Jacob's Ladder

Brad Mehldau

Released on 3/18/22 by Nonesuch
Main artists: Brad Mehldau
Genre: Jazz

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Brad Mehldau has never snubbed the music of his time. On the contrary, he’s seen as the heir to the legacy created by Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett. In fact, he’s often had to remove the crown people so desperately wanted to place upon his head during his early days. However, Jacob’s Ladder is Brad Mehldau’s most unusual project yet... It sees him branch into the realms of progressive rock and venture beyond the ordinary. This album is predominantly a nod to retro: a throwback to Mehldau’s youth when he was gorging on prog music by Rush, Emerson, Lake and Palmer. "Prog – progressive rock – was the music of my childhood before I discovered jazz. It was the fantasy and Sci-Fi books I’d read by C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle and many others, when I was 10, 12. It was my gateway to the fusion of Miles Davis, Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra and other groups, which in turn was the gateway to more jazz. The prog from Rush, Gentle Giant, and Emerson, Lake and Palmer… These bands and others have continued to influence newer groups that bring prog impulses into the arena of hard rock and screaming math metal, like Periphery, whose music is included here and inspired the powerful vocals in Herr und Knecht. ”

The result is as confusing and eclectic as 70s progressive rock gets. With drummer Mark Guiliana, saxophonist Joel Frahm, mandolinist Chris Thile, guitarist Pedro Martins, and vocals by Cécile McLorin Salvant, Becca Stevens, Tobias Bader, Safia McKinney-Askeur and Luca van den Bossche, Brad Mehldau has produced a record that oscillates between different sounds and styles; something completely different from his previous albums that featured little more than piano, bass and drums. Half concept-album, half an exploration of the mind, the relentless rhythm changes and intriguing compositions poke fun at the constraints of genre. He doesn’t shy away from producing his own take on other artists’ work either, covering Tom Sawyer by Rush. Even his choice of instruments is bold. There’s everything from the good old Steinway to the glockenspiel, as well as Korg and Yamaha synths, a Moog, a Wurlitzer, a Mellotron, a Fender Rhodes piano, a harmonium and a Hammond organ! This level of creativity will leave you perplexed and hypnotised. One thing’s for sure: Mehldau’s Jacob’s Ladder will leave its mark on everyone… © Marc Zisman/Qobuz

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Jacob's Ladder

Brad Mehldau

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maybe as his skies are wide