Suite: April 2020
Brad Mehldau · 2020
40 min · 15 tracks · jazz
A contemplative blend of jazz piano and ambient textures reflecting the emotional landscape of isolation and uncertainty.
Top tracks — play these first
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Suite: April 2020: I. Waking Up Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Suite: April 2020: III. Keeping Distance — This track encapsulates the album's central theme of physical separation while maintaining an emotional connection through its delicate piano lines.
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Suite: April 2020: VIII. Yearning — Yearning employs lush harmonies and subtle dynamics to evoke a sense of longing, mirroring the emotional weight of the pandemic experience.
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Suite: April 2020: XII. Lullaby — The soothing qualities of this piece provide a sense of comfort and closure, representing hope and tranquility at the end of the suite.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album's contemplative structure and emotional depth create a strong listening experience that rewards repeat plays.
What we noticed
- The first six tracks are structured as a continuous suite, with each piece flowing seamlessly into the next, creating a cohesive narrative.
- Tracks feature sparse piano melodies layered with ambient textures, often using silence and space to evoke feelings of contemplation.
- Several pieces employ varying dynamics, shifting from soft, introspective passages to more intense moments, reflecting emotional highs and lows.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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9/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- contemplative moments of reflection
- steady pacing for deep thinking
- emotional exploration of isolation
- intimate sound for quiet spaces
- subtle nuances in each track
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of high-energy beats
- prefer standalone catchy tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and adaptation to contemporary themes in Mehldau's work.
- Themes
- pandemic isolation· emotional distance· yearning for connection
- Career context
- Released on June 12, 2020, Suite: April 2020 marks a significant moment in Brad Mehldau's career as he adapted to the global pandemic's impact on creativity. This album showcases his ability to translate contemporary themes into music, following his previous work, After Bach, which explored classical influences. Here, Mehldau finds a new voice amidst personal and collective introspection.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Esbjörn Svensson Trio· Tigran Hamasyan· Robert Glasper
Tracklist
- 1 Suite: April 2020: I. Waking Up Start here 1:14
- 2 Suite: April 2020: II. Stepping Outside 2:18
- 3 Suite: April 2020: III. Keeping Distance 2:52
- 4 Suite: April 2020: IV. Stopping, Listening: Hearing 1:56
- 5 Suite: April 2020: V. Remembering Before All This 3:39
- 6 Suite: April 2020: VI. Uncertainty 1:51
- 7 Suite: April 2020: VII. - The Day Moves By - 1:57
- 8 Suite: April 2020: VIII. Yearning 3:31
- 9 Suite: April 2020: IX. Waiting 3:14
- 10 Suite: April 2020: X. In the Kitchen 2:57
- 11 Suite: April 2020: XI. Family Harmony 2:54
- 12 Suite: April 2020: XII. Lullaby 3:13
- 13 Don’t Let It Bring You Down 2:06
- 14 New York State of Mind 3:06
- 15 Look for the Silver Lining 3:31
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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