Brad Mehldau
Piano Solo on
Countdown

About

Brad Mehldau's piano solo is the opening of 2 solos on this recording, before Jorge Rossy's closing drums statement. Spanning eleven choruses of the 16-Bar form at a brisk 320 BPM with a latin feel in B♭, the solo runs approximately 2:08. The composition is a contrafact based on the chord changes of "Tune Up." The decision to include such a demanding Coltrane composition on a debut album is a declaration of musical ambition and seriousness, positioning Mehldau within the lineage of pianists who have grappled with Coltrane's harmonic innovations. Brad Mehldau was 24 to 25 years old at the time of this 1995 recording.

Brad Mehldau was 24 to 25 years old at the time.