A graduate of Florida State University, NYU, and Juilliard, as well as an Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano at the University of North Texas, pianist
Dave Meder is the epitome of the intellectual jazz musician. He's also an immensely gifted, often soulful performer, whose playing on his 2019 debut
Passage reveals a balance of influences, from the angular bop of
Thelonious Monk to the atmospheric modern classical of
Philip Glass. He also displays an unexpected flair for church music. Joining him at various times are bassists Tamir Shmerling and Marty Jaffe, and drummer
Kush Abadey. As a player,
Meder brings to mind the sophisticated style of pianists like
Fred Hersch, and
Brad Mehldau, with a bit of the soulfulness of
Mulgrew Miller or
George Cables. The opening "Work" is a lesser-performed
Monk composition that
Meder tackles nicely with his descending dissonant lines evoking the feeling of a dancer leaping down a flight of stairs. He then shifts gears, offering a delicately rendered ode to
Wayne Shorter with "For Wayne." More languid harmonies follow as "Golden Hour" sways back and forth between introspection and effusive outpourings of impressionistic joy. The moody "Elegy," featuring saxophonist
Chris Potter, brings to mind a modern classical soundscape. Similarly "This Road," with saxophonist
Miguel Zenón, finds
Meder drawing upon the circular minimalism of the aforementioned
Glass. Perhaps most intriguing is
Meder's heartfelt rendition of the traditional hymn "The Old Rugged Cross," which moves from bluesy restraint to a celebratory gospel peak, all while remaining firmly planted in the modern jazz style. Also compelling is his original "Break Points," which sounds like a jazz reworking of a contemporary R&B anthem. Blessed with deep technical skills, and a mastery of the tradition,
Meder remains tastefully reserved throughout his debut, deftly closing with a poignant solo rendition of the
George and
Ira Gershwin standard "For You, For Me, For Evermore." ~ Matt Collar