Suite: April 2020

Suite: April 2020 is a solo piano album by Brad Mehldau. It was recorded in 2020 and released later that year by Nonesuch Records.

Suite: April 2020
Studio album by
Brad Mehldau
ReleasedJune 12, 2020
RecordedApril 23–24, 2020
StudioPower Sound Studios, Amsterdam
GenreJazz
Length40:21
LabelNonesuch
ProducerBrad Mehldau
Brad Mehldau chronology
Finding Gabriel
(2017–18)		 Suite: April 2020
(2020)

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mehldau was at home in Amsterdam with his family.[1] During that period, in April 2020, he wrote twelve pieces based on his experiences at that time.[1][2][3] Bob Hurwitz, chairman emeritus of Nonesuch Records, encouraged the pianist to compose the music "designed to reflect the deep insecurities, comforting rituals and unexpected graces of the time".[4] Mehldau himself describes the album as "a musical snapshot of life in the last month in the world in which we've all found ourselves."[5]

Music and recording

For the album, three compositions by others were added to the twelve pieces by Mehldau.[6] The album was recorded on April 23 and 24, 2020, at Power Sound Studios in Amsterdam.[7] All of the pieces were performed solo on piano by Mehldau.[8] No piece exceeds four minutes in length, in contrast with many of his previous more improvisation-based performances.[8]

On the final piece, "Look for the Silver Lining", "Mehldau intentionally ends on the V chord, leaving the sound – and the situation – in an unresolved state."[1]

Release and reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All About Jazz[9]
AllMusic[10]
DownBeat[8]
Jazz Journal[1]
The Times[11]
Tom HullA–[12]

Suite: April 2020 was released on limited-edition 180-gram vinyl and for download by Nonesuch Records on June 12, 2020.[2] Nonesuch released the CD and standard vinyl editions on September 18 of the same year.[2]

DownBeat wrote, "If its bite-size pieces are easily digestible, so are its penetrating melodies. Like the thinned-out harmonies, they emphasize the isolation at the heart of both the work and the context."[8] JazzTimes described the 12-piece suite as "mostly muted, introspective music".[6] Thomas Fletcher writing for Jazz Journal added, "As ever, Mehldau’s graceful touch continues to send me into deep reflection. The titles of each composition are named appropriately... Each homes in on individual thoughts and memories which are reflected the music."[1] Chris Pearson of The Times observed, " Now Brad Mehldau re-emerges with the first Covid-themed solo jazz album. Is this wise? As the world gradually gropes its way back to normality we are perhaps realising why previous pandemics were forgotten: those who lived through them wanted it that way. Does this set already belong to the past? Perhaps not."[11]

Track listing

All compositions are by Brad Mehldau unless otherwise stated.

  1. "Suite: April 2020: I. waking up" – 1:14
  2. "Suite: April 2020: II. stepping outside" – 2:18
  3. "Suite: April 2020: III. keeping distance" – 2:52
  4. "Suite: April 2020: IV. stopping, listening: hearing" – 3:39
  5. "Suite: April 2020: V. remembering before all this" – 3:39
  6. "Suite: April 2020: VI. uncertainty" – 1:51
  7. "Suite: April 2020: VII. – the day moves by –" – 1:57
  8. "Suite: April 2020: VIII. yearning" – 3:31
  9. "Suite: April 2020: IX. waiting" – 3:14
  10. "Suite: April 2020: X. in the kitchen" – 2:57
  11. "Suite: April 2020: XI. family harmony" – 2:54
  12. "Suite: April 2020: XII. lullaby" – 3:13
  13. "Don't Let It Bring You Down" (Neil Young) – 2:06
  14. "New York State of Mind" (Billy Joel) – 3:06
  15. "Look for the Silver Lining" (Jerome Kern / Buddy DeSylva) – 3:31

Source:[2]

Personnel
  • Brad Mehldau – piano

References
  1. Fletcher, Thomas (September 14, 2020). "Brad Mehldau – Suite: April 2020". Jazz Journal. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  2. "Suite: April 2020 by Brad Mehldau". nonesuch.com. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  3. "Brad Mehldau releases new solo album to raise funds for COVID-19 Musician's Emergency Fund". Jazzwise. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  4. Chinen, Nate (June 12, 2020). "Brad Mehldau And His Piano Outline The Resolve (And Yes, The Anxiety) Of Our Moment". NPR. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  5. Widner, Ellis (1 November 2020). "OPINION | POP NOTES: Finding a calm in perilous times possible with music". Arkansas Online. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  6. Johnson, Martin (July 24, 2020). "Brad Mehldau: Suite: April 2020 (Nonesuch)". JazzTimes. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  7. Mehldau, Brad (2020). Suite: April 2020 (LP liner notes). Nonesuch Records. 075597919455.
  8. West, Michael J. (October 2020). "Brad Mehldau – Suite: April 2020". DownBeat. Vol. 87 no. 10. p. 40. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  9. Jurkovic, Mike (July 7, 2020). "Brad Mehldau: Suite: April 2020 album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  10. Collar, Matt (2020). "Suite: April 2020 - Brad Mehldau | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  11. Pearson, Chris (June 19, 2020). "Brad Mehldau: Suite: April 2020 Review – The First Covid-themed Jazz Album". The Times. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  12. "Tom Hull: Grade List: Brad Mehldau". Tom Hull. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
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