This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
At times, Anything Goes has served as a mission statement for adventurous contemporary jazz pianist Brad Mehldau. This time, though, it’s just a song title.
For his 11th album, the acclaimed young lion actually takes a step back from the electronics and horns of his daring 2002 release Largo. Returning to the traditional trio format with his longtime rhythm section, Mehldau spends most of his time tackling standards like Get Happy, The Nearness of You, Smile and the title cut. It isn’t all nostalgia — Mehldau’s brainy post-bop deconstructions, along with the inclusion of contemporary material like his meditative take on Radiohead’s Everything In Its Right Place, keep you grounded in the present. And even if it isn’t his most daring work, there’s nothing to complain about with Anything Goes.
