Brad Mehldau's scorching rendition of Cole Porter's "From This Moment On" on his 1995 debut Introducing Brad Mehldau takes the elegant show tune into the stratosphere with a blistering tempo of approximately 330 BPM. The 68-bar AABA-prime form in F minor provides an extended harmonic canvas that Mehldau fills with three choruses of technically astounding piano improvisation, demonstrating the kind of virtuosity and harmonic command that established him as one of the most formidable pianists of his generation. Christian McBride follows with two choruses of acoustic bass at a slightly reduced but still blazing 322 BPM, matching Mehldau's intensity with his own technical brilliance and rhythmic drive. Porter composed the tune for the 1950 musical Out of This World, and its sophisticated harmony and extended form have made it a favorite among jazz musicians seeking challenging material. The extreme tempo transforms Porter's urbane sophistication into a vehicle for raw musical excitement, with the trio achieving a level of collective intensity that borders on the superhuman. The performance showcases the rhythm section of McBride and Brian Blade, whose powerful, interactive approach provides a different but equally thrilling foundation compared to the Grenadier-Rossy trio heard elsewhere on the album.
