This collaboration between jazz pianist Brad Mehldau and the much-acclaimed classical soprano Renée Fleming is entirely a contemporary-classical venture. But if some Mehldau regulars might feel adrift in these pure-toned melodies, there are just enough gently-rocking piano vamps and climactic flurries to identify his guiding hand. The project was jazz-lover Fleming's idea, with Carnegie Hall artistic director Robert Harth the enabler. Mehldau wrote all the music, for seven Rainer Maria Rilke poems from The Book of Hours: Love Poems to God and four by American poet Louise Bogan.

Your First Word Was Light sets Fleming's pensive then soaring lines over minimally punctuating chords, but I Love the Dark Hours of My Being has a trademark Mehldau rhythmic bounce. No One Lives His Life has a gospel-like bend to the notes from the remarkable Fleming and A Tale has a dancing piano melody. The ballad-like title track is the most melodically orthodox, with an unexpected improvised-sounding burst from Mehldau in its later stages. Beautiful singing, provocative melodies - and a bolder, more confident venture than Mehldau's previous classical album, Elegiac Cycle.