Metheny, Mehldau expand for new album

By Jonathan Cohen

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Jazz artists Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau have expanded into a quartet for their second album together, apply dubbed "Quartet."

Due March 13 from the Nonesuch label, the 11-track project finds them joined by bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard from Mehldau's trio. Those musicians played on two tracks from last year's "Metheny/Mehldau" album.

"Quartet" was recorded during the same late 2005 sessions that spawned "Metheny/Mehldau" and features the artists' first co-write, "A Night Away."

Also included are new versions of Mehldau's "Fear and Trembling" and Metheny's "Martha's Theme," originally part of his score for the 1998 Italian movie "A Passage to Paradise."

After not playing live in support of the debut, which peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's Top Jazz Albums chart, the quartet will tour in support of the upcoming album beginning March 21 in Mesa, Ariz.

Dates are on tap through April 15 in Red Bank, N.J.

Here is the track list for "Quartet":

"A Night Away"

"The Sound of Water"

"Fear and Trembling"

"So Much Music Everywhere"

"Toward the Light"

"Long Before"

"En La Tierra Que No Olvida"

"Santa Cruz Slacker"

"Secret Beach"

"Silent Movie"

"Marta's Theme"

Reuters/Billboard