Carnegie Hall announced its 2010-11 concert season earlier today along with the season-long residency by Brad Mehldau as holder of the Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair at Carnegie Hall—the first jazz artist to hold this position since it was established in 1995. Previous holders include Louis Andriessen (2009–2010), Elliott Carter (2008–2009), and John Adams (2003–2007).

Mehldau will bring his penchant for exploring the space between improvisation and notated composition to Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall in various capacities throughout his residency.

The residency begins in November 2010 with the live, New York premiere of Mehldau’s new concert-length work Highway Rider, the album of which is due out on Nonesuch on March 16 and is available now for pre-order in the Nonesuch Store. For the Carnegie Hall performance, he will be joined by The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the featured performers on the album: his trio—drummer Jeff Ballard and bassist Larry Grenadier—as well as saxophonist Joshua Redman, and percussionist Matt Chamberlain.

In January 2011, Mehldau explores both his improvisational side and his interest in the formal structure of classical music with a solo program featuring some of his own original compositions interspersed with classical piano works that influenced him throughout his career. In February, he reunites with mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter for the New York premiere of a newly expanded version of his song cycle Love Songs, along with traditional lieder and standards from composers like Brahms and Lennon & McCartney. The expanded version of Love Songs was commissioned by Carnegie Hall following the original’s spring 2009 debut by this duo. The original libretto comprises three poems by early 20th-century American poet Sara Teasdale, book-ended by poems from Philip Larkin and e. e. cummings.

In March, Mehldau concludes his season-long residency with a concert featuring the world premiere of a new work for two pianos, six winds, and percussion co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall as well as emerging contemporary classical piano duos by composers Patrick Zimmerli and Timothy Andres. He will also lead master classes exploring improvisation and creative collaboration for solo and jazz piano trios at (Le) Poisson Rouge, presented by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute as part of its Professional Training Workshop series for young artists.

For information on all of Mehldau's events at Carnegie Hall in the coming season, visit carnegiehall.org. For all of his currently scheduled tour dates, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.

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Other highlights of the 2010-11 Carnegie Hall season include:

• a special Music of Steve Reich program celebrating Steve Reich’s 75th birthday year with an all-star lineup of today’s leading contemporary music ensembles, including Kronos Quartet, Bang on a Can All-Stars, eighth blackbird, and So Percussion and premieres of new music by the composer

• a celebration of Carnegie Hall's 120th anniversary for which Audra McDonald will join the New York Philharmonic and Music Director Alan Gilbert, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Gil Shaham, and pianist Emanuel Ax, performing a program of Beethoven, Dvorák, Ellington, and Gershwin

• a performance by Alarm Will Sound exploring the music of 1969, from Stockhausen to Lennon & McCartney to Stravinsky

• A Tribute to Toru Takemitsu, curated by his daughter Maki Takemitsu and featuring improvisations on Toru Takemitsu's film music