September 21, 2006: New Music: Jazz recommendations

From the greatest working jazz group today, comes CRITICAL MASS by the Dave Holland Quintet. Check out three previews, The Eyes Have It, The Leak, and Lucky Seven. Nate Smith records with group as drummer for the first time. I've heard him live . . . and he's ASTOUNDING. I love Billy Kilson (who doesn't) but Nate is funkier with (if slightly less polish) more fire. Let's just say I was disappointed to see Kilson on Holland's big band "Overtime" album.

From guitarist Pat Metheny and pianist Brad Mehldau comes an album, mysteriously entitled "Metheny/Mehldau". Longtime [retro] readers will remember my love for Mehldau (my favorite living pianist), but they may be surprised to read that I'm suggesting that they *WAIT* for the collaborators next album. According to Metheny's podcast, the duo will release an album along with Mehldau's trio of Larry Grenadier and Jeff Ballard. If the two tracks that feature this quartet are any indication, that album will be ah-maze-ing. In the meantime, keep listening to Deep Song.

You would LOVE this duet album if, like me, you (1) are a big fan of both of these guys; (2) loved Undercurrents with Bill Evans and Jim Hall; (3) insist on owning Metheny's duet albums. (4) are a fan of AWFUL cover art. Seriously. This album should make Nonesuch Records enough money that they could design a cover without resorting to Microsoft Powerpoint.