Mehliana: Taming the Dragon

Submitted by nonesuch on
genre
Release Date
DescriptionExcerpt

The debut album from the electric duo of Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana, Mehliana: Taming the Dragon, features Mehldau on Fender Rhodes and synthesizers and Guiliana on drums and effects. Mehliana comprises 12 original tunes—six written by the duo and six written by Mehldau—and was engineered and mixed by Greg Koller (Jon Brion, Kanye West). Jazzwise calls it "astonishing ... one of the best albums of 2014." 

Description

Nonesuch Records releases the debut album from the electric duo of Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana, Mehliana: Taming the Dragon, on February 25, 2014. The two have been performing for several years, including a brief US tour this fall, with Mehldau playing Fender Rhodes and synthesizers and Guiliana on drums and effects, as they are on the record. Mehliana comprises 12 original tunes—six written by the duo and six written by Mehldau—and was engineered and mixed by Greg Koller (Jon Brion, Kanye West). 

Brad Mehldau played in a number of different ensembles, including label mate Joshua Redman’s quartet, before becoming a bandleader himself in the 1990s. The Brad Mehldau Trio, which tours the world extensively, made eight acclaimed recordings for Warner Bros., including the five widely praised Art of the Trio albums with former drummer Jorge Rossy (released as a boxed set by Nonesuch in 2011). The pianist’s nine years with Nonesuch have been equally productive, beginning with the solo disc Live in Tokyo and including six trio records Day is Done, House on Hill, Live, Ode, and Where Do You Start, as well as a collaboration with soprano Renée Fleming, Love Sublime; a chamber ensemble album, Highway Rider; two collaborations with label mate Pat Metheny, Metheny Mehldau and Quartet, the latter of which also includes Trio members Jeff Ballard and Larry Grenadier; a CD/DVD set of live solo performances, Live in Marciac; and collaborations with genre-crossing musicians on Modern Music, with composer/pianist Kevin Hays and composer/arranger Patrick Zimmerli. Additionally, he produced saxophonist Joshua Redman’s 2013 release Walking Shadows.

According to Modern Drummer, Mark Guiliana is “at the forefront of an exciting new style of drumming.” The New Jersey native’s unique and un-compromised approach to playing the drums has earned him international acclaim as both a leader and a sideman. In 2004, Guiliana created HEERNT, an “experimental-garage-jazz” trio based in New York. The band’s debut record, Locked in a Basement, was called the record “the most exuberant, dramatic, beautiful, sassy, genre-busting little outing that I've heard since I don't know when” by legendary drummer Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson). As a sideman, Guiliana’s longest partnership has been with world-renowned jazz bassist Avishai Cohen. He toured all over the world with Cohen from 2003 until 2008, performing on six studio records and a live DVD recorded at the Blue Note in Manhattan. Guiliana has also recorded and/or performed with Meshell Ndegeocello, Dhafer Youssef, Wayne Krantz, Matisyahu, Jazz Mandolin Project, Jason Lindner, Brad Shepik, Bobby McFerrin, Tigran Hamasyan, and many more. His debut solo record, Beat Music, which was co-produced by Ndegeocello, was released in the spring of 2013. Guiliana plays Gretsch drums, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Evans drumheads.

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by Brad Mehldau & Mark Guiliana
Recorded and Mixed by Greg Koller
Recorded at Bunker Studios in Brooklyn, NY
House Engineers: John Davis, Andy Plovnick
Edited by Eric Caudieux at NRG Studios, Burbank, CA
Additional Editing by John Davis at Bunker Studios and Stefan Schmid at Electric Monkey Studios, Amsterdam, Holland
Mastered by Patricia Sullivan at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA

Art and Layout by Dima Drjuchin
Photograph by Brantley Gutierrez

Tracks 1, 6–8, 10, 11 composed by Brad Mehldau; all other tracks composed by Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana

Excerpt from Amelia Earhart’s “A Woman’s Place in Science” used with permission from Amy Kleppner, as heir to the Estate of Muriel Morrissey (ameliaearhart.com).
“Gainsbourg” incorporates a sample from “Ford Mustang” and “Manon” by Serge Gainsbourg, courtesy of Universal Music France Mercury division. “Ford Mustang” used by permission of the Serge Gainsbourg Estate and published by Warner/Chappell Music France and Melody Nelson Publishing; “Manon” used by permission of the Serge Gainsbourg Estate and the Michel Colombier Estate and published by Universal Music Publishing France.

Brad Mehldau is a Steinway artist.
Mark Guiliana plays Gretsch drums, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Evans drumheads.

Nonesuch Selection Number

536645

Number of Discs in Set
1disc
Album Status
Artist Name
Brad Mehldau
Mark Guiliana
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS
Brad Mehldau, synths, Fender Rhodes, piano, spoken voice, “ahh” vocals
Mark Guiliana, drums, electronics

Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
CD+MP3
UPC
075597956504
Label
MP3
Price
9.00
UPC
075597957945
Label
2LP+MP3
UPC
075597956511
Label
FLAC
Price
10.00
UPC
075597951158
  • 536645

News & Reviews

  • Brad Mehldau’s After Bach II and Après Fauré are due May 10 on Nonesuch Records. The Bach album comprises four preludes and one fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier, as well as the Allemande from the fourth Partita, interspersed with seven compositions or improvisations by Mehldau inspired by the complementary works of Bach—including Mehldau’s Variations on Bach’s Goldberg Theme. On Après Fauré, Mehldau performs four nocturnes, from a thirty-seven-year span of Gabriel Fauré’s career, as well as a reduction of an excerpt from the Adagio movement of his Piano Quartet in G Minor. Here Mehldau’s four compositions that Fauré inspired are presented in a group, bookended by two sections featuring the French composer’s works.

  • The 2024 Big Ears Festival is next week, taking place in venues throughout downtown Knoxville, TN, March 21–24, with more than a dozen Nonesuch artists past, present, and future performing as part of the label's 60th anniversary celebrations. In addition to all of the music and film offerings, Big Ears also hosts a number of artist conversations with music journalists Ann Powers and Nate Chinen, including talks with Sam Amidon, Laurie Anderson, Darcy James Argue, Rhiannon Giddens, Mary Halvorson, Robin Holcomb, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Brad Mehldau, Davóne Tines, and Yasmin Williams.

  • About This Album

    Nonesuch Records releases the debut album from the electric duo of Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana, Mehliana: Taming the Dragon, on February 25, 2014. The two have been performing for several years, including a brief US tour this fall, with Mehldau playing Fender Rhodes and synthesizers and Guiliana on drums and effects, as they are on the record. Mehliana comprises 12 original tunes—six written by the duo and six written by Mehldau—and was engineered and mixed by Greg Koller (Jon Brion, Kanye West). 

    Brad Mehldau played in a number of different ensembles, including label mate Joshua Redman’s quartet, before becoming a bandleader himself in the 1990s. The Brad Mehldau Trio, which tours the world extensively, made eight acclaimed recordings for Warner Bros., including the five widely praised Art of the Trio albums with former drummer Jorge Rossy (released as a boxed set by Nonesuch in 2011). The pianist’s nine years with Nonesuch have been equally productive, beginning with the solo disc Live in Tokyo and including six trio records Day is Done, House on Hill, Live, Ode, and Where Do You Start, as well as a collaboration with soprano Renée Fleming, Love Sublime; a chamber ensemble album, Highway Rider; two collaborations with label mate Pat Metheny, Metheny Mehldau and Quartet, the latter of which also includes Trio members Jeff Ballard and Larry Grenadier; a CD/DVD set of live solo performances, Live in Marciac; and collaborations with genre-crossing musicians on Modern Music, with composer/pianist Kevin Hays and composer/arranger Patrick Zimmerli. Additionally, he produced saxophonist Joshua Redman’s 2013 release Walking Shadows.

    According to Modern Drummer, Mark Guiliana is “at the forefront of an exciting new style of drumming.” The New Jersey native’s unique and un-compromised approach to playing the drums has earned him international acclaim as both a leader and a sideman. In 2004, Guiliana created HEERNT, an “experimental-garage-jazz” trio based in New York. The band’s debut record, Locked in a Basement, was called the record “the most exuberant, dramatic, beautiful, sassy, genre-busting little outing that I've heard since I don't know when” by legendary drummer Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson). As a sideman, Guiliana’s longest partnership has been with world-renowned jazz bassist Avishai Cohen. He toured all over the world with Cohen from 2003 until 2008, performing on six studio records and a live DVD recorded at the Blue Note in Manhattan. Guiliana has also recorded and/or performed with Meshell Ndegeocello, Dhafer Youssef, Wayne Krantz, Matisyahu, Jazz Mandolin Project, Jason Lindner, Brad Shepik, Bobby McFerrin, Tigran Hamasyan, and many more. His debut solo record, Beat Music, which was co-produced by Ndegeocello, was released in the spring of 2013. Guiliana plays Gretsch drums, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Evans drumheads.

    Credits

    MUSICIANS
    Brad Mehldau, synths, Fender Rhodes, piano, spoken voice, “ahh” vocals
    Mark Guiliana, drums, electronics

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Produced by Brad Mehldau & Mark Guiliana
    Recorded and Mixed by Greg Koller
    Recorded at Bunker Studios in Brooklyn, NY
    House Engineers: John Davis, Andy Plovnick
    Edited by Eric Caudieux at NRG Studios, Burbank, CA
    Additional Editing by John Davis at Bunker Studios and Stefan Schmid at Electric Monkey Studios, Amsterdam, Holland
    Mastered by Patricia Sullivan at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA

    Art and Layout by Dima Drjuchin
    Photograph by Brantley Gutierrez

    Tracks 1, 6–8, 10, 11 composed by Brad Mehldau; all other tracks composed by Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana

    Excerpt from Amelia Earhart’s “A Woman’s Place in Science” used with permission from Amy Kleppner, as heir to the Estate of Muriel Morrissey (ameliaearhart.com).
    “Gainsbourg” incorporates a sample from “Ford Mustang” and “Manon” by Serge Gainsbourg, courtesy of Universal Music France Mercury division. “Ford Mustang” used by permission of the Serge Gainsbourg Estate and published by Warner/Chappell Music France and Melody Nelson Publishing; “Manon” used by permission of the Serge Gainsbourg Estate and the Michel Colombier Estate and published by Universal Music Publishing France.

    Brad Mehldau is a Steinway artist.
    Mark Guiliana plays Gretsch drums, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Evans drumheads.

More From Brad Mehldau