Brad Mehldau Trio on DeBaser: reviews of Ode, Day Is Done, Where Do You Start

The Profile

The Brad Mehldau Trio is an American jazz piano trio led by pianist Brad Mehldau with Larry Grenadier (bass) and Jeff Ballard (drums). Active since the 1990s, the group is known for original compositions and inventive reinterpretations of contemporary songs, alongside the acclaimed Art of the Trio recordings.

Core lineup: Brad Mehldau (piano), Larry Grenadier (bass), Jeff Ballard (drums); earlier recordings featured Jorge Rossy on drums. Renowned for live sets at the Village Vanguard and for reimagining material by artists such as Radiohead and The Beatles. Releases span Warner Bros. and Nonesuch Records.

Three reviewers celebrate the Brad Mehldau Trio’s piano-bass-drums alchemy. They note Jeff Ballard’s revitalizing presence, the trio’s lyrical interplay, and a blend of originals and reimagined tunes. Accessibility and elegance are recurring themes, with praise for compositions and covers alike. Standout mentions: Day Is Done, Ode, and Where Do You Start.

Notable Quotes

❝ In conclusion, we are dealing with a fresh and dynamic album, where the leader gives plenty of space to the other two musicians and, together with them, fully serves the music, without venturing into exaggerated solos placed there solely to showcase one's skill with the instrument.

❝ The perfect piece to close an album that is a masterpiece.

❝ There is really a lot of Jazz in this work and of fine quality, the interplay is at stellar levels and Brad Mehldau's pianism seems even more lyrical and imaginative thanks to an impressive rhythm section (Larry Grenadier on bass and Jeff Ballard on drums), which dialogues with the leader in a precise and effective manner, chasing its sounds and caressing its poetics.