Since 1995, Brad Mehldau has come to the forefront of modern jazz with lightening speed. A classically trained pianist, his traditional piano, bass and drums trio inevitably invites comparisons with the great Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett. Beginning in Los Angles and returning to the city for a final reprise, Places could be considered a concept album, a musician's tour through "Madrid", "Amsterdam" and "Paris" including a glimpse of "Airport Sadness" and break for "A Walk in the Park". With 13 cuts, Mehldau offers classical discipline blending seamlessly with jazz improvisation, the result highly melodic instrumental songs which grow out of the Evans heritage but have a melancholy, lyric personality all their own. Mehldau again works with Larry Grenadier (bass) and Jorge Rossy (drums), exceptionally talented musicians who have been with him since his debut, Introducing Brad Mehldau. Rossy has played with the acclaimed Mark Turner and Seamus Blake Quintets, while Grenadier comes straight from touring with Pat Metheny and featuring on Trio 99-00. Together they make a superb unit, the album an introspective gem, perhaps paradoxically delivering a sound more in keeping with spaciousness of ECM than the big city. --Gary S Dalkin