Highway Rider is a contemporary jazz

Jazz

Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...

 album by American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 pianist

Pianist

A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...

 Brad Mehldau

Brad Mehldau

Brad Mehldau is an American jazz pianist. Besides leading his own group, the Brad Mehldau Trio, he has performed with many renowned artists, including Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, Larry Grenadier, Peter Bernstein, Jeff Ballard, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Kurt...

. It was Mehldau's second collaboration with producer Jon Brion

Jon Brion

Jon Brion is an American rock and pop multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, composer and record producer.-Early life:...

 (the other is the 2002 album Largo), and it features saxophonist Joshua Redman

Joshua Redman

Joshua Redman is an American jazz saxophonist and composer who records for Nonesuch Records. He won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in 1991.-Biography:...

, drummer

Drummer

A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...

 Matt Chamberlain

Matt Chamberlain

Matthew Chamberlain is an American drummer, producer and sound engineer. He is currently based in Los Angeles, California.-Early life:...

, and Chamber orchestra led by Dan Coleman

Dan Coleman

Dan Coleman is a composer and music publisher.He studied music at the University of Pennsylvania, the Juilliard School, and the Aspen Music Festival and School where his teachers included George Tsontakis, George Crumb, William Bolcom, Robert Beaser, Stephen Albert and Bruce Adolphe...

, as well as Mehldau's regular trio

Jazz trio

The term "piano trio" in jazz usually refers to a group comprising a pianist, a double bass player and a drummer. The pianist is usually considered the leader of these trios, and trios are usually named after their pianist...

 partners, bassist

Bassist

A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...

 Larry Grenadier

Larry Grenadier

Larry Grenadier is an American jazz double bassist.His father, Albert, was a trumpet player, and his two brothers, Phil and Steve, would eventually play trumpet and guitar respectively. Grenadier too began on trumpet when he was 10 years old. His father taught him to read music and gave him his...

 and drummer Jeff Ballard

Jeff Ballard

Jeffrey Scott Ballard is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, playing from to .Following his career, Ballard returned to his hometown of Billings, where he has become an instrumental part of local American Legion Baseball programs...

.

Track listing

1. "John Boy"
2. "Don't Be Sad"
3. "At the Tollbooth"
4. "Highway Rider"
5. "The Falcon Will Fly Again"
6. "Now You Must Climb Alone"
7. "Walking the Peak"
8. "We'll Cross the River Together"
9. "Capriccio"
10. "Sky Turning Grey [For Elliott Smith]"
11. "Into the City"
12. "Old West"
13. "Come with Me"
14. "Always Departing"
15. "Always Returning"

Musicians

Brad Mehldau, piano (CD1:1-5, 7; CD2:1-6, 8), pump organ (CD1:2; CD2:3), Yamaha CS-80 (CD1:4), orchestral bells (CD1:7; CD2:1, 8); handclaps (CD2:2)

Jeff Ballard

Jeff Ballard (musician)

Jeff Ballard is an American jazz drummer from Santa Cruz, California. He has played with Ray Charles and Pat Metheny and plays periodically with Chick Corea in many groups such as Origin and The Chick Corea New Trio. He also played with many New York based Jazz musicians such as Reid Anderson,...

, percussion (CD1:1, 5; CD2:2), snare brush (CD1:2), drums (CD1:7; CD2:1, 4, 6, 8); handclaps (CD2:2)

Joshua Redman

Joshua Redman

Joshua Redman is an American jazz saxophonist and composer who records for Nonesuch Records. He won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in 1991.-Biography:...

, soprano saxophone (CD1:1, 5; CD2:2, 8), tenor saxophone (CD1:2, 7; CD2:1, 3, 5); handclaps (CD2:2)

Larry Grenadier

Larry Grenadier

Larry Grenadier is an American jazz double bassist.His father, Albert, was a trumpet player, and his two brothers, Phil and Steve, would eventually play trumpet and guitar respectively. Grenadier too began on trumpet when he was 10 years old. His father taught him to read music and gave him his...

, bass (CD1:2, 4, 7; CD2:1, 3, 4, 6, 8); handclaps (CD2:2)

Matt Chamberlain

Matt Chamberlain

Matthew Chamberlain is an American drummer, producer and sound engineer. He is currently based in Los Angeles, California.-Early life:...

, drums (CD1:2, 4, 5, 7, 8; CD2:2, 3); handclaps (CD2:2)

Orchestra, Dan Coleman

Dan Coleman

Dan Coleman is a composer and music publisher.He studied music at the University of Pennsylvania, the Juilliard School, and the Aspen Music Festival and School where his teachers included George Tsontakis, George Crumb, William Bolcom, Robert Beaser, Stephen Albert and Bruce Adolphe...

, conductor (CD1:1, 2, 6, 7; CD2:1, 7, 8)

Brad, Josh, Dan, Matt, Jeff, and special guests The Fleurettes, la la la vocals (CD1:5)

Production Credits

Produced by Jon Brion

Jon Brion

Jon Brion is an American rock and pop multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, composer and record producer.-Early life:...

Engineered by Gregg Koller

Mixed by Gregg Koller and Jon Brion

Pro Tools Engineer: Eric Caudieux

Eric Caudieux

Eric Caudieux is an accomplished player of the keyboards and rhythm guitar who has not only played for guitarist Joe Satriani on many of his albums, but is a member of Joe Satriani's backing group when he is on tour.- References :...

Mastered by Alan Yoshida

Recorded, mixed, and mastered February 16–28 and May 12–19, 2009, at Ocean Way Studios, Hollywood, CA