Brad Mehldau re-interprets Yes and more

[bondegezou]

Brad Mehldau re-interprets Yes (parts of "Starship Trooper"), Rush and Gentle Giant on forthcoming album Jacob's Ladder: https://nonesuch.com/albums/jacobs-ladder

First video, a take on Rush's "Tom Sawyer", sounds great:

[SunshipVoyager]

Brad is quite an artist on the piano. As a jazz player myself, I oddly don’t usually go for jazz covers of prog but this might be an exception.

[Homemade Parachute]

Well dang, while it's a little disappointing the album title isn't referring to *that* "Jacob's Ladder", I may have to give this a spin, though I haven't kept up with Brad for a few years (the kids really dampen the jazz around the house, you know?)

I saw Brad and the trio many years ago at the Vancouver Jazz Fest, one of those years when there was a ridiculous heat wave, so severe they were handing out free water at the menu — any you know how much venues rely on the beverage markup to keep going! I really felt for the bass player, who had a towel to wipe down the base between every song. You don't really see a lot of jazzers sweating like Springsteen, but this night was the exception. Hell of a show, anyways. I do admire Brad's willingness to cover and deconstruct and experiment with just about anything, and particularly recommend Largo and Back at the Vanguard, if anyone's interested.

[PhaseDance]

Well dang, while it's a little disappointing the album title isn't referring to *that* "Jacob's Ladder"

The Huey Lewis and the News song?

[Imperatrix]

This is extraordinary; thank you for posting it.

If you have never heard it, Brad’s cover of Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” is sublime.

[PhaseDance]

I saw Brad tour with Pat Metheny fifteen years ago and have the two albums they put out. Talented guy. I'll definitely be listening to this album.

[bondegezou]

I am a few listens into this album and it is excellent. Exciting and challenging, it re-invents the source material.

[cybrkhatru]

Just bought this and I can't wait to listen to it.

I have followed Brad Mehldau off-and-on for 25 years and he is a master.

[cybrkhatru]

This is extraordinary; thank you for posting it.

If you have never heard it, Brad’s cover of Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” is sublime.

...as is his cover of "Exit Music (For a Film)"!

[bondegezou]

I am a few listens into this album and it is excellent. Exciting and challenging, it re-invents the source material.

He re-invents the source material in his frame of a spiritual journey -- a deliberate irony, I presume, to put Rush's atheistic music into a religious context. This means that the final track, in which he plays Yes, is meant as a depiction of heaven. He portrays "Life Seeker" as the music of the angels.