I feel about Mehldau the way the critic John S. Wilson felt about Bill Evans. And as big admirer of Evans, I know that must be wrong, but despite having attended two Mehldau performances and purchased several albums I just can't get past feeling that his playing/composing is insufferably portentous. Perhaps someone can point me to a recording that would change my view, or maybe the one Ethan Iverson recommends here would. I'd happily be proven wrong.
It's fair to say Mehldau is someone that, for all his fame, is not beloved by all. Gong a step further: Nobody, not even the biggest names, can reach everybody, and that's more than OK. (It's one reason to stay engaged and listening!)
I feel about Mehldau the way the critic John S. Wilson felt about Bill Evans. And as big admirer of Evans, I know that must be wrong, but despite having attended two Mehldau performances and purchased several albums I just can't get past feeling that his playing/composing is insufferably portentous. Perhaps someone can point me to a recording that would change my view, or maybe the one Ethan Iverson recommends here would. I'd happily be proven wrong.
It's fair to say Mehldau is someone that, for all his fame, is not beloved by all. Gong a step further: Nobody, not even the biggest names, can reach everybody, and that's more than OK. (It's one reason to stay engaged and listening!)