001 ScarMammoth2001CommunionConcord2001Man of Many ColorsCriss Cross2001Don't Explain Palmetto2002*ViniciusTransparent Music2002Heart's ContentCriss Cross2002American Dreams Verve2003*FireCoast to Coast2003FriendshipACT2003*Alegría Verve2003Stranger in ParadiseVenus2004*With All My Heart Bluebird2004*Like a Dream Cryptogramophone2005*BelladonnaANTI-2005*Deep Song Verve2005Blues CruiseFresh Sound2005San FranciscoSunnyside2006PilgrimageTelarc2007CymbalsNaïve2008The Bright Mississippi Nonesuch2009Live at BirdlandECM2009Not by Chance Anzic2009Israeli Song Anzic2009Samba CariocaNaïve2009*Art of Love: Music of MachautDeutsche Grammophon2012Walking ShadowsNonesuch2012Petra Goes to the MoviesANTI-2013Three Times ThreeCAM Jazz2014*The Original MobSmoke Sessions2014*Christmas in New YorkDecca2014*PeaceSunnyside2016*ConvergenceMack Avenue2016Rising GraceECM2017*GratitudeContagious Music2017*Signs Live!Smoke Sessions2018*Brazilian DreamSunnyside2018Where the River GoesECM2019*Crane Like the BirdCrane Like the Bird2019*VoxHeartcore2019*A Life BetweenSoundsabound2007–2019LongGoneNonesuch2019RoundAgainNonesuch2022 Eagle's PointEdition2024Better AngelsSmoke Sessions
Soundtracks Vanya on 42nd Street (1994)Strick, Philip (January 1, 1995) "Vanya on 42nd Street". Sight and Sound. Volume 5/1. p. 61. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Space Cowboys (2000) The Million Dollar Hotel (2000) Ma femme est une actrice (2001) Ils se marièrent et eurent beaucoup d'enfants (2004) Mon chien stupide (2019)
Sources:"Discography of Brad Mehldau". linge.de Retrieved February 10, 2014."Brad Mehldau". AllMusic. Retrieved April 5, 2014.Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008) The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.) Penguin. .
References