Brad Mehldau - Three Pieces after Bach

Turns out to be his most interesting and intense performance so far.


Score: 5/5
Buddy: Jakob
Merch: nope
Again? Anytime, anyplace

Jazz and Classical performances are hardest to review. First there is always a lot of history behind this music to embrace Second the level of Classical performances, in particular in Konzerthaus Wien, rather leaves it to the experts than to the occasional listener to express an opinion. Bearing that in mind and not having that much knowledge of musical history, it's typically very hard for me to judge. A subjective moment.

Not in this case - at least to a significantly lesser degree. When Brad Mehldau plays Bach, this is fundamentally different.

As I learnt from the  Konzerthaus Wien website, Brad Mehldau is originally trained as a classical musician. His initial approach to Bach seems classical first. I admire his strict and precise Legato, which is so important in Bach (compared to the masters of Bach, he plays more Legato, which I really like). Some seconds later, there is this groove that changes everything. Far away from any metronomesqhe precision, his interpretations imply rhythmical flexibility I have never heard before - in Bach. 

Brad Mehldau goes further by introducing his improvisation after every piece - and this is where the sun starts to shine. Yes, the sun because now very impressionistic themes erase the remaining heavy touch that Bach so often can have. Much lighter and far more enjoyable, at the same time fascinating.

His programme on this evening:

Johann Sebastian Bach

Präludium 3 Cis-Dur BWV 848 (Das wohltemperierte Klavier, Band I) (1722)

Brad Mehldau

After Bach 1: Rondo (Three Pieces After Bach) (2015) (EA)

Johann Sebastian Bach

Präludium C-Dur BWV 870 (Das wohltemperierte Klavier, Band II) (1738-1742)

Fuge 16 g-moll BWV 885 (Das wohltemperierte Klavier, Band II) (1738-1742)

Brad Mehldau

After Bach 2: Ostinato (Three Pieces After Bach) (2015) (EA)

***

Johann Sebastian Bach

Präludium 6 d-moll BWV 851 (Das wohltemperierte Klavier, Band I) (1722)

Brad Mehldau

After Bach 3: Toccata (Three Pieces After Bach) (2015) (EA)

Johann Sebastian Bach

Allemande (aus Partita Nr. 4 D-Dur BWV 828) (1726-1731)

Brad Mehldau

Improvisation on Bach I

Johann Sebastian Bach

Präludium und Fuge 12 f-moll BWV 857 (Das wohltemperierte Klavier, Band I) (1722)

Brad Mehldau

Improvisation on Bach II

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Encore:

Radiohead

Little By Little

George Gershwin

How Long Has This Been Going On (Rosalie) (1927)

Frank Loesser

The Inch Worm