Brad Mehldau Trio — Music Videos

The Brad Mehldau Trio is the piano, bass, and drums ensemble led by American pianist and composer Brad Mehldau. The group’s repertoire brings together original compositions, jazz standards, and reinterpretations of songs from outside the traditional jazz catalogue.

The Art of the Trio recordings established an important part of this musical identity. Ode, released in 2012, presents Mehldau’s compositions with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. Different editions of the trio should be understood in the context of their particular recording dates and personnel.

The three instruments often develop simultaneous ideas rather than following a simple melody-and-accompaniment pattern. Listen for an independent left-hand piano line, a bass response, or a change in the drummer’s texture that shifts the direction of a repeated phrase.