2014v2Online

FOLLY JAZZ NEWS
CONNIE HUMISTON
8
Brad Mehldau Trio
Saturday, April 19 – 8 p.m.
no jazz talk for this show
One of the most lyrical and intimate voices of
contemporary jazz piano, Brad Mehldau has forged a
unique path that embodies the essence of jazz exploration,
classical romanticism and pop allure.
“Mr. Mehldau’s obsessions make his music tense.
…where jazz musicians traditionally are adept
at doubling or halving tempos, Mr. Mehldau and
the band were working every angle of time.”
— Peter Watrous, New York Times
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE
Recording and performing extensively since the early
1990s, Mehldau alternates trio performances with a synthesizer-oriented
duo project, Mehliana, with drummer
Mark Guiliana (who performed with Gretchen Parloto at
the Folly in October). In February the duo released their
debut album, Mehliana: Taming the Dragon, and graced
the cover of Jazz Magazine Jazzman in France. In 2013
Mehldau produced and performed on Walking Shadows,
the acclaimed release from Joshua Redman, with whom
he played as a sideman for two years. Recent collaborative
tours include a duo tour with mandolin virtuoso Chris
Thile, and piano duets with Kevin Hays.
The Sidemen: A member of the Brad Mehldau Trio
since its 1994 inception, Larry Grenadier also tours with
John Scofield and is a longtime bassist with Pat Metheny’s
band. He has recorded with a broad array of artists,
released three albums with his own acclaimed trio FLY,
and recorded five more with his wife Rebecca Martin.
FLY co-leader and drummer Jeff Ballard has toured with
Ray Charles, Eddie Harris, Bobby Hutcherson, Buddy
Montgomery, Lou Donaldson, Mike Stern and Danilo
Perez. Currently, he tours with Scofield, Chick Corea and
Joshua Redman’s Elastic Band.
John Scofield Organic Trio
Saturday, May 10— 8 p.m.
Joel Nichols will interview John Scofield at
our pre-concert Jazz Talk feature at 7 p.m.
Possessor of a very distinctive sound, John Scofield is
considered one of the “big three” of current jazz guitarists
— along with Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell. A masterful
improviser with fan bases in many camps, he has expressed
himself in the vernacular of bebop, blues, R&B, jazz-funk,
organ jazz, acoustic chamber jazz, electronically-tinged
groove music and orchestral ensembles with ease, enthusiasm
and an open mind.
His guitar work has influenced jazz since the late
‘70s. After leaving Berklee to perform with Chet Baker
and Gerry Mulligan, his versatility and technical mastery
won him sideman gigs with Miles Davis, Charles Mingus,