****After Julie Andrews and John Coltrane, what can anyone add?****
"Nice enough"? Well, I guess I need to throw out about half my jazz records. After all, what can anyone add to Gershwin's operatic version of "Summertime" , or "Scrapple From The Apple" after Bird did it? Oh yeah, and all my versions of "St. James Infirmary" and keep only Pops'. And don't you forget to throw out all except one version of Beethoven's 9th. C'mon man, that is brilliant and highly original piano playing. First of all, Julie Andrews' version is not jazz, not to mention its a vocal version; apples and oranges. Coltrane's version, as good as it is, became a "hit" in great part due to the novelty factor. What Mehldau does with that tune is absolutely astounding and original. Brilliant player.
"Nice enough"? Well, I guess I need to throw out about half my jazz records. After all, what can anyone add to Gershwin's operatic version of "Summertime" , or "Scrapple From The Apple" after Bird did it? Oh yeah, and all my versions of "St. James Infirmary" and keep only Pops'. And don't you forget to throw out all except one version of Beethoven's 9th. C'mon man, that is brilliant and highly original piano playing. First of all, Julie Andrews' version is not jazz, not to mention its a vocal version; apples and oranges. Coltrane's version, as good as it is, became a "hit" in great part due to the novelty factor. What Mehldau does with that tune is absolutely astounding and original. Brilliant player.