Brad Melhdau, Resignation, Elegiac Cycle, Warner Bros. (1999) CDW 47357

Resignation.pdf

The tradition of solo piano performance as well as jazz composition are unquestionably pushed forward by this recording. The tradition of excellence in left hand accompaniment in jazz piano is presented in a completely new way that seems to leave behind it both the stride aesthetic of early jazz music and the minimalist approach adopted subsequent to be-bop.

This recording illustrates Brad Mehldau’s limitless dexterity and coordination with a linear left hand accompaniment that simultaneously outlines the harmony and 7/4 meter. This transcription covers the accompaniment for the first “A” section, the “bridge”, and the “coda”. Variations on this theme continue throughout the presentation of the melody and the improvised solo.

As an exploration of how someone could perform something so apparently demanding; this transcription is an attempt to understand the process. Perhaps fundamental in my attempt to recreate aspects of this performance was to regard the left hand as a theme. Further variations could then be used in interpreting the melody or accomodating the improvisation. I first began by internalizing a repetitive version of the accompaniamnet that served as a foundation that could then easily be varied as needed. I would hypothesize that a similar method could be employed by others seeking to recreate this aesthetic.

Please reference the video of me playing the transcription and improvising over a similar left hand accompaniment. Also, a live video of Brad Mehldau recorded for HD Suisse illustrates perhaps even more remarkable dexterity and imagination than the original studio version.