"Angst," an original composition by Brad Mehldau, appears on his 1995 debut album Introducing Brad Mehldau and represents one of his earliest recorded compositions. The tune features an unusually expansive 60-bar AABA form in D at approximately 195 BPM, demonstrating the young pianist's ambitious approach to composition and form. In an interesting reversal of the typical solo order, bassist Larry Grenadier opens the improvisation section with a single chorus, establishing a thoughtful, exploratory mood before Mehldau enters with two choruses of piano. The extended form means each chorus covers considerable harmonic territory, and Mehldau uses the space to develop long-form improvisational narratives that build and release tension with the structural awareness of a composer as much as an improviser. The title itself is evocative of the German literary and philosophical traditions that have informed Mehldau's artistic worldview throughout his career, reflecting interests that set him apart from many of his jazz contemporaries. Grenadier's presence as the first soloist highlights the collaborative nature of the trio's musical relationship, where the traditional hierarchy of piano-as-leader gives way to a more democratic approach. The composition's complexity and emotional range foreshadow the ambitious original music that would become an increasingly important part of Mehldau's recorded output.
