Listen to the title track on 'Solid Jackson' by MTB when you can. Thank me later. A collaboration between Brad Mehldau (piano), Mark Turner (tenor saxophone) and Peter Bernstein (guitar), this album brings together some of the finest jazz musicians of our time.
Recorded in November 2023 and out now on Criss Cross records, Solid Jackson reveals the jazz these musicians produce at the highest level, together with Larry Grenadier (bass) and Bill Stewart (drums).
Begin with the title track and you won't go far wrong. We hear each part in ensemble and solo mode, with a collective intensity that is both joyous and controlled. Similarly, the start of The Things That Fall Away really shows modern jazz at its sweetest - Bernstein's guitar melody is joined by Turner's sax and the whole ensemble underpins their interplay, with Mehldau's sparing piano edging into a lovely solo where each note matters.
Bernstein says: “There was a natural blend. We all go way back, and everyone was very comfortable being around each other. One thing I like about making a record is that you’re able to spend a day with people you’ve been meaning to hang out with for a long time. It’s not just a party. You’re working, too. But that’s how we interact socially – by playing music. I was amazed. It’s 30 years after we did the first one, but everyone is relatively intact. It’s really a miracle. We’re all still here; we get to play together again.”
There are many reasons that Solid Jackson finds its way onto my list of top ten albums of 2024. By the time we reach the final track - Ode to Angela - I'm already hunting gigs where I can see these exceptional musicians performing together. Three of the busiest and most in demand players in their field, I guess it's not going to be easy but, for now, this album is staying on my playlist.
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