Same, and good, as ever
Brad Mehldau Trio
Live (Nonesuch)
ESSENTIAL "Wonderwall"
Except for a couple of solo excursions, duets with guitarist Pat Metheny, and an experiment with studio technology, pianist Brad Mehldau has kept things relatively simple since arriving in the mid-1990s. He made his mark right away with a trio, and with the trio he has stayed. Now comes his fourth live album at the Village Vanguard, which captures him in the act with his stellar cohorts, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. In previous outings, Mehldau has displayed his prowess as an interpreter of standards, particularly within the trio. Here he expands his horizons considerably. Not only does he bring five original compositions to the table, but he covers both Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" and Oasis' "Wonderwall," completely obscuring the songs' rock origins. And all of it flows naturally from the hands of these gifted musicians. Bridging the worlds of postbop and impressionism, Mehldau is one of the finest pianists jazz has ever seen. As such, he has allowed himself to develop without appearing to change much. [Steve Greenlee] 