I can talk about this first recording of Anthropology, one of the most famous rhythm-changes bebop heads by Bird, for hours.
This version recorded many years after the original Bird version very much stays true to the tradition of bebop. The head played with both hands in unison is pretty much exactly like the original. It’s followed by an innovative rhythmically intricate, round of choruses characteristic of Brad Mehldau’s style.
At around 2:03 Mehldau switches gears into a riveting pentatonic blues motive and lick. This section is a fantastic example of how a single simple idea repeated can yield so much excitement at the right spot.
After about one half a minute of that, he erupts into a full-blown bebop style solo. Graduates of the Newschool from around the time he was a student say that he was “shedding” Wynton Kelly for hours.
It’s easy to hear that influence in this section of the solo which lasts about, 1 1/2 minutes.
This jazz standard is worthy of extra attention, which is why I included two more versions of it.
