Saxophonist Joshua Redman and pianist Brad Mehldau embark on a two-month world tour in support of their just-released duo album, Nearness. The tour starts at the Krannert Center in Urbana, Illinois, this Friday, followed by shows at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis, Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, which the New York Times includes in its Fall Preview, and the Broad Stage in Los Angeles.
Melhdau and Redman then head to San Francisco for four nights at the SFJAZZ Center performing Mehldau’s acclaimed 2010 double album Highway Rider, October 6–9. As on the album, Mehldau will be joined by Redman; his Trio, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard; and a chamber orchestra led by conductor Dan Coleman. Another collaborator of Mehldau's, drummer Mark Guiliana, will join as well.
The duo launches the international leg of the Nearness tour in Asia in mid-October, with two nights at Blue Note Tokyo, a night at the Cotton Club in Tokyo, and shows in Seoul and Shanghai. Redman and Mehldau then head to Australia for shows in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, and to Europe for dates in Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, Netherlands, and the UK in November.
See below for all of the currently announced tour dates; for all the latest, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.
"Magic always seems to happen when saxophonist Joshua Redman and pianist Brad Mehldau play together," exclaims Mojo magazine in a review of Nearness. "They create a special telepathic musical synergy in each other’s company." BBC Music magazine gives the album a perfect five stars, explaining: "The pair are so well matched. Both are extraordinary, scintillating improvisers bursting with energy, yet they have great ears for one another." The Wall Street Journal says: "Few records released this year better define what jazz sounds like today."
To pick up a copy of Nearness, head to iTunes or the Nonesuch Store, where CD and vinyl orders include a download of the complete album at checkout.
JOSHUA REDMAN AND BRAD MEHLDAU ON TOUR
*Highway Rider w/Brad Mehldau Trio, Mark Guiliana & orchestra