Deep Stacks No. 14 - Mehldau & Brion

One my biggest influences since my teenage jazz years, a true music pioneer with a diverse catalog stretching over several genres, ensembles, and collaborations, Brad Mehldau's work in general but specifically with producer-instrumentalist Jon Brion has always been a particular inspiration both musically and production-wise. Mehldau's catalog with his iconic piano trio and as a solo artist are filled with masterworks worthy of their own episodes however this week we focus on the two pleasantly undefinable, yet very listenable 'third-stream' collaborative albums he created with Jon Brion in 2002 and 2010, "Largo" and "Highway Rider" featuring a star-studded cast of supporting musicians (including Joshua Redman, Larry Grenadier, Matt Chamberlain) to perform a riveting collection of cleverly, yet subtly produced instrumental gems.