Artist: Brad Mehldau
Album: Apres Faure
Genre: Modern Creative, Classical
Label: Nonesuch
Released: 2024
Quality: FLAC (tracks+.cue)
Tracklist:
- Nocturne No.13 in B Minor, Op.119 (Faure) - 6:29
- Nocturne No.4 in E-Flat Major, Op.36 (Faure) - 6:40
- Nocturne No.12 in E Minor, Op.107 (Faure) - 6:20
- Prelude (Mehldau) - 3:31
- Caprice (Mehldau) - 3:40
- Nocturne (Mehldau) - 2:43
- Vision (Mehldau) - 2:03
- Nocturne No.7 in C-Sharp Minor, Op.74 (Faure) - 8:40
- Extract from Piano Quartet No.2 in G Minor, Op.45: III. Adagio non troppo (Faure) - 2:48
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The main thrust of pianist Brad Mehldau's work is jazz, but he has always defined that genre very broadly, and he has drawn inspiration over his career from genres ranging from progressive rock to bluegrass music. In 2024, he issued a pair of albums on which he engages with classical music, aspects of which have often been present in his earlier works; one pertains to Bach, and the present release, Après Fauré, features music by Gabriel Fauré. It is not all après ("after") Fauré; the majority of the tracks consist of music by Fauré himself, with which Mehldau does a perfectly creditable, if low-key job. His extensive notes identify the distinctive qualities of Fauré's late style, with its mysterious chromaticism that seems to emanate from his world alone rather than responding to external stimuli. At the beginning, he contrasts the opening Nocturne No. 13 in B minor, Op. 119, effectively with the much earlier Nocturne No. 4 in E flat major, Op. 36. Perhaps most interesting are the four works of Mehldau's own. One might expect them to be jazz take-offs on Fauré's work, but actually, almost the opposite is true. Mehldau devises structures based on motor rhythms but flavors them with Fauré-like harmonies. This can work out in various ways, but sample the opening Prelude from the Mehldau set for an idea. This is an intriguing release from one of today's most interesting pianists, no matter what genre one may choose for him, and it made classical best-seller lists in the spring of 2024.
Review by James Manheim