M/M Quartet

Listening tonight to Metheny/Mehldau "Quartet"... Love it. Jeff Ballard plays beautifully here, and uses an expansive rhythmic palette to bring the colors of the various compositions to life. Metheny seems to know just when to break out the chops, and at other times uses a rare economy to make his statements. The duos here also seem to have a greater sense of life than those on the previous release. Brad plays with the luminous clarity we've been accustomed to for so long, and his joy is something you can feel. Even when the songs are reflective here, or cast in more burnished hues, there is a sense of brightness and weightlessness. The rhythms move, the moods float, and the textures never become bogged-down. Nothing here is mired in seriousness! But it's some incredibly serious shit. With interpretation and improvisation on a masterful level--individually and collectively--and given a detailed, warm, clear studio sound and blend, this collection is modern music at its best. The best Metheny record in years, for sure, and also one of Brad's finest.

Also listening to Dan Reeder's "Sweetheart"... another kind of music altogether, but equally playful, and strong in a different way.