Highway Rider

For his masterful, double-album opus Highway Rider, pianist Brad Mehldau assembled a dream team of musicians that included saxophonist Joshua Redman and producer/mixer Jon Brion. What they produced is a wholly cohesive, visionary collection of pop-tinged modern American jazz (“John Boy”), funky, autumnal jams (“Sky Turning Grey [For Elliott Smith]”), and swelling orchestral textures (“Always Returning”). From its album art to its sprawling tunes, Highway Rider is an unforgettable road trip through brilliantly American jazz landscapes.