Next week, Brad Mehldau and Pat Metheny will release their piano/guitar duo record. I am beyond excited. Giddy, even. Amazon blurbage says that Meldau had a "life-changing moment" when he first heard the live version Metheny's "Are You Going With Me?" I can certainly identify that. For me, it was "Forward March." It was the opening song the Metheny Group played at the first show I attended. Pat describes the song as "The Marching Band at Ornette Coleman High." Exactly. My jaw hit the floor.
Both Mehldau and Metheny have interesting and imaginative ways of approaching composition. As much as I love Mehldau's piano work, it's his cool revisions during the cover material that attract me. Metheny is my favorite jazz guitarist, but it's not the chops that I'm there for. Heck, my favorite Metheny group tune ("The First Circle") is more of an exercise in crazy time signatures and textures than anything else. Will this duo put out something that'll make my head spin? We'll see.
Since I can't get the Mehldau/Metheny into my ears yet, I figured that I'd listen to the recording that started my interest in the piano/guitar duo: Intermodulation by Bill Evans & Jim Hall.
Firstly, credit must be tossed in the direction of my former guitar teacher. Jerry Adams turned me on to piles of great jazz (and loaned me actual LP's). Jerry's favorite guitarist was Jim Hall. I'm not sure I'd use the word "obsessive," though Jerry did relate a story about how he got tickets to attend a taping of the Merv Griffin show because Hall was in Griffin's band. Now that is dedication!
Evans/Hall: a pure delight. Both musicians swap lead/comping roles in such a subtle way that you might almost forget two different instruments are being played. Clocking in at a short (by today's standards) 32 minutes, the program is comprised of standards by Gershwin, Cole Porter, more modern fare (Joe Zawinul's "Angel Face") and originals by both Hall ("All Across The City") and Evans (a sublime "Turn Out The Stars").
A highly recommended recording. If it leaves you wanting more, there's a second CD called Undercurrent.
Next Tuesday: I'm counting the hours....
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments
1 - Johnny
Have you heard any of the big band arrangements of The First Circle? My favourite is probably the Bob Curnow recording- it's tasty.
2 - Mark Saleski
yes! i have the Curnow record. i've also got an acapella version of the same song. i think the name of the group is Boca Livra.
3 - Michael J. West
I have and love Undercurrent. Which of the two do you prefer, Mark?
4 - Mark Saleski
mjw: i'm not sure i can pick between the two. i also don't know the recording history but to my ears they sure sound like they came from the same sessions...so i just think of them as one recording.
5 - Michael J. West
Sounds pretty good to me.
(FYI: Undercurrent was the first session, Intermodulation was the second.)
6 - Pico
Mehldau/Metheny should be interesting, indeed. Pat's co-led records have generally been successful in the past, IMO. I'm looking forward to your take on it. In the meantime, I'll likewise have to pull out my Evans/Hall. Or maybe Metheny/Hall, instead :&)
Funny you should mention those two PMG tunes, I've been plotting a double review of Offramp/First Circle, two of my longtime favorite Group records. I'll never forget witnessing Forward March being performed live, either, when the bandmembers converged on the stage from all corners of the auditorium playing their instruments as they did. It was a great moment.
-P
7 - Mark Saleski
yes pico, that's exactly how the show started. the group members walked in from all directions, including the back of the auditorium. Pat came out making all manner of weird guitar noises on his "elephant guitar". then they launched into one freaking weird tune.
ya, do a double review of those two records. they're really quite unique. definitely hard to categorize.
8 - Clavos
Thanks for the tip. I'm a fan of the Bill Evans Trio, and didn't know about these two albums.
9 - Mark Saleski
another sorta-related record is the one that Hall did with Ron Carter called Alone Together. obviously, no piano...but lots of great playing.
10 - Pico
"ya, do a double review of those two records. they're really quite unique. definitely hard to categorize."
Whew! Now I understand why people don't write twofer reviews; that one took a while. Even more so when I discovered that I currently don't have a copy of "First Circle"; looks like I never replaced the vinyl I foolishy sold in a garage sale a few years ago. Fortunately I played it so much in the mid-eighties that every note is branded in my brain ;&)
The AMG review of Mehldau/Metheny is favorable but I'll be looking to see if you agree.
-P
11 - Mark Saleski
nice review pico. and you're right, "Are You Going With Me?" from Travels absolutely kills.
i'll be coming up with a Metheny/Mehldau review soon.