Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau Together For the First Time in London
Monday, July 2, 2007
Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau made their debut last night in London as a duo on the latest leg of their European tour. The pair, two of the most feted stars in the jazz world, appeared as a duo for the start of their concert at the Barbican and then were joined by Brad's regular band of Larry Grenadier on bass and Jeff Ballard, drums.
As ever with the pair a large crowd had turned out for the concert and before it all began were treated by the sounds of Big Band Metheny in the foyer expertly reprising many of Pat's hits, particularly those associated with the Pat Metheny Group. But the main concert covered none of the PMG hits instead concentrating on Pat and Brad's two recent albums together. Mainly elegiac and with an introspective meditative approach the pair opened with 'Unrequited' with early numbers showing Brad's crosshand style to the full with Pat content to sit back a little.
As the concert progressed Pat's contribution came more and more to the fore excelling on the ballad 'Find Me In Your Dreams', a beautiful song with the feel of a ready made standard. Grenadier and Ballard for their part played decorous support but Ballard towards the end managed to find space to stretch out particularly on the Metheny song 'Ring of Life' with his frenetic drum and bass style beat. Jungle pioneer Goldie, sitting in the audience, was lapping it up.
Report: Stephen Graham