Brad Mehldau 
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Brad Mehldau » Bio
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Born: August 23, 1970 (1970-08-23)
Origin: Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Genres: Post-bop, Jazz
Occupations: Pianist, Composer
Instrument: Piano
Years active: 1993 - present
One of the top pianists in jazz today, Brad Mehldau has expanded the boundaries of modern mainstream piano, never being shy to stretch both vintage standards and more recent pop tunes. Born in 1970 in Jacksonville, Fla., he grew up in Connecticut.
Mehldau played piano from a young age, discovered jazz when he was 12 and played in his high school’s jazz band.
Late 1980's
Mehldau moved to New York in 1988 to study jazz at The New School, studying under Fred Hersch, Junior Mance and Kenny Werner, and also playing with Jackie McLean and Jimmy Cobb [1]. He went on to play as sideman with a variety of musicians, most importantly with the Joshua Redman quartet, before forming his own trio in 1994, with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jorge Rossy, and later Jeff Ballard, who succeeded Rossy in 2005. In addition to his trio work, Mehldau collaborated with guitarist Pat Metheny, releasing two albums with him and embarking on a worldwide tour along with Grenadier and Ballard.
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1990's and 2000's
Recording primarily for Nonesuch Records, Mehldau plays original compositions, jazz standards and jazz arrangements of popular music. Mehldau has also expressed an interest in and knowledge of philosophy, in particular of music and art. He has also played and recorded solo and with co-leaders Peter Bernstein, Mark Turner, Charlie Haden, Charles Lloyd, Pat Metheny and others. In 2004, Mehldau toured with Kurt Rosenwinkel and Joshua Redman.
He cites as influences Miles Davis, Larry Goldings, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Jesse Davis, David Sanchez, Oscar Peterson and the other members of his own trio [2]. His classical training shows, and he often plays a separate melody with each hand in unusual rhythmic meters. For example, he plays his arrangement of Jerome Kern's standard "All the Things You Are" on Art of the Trio, Vol. IV in A major (a half-step up from the original key, A-flat major) played in 7/4 time. On Day Is Done, he also plays Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" in 7/4. Another of Mehldau's signature techniques is to create an ostinato in his right hand whilst developing a motivic idea in his left hand.
December 4, 2008
Brad Mehldau Trio was nominated for a Grammy for "Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group" for their 2008 release Brad Mehldau Trio: Live. Other nominees in this category include Chick Corea & Gary Burton, Bill Frisell, Pat Metheny with Christian McBride & Antonio Sanchez and Alan Pasqua, Dave Carpenter & Peter Erskine Trio. The 51st Annual Grammy Awards will be presented February 2009.
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