#brad mehldau
Celebrating Jazz Piano Virtuoso Oscar Peterson for #JazzAppreciationMonth (LISTEN)
by Lori Lakin Hutcherson (@lakinhutcherson)
In continued celebration of #JazzAppreciationMonth, today we drop in on virtuoso pianist Oscar Peterson, who hailed from Canada, composed the de facto Civil Rights Movement anthem “Hymn to Freedom,” and was dubbed the “Maharaja of the Keyboard” by none other than fellow piano master Duke Ellington.
To read about Peterson, read on. To hear about him,…
Brad Mehldau’s new album, Jacob’s Ladder, first released on CD and digital in March, is now available in a double vinyl set. You can get it here.
Jacob’s Ladder features new music that reflects on scripture and the search for God through music inspired by the prog rock Mehldau loved as a young adolescent—his gateway to the fusion that eventually led to his discovery of jazz. Featured musicians on the album include Chris Thile, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Mark Guiliana, Becca Stevens, Joel Frahm, and others.
Mojo calls it “a kaleidoscopic affair, where baroque prog-rock edifices are juxtaposed with clouds of ethereal choirs, dreamy piano interludes, and squalls of free jazz-style clarinet. Skillfully weaving these elements into storytelling sound collages, Mehldau takes the listener on a memorable musical journey.”
