American piano master Brad Mehldau has played both Bach and electronic funk in the UK recently, but this is a return to acoustic jazz with his long-running trio (Larry Grenadier on bass and Jeff Ballard on drums) and a tracklist of classic songs. But if all that sounds too familiar, forget it. Mehldau is a genius (and a still-improving one) at taking predictable materials to unpredictable destinations.

There could hardly be a better start for the new year – the 2014 jazz season will be opened by none other than Jeff Ballard, together with outstanding guitarist Lionel Loueke and the great Miguel Zenon on saxophone. Their first ever album collaboration "Time’s Tales" offers a varied repartoire from Thelonious Monk to Iranian folk melodies, with influences from Bartók, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Stevie Wonder and more. At the same time, it reflects the musicians’ different geographic backgrounds – the USA, Benin and Puerto Rico.

On its second ECM album, recorded in New York last year, Fly continues to overturn the conventions of the sax/bass/drums trio. Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier and Jeff Ballard share freedom and responsibilities in a democratically-constituted band of equals, which is never about soloist-and-accompaniment. More often coolheaded and thoughtful than incantatory, the trio’s music subtly interweaves improvisation and composition; there are some deep conversations, and reflections on jazz history, taking place inside it.