Brad Mehldau - previewed among the live highlights for ahead to 20-26 June

Tomorrow's New Quartet The Yard, Manchester Monday 20 June Paul Jordanous Ensemble King Edward VI School, Southampton Tuesday 21 June The Darius Brubeck Quartet Corn Exchange Devizes Wednesday 22 June Alan Barnes and Bruce Adams with the Dave …

Published: 18 Jun 2022. Updated: 22 months.

PICK OF THE WEEK Brad Mehldau trio Barbican, London Fri 24 June

Appearing at the Barbican with his long-running trio of bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard, Brad Mehldau's latest album a progressive-rock infused affair was a very different approach to the classic trio format. Entitled Jacob's Ladder and released back in March the omnivorous Mehldau at the time of release said that prog ''matched the fantasy and science fiction books I read from CS Lewis, Madeleine L’Engle and others at that time, aged ten through twelve. 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. Jazz shared with prog a broader expressive scope and larger-scale ambitions than the rock music I had known already.'' Mehldau changed the face of the piano trio in the 1990s and heralded by many as the Bill Evans of his generation.

Brad Mehldau, top. Photo: press

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Tedeschi Trucks Band, I Am The Moon, 1. Crescent, Fantasy ****

The first of four albums coming this year from revered swamp blues rockers the Tedeschi Trucks eminently simpatico for all jazz listeners who follow an ecumenical musical approach. As ever Susan Tedeschi's vocals pick up the thread where Janis …

Published: 18 Jun 2022. Updated: 22 months.

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The first of four albums coming this year from revered swamp blues rockers the Tedeschi Trucks eminently simpatico for all jazz listeners who follow an ecumenical musical approach. As ever Susan Tedeschi's vocals pick up the thread where Janis Joplin left off heard best on 'Here My Dear' where she reserves her power for maximum, intimate, soulful impact. The buddha-like Derek Trucks, is one of the best guitarists on the planet, not breaking news, but still worth saying over and over again. His raga-esque sense of flow is extraordinary. We know that most of all from seeing him a couple of times live over the years including one of the best gigs we ever attended back in 2006 at the now torn down Mean Fiddler on London's Charing Cross Road. All these years on it's still a healing experience to listen. Keyboardist Gabe Dixon and Trucks exude brothers-from-another-mother instinctive rapport while Mike Mattison on 'Fall In' takes us to New Orleans and back and you feel you are right there. 'Pasaquan' is the full monty. You cop a Rosetta Stone like feeling of discovery deep down in your gut over its 12 minutes. Pick your jaws up off the floor yet again with this band. Storming stuff. Crescent is perfect weekend listening. Steal away to bunker down to their sound right away and thank your lucky stars that you found this remarkable record.