Joshua Redman, jazz saxophonist
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
' There's only a handful of naturally gifted musicians, and Josh is one of them. Every time you hear him he's at a higher level.'
New York Times
Joshua Redman was born February 1, 1969, in Berkeley, California. His father is the famous saxophonist Dewey Redman, his mother, Renee Shedroff is a dancer and librarian. He began with music training at the age of five, when his mother enrolled him in Indonesian and Indian classes at the Center For World Music. He started to play guitar and piano. Because of his father playing saxophone, his listening to such legends as Sonny Rollins, John Coltraine, Dexter Gordon Joshua felt, that this was it: at ten he choose the saxophone as an instrument that suits him perfectly.
During his time in Harvard Joshua Redman played in the school jazz band, though his playing experiences were limited to only few gigs with Delfeayo Marsalis. He was influenced through listening to McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Elvin Jones, Wayne Shorter, Charlie Parker and Ornette Coleman.
Redman graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1991 and was accepted to Yale Law School. In June 1991 he moved to Brooklyn; for the first time Joshua had the opportunity to practice regularily, playing in jam sessions and being close to New York's creative jazz scene. It was also in Summer of 1991, when he wrote his first composition, 'Sublimation'. Redman still wanted to go to Yale. And then he won First Prize in the Theleonius Monk Institute of Jazz Saxophone Competition in late November 1991. This definitely changed all plans and he decided to choose jazz as a way of life. According to legendary jazz guitarist Pat Metheny since then Joshua Redman become 'The most important new musician in 20 years'.
Since then Redman has performed and/or recorded with Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Charlie Hayden, BB King, Pat Metheny, Jack DeJohnette, Ray Hargrove among many others. He also appeared as a featured musician in Robert Altmann's jazz movie 'Kansas City', where he portrayed Lester Young. Redman won numerous Down Beat, Jazziz and Rolling Stone Readers Polls and was a Grammy 1994 nominee.
Over the years Joshua Redman has gone through many changes of his style and tone: first more conservative in sound, he went to more melodic aspects. You can hear the inspiration from tracks of Lester Young (Redman admired the lyrical legacy of this particular musician), John Coltraine, Sonny Rollins.
Redman totally controlls his instruments - he plays soprano, alto and tenor sax - and is also a powerful stage personality. His play is very expressive and emotional, the sound of his horn is very heartfelt, though silky smooth.
There are also elements of rhythm and blues, soul, rock, hip-hop and funk. His music is close to the mainstream, but because of this different influences during Redman's musical grow up, he is now able to communicate in his own authentic style.
'One thing I've discovered about myself is that I'm an eclectic - as a person and as a musician.'
Joshua Redman
Music by Joshua Redman
'Wish' 1993: with Pat Metheny (g), Charlie Hayden (b), Billy Higgins (dr)
'Joshua Redman' 1993
'MoodSwing' 1994: first album with all original Redman compositions. With Brad Mehldau (p), Christian McBride (b), Brian Blade (dr)
'Spirit of the Moment. Live at the Village Vanguard' 1995: first live album. With Peter Martin (p), Christopher Thomas (b), Brian Blade (dr)
'Freedom in the Groove' 1996: with Peter Bernstein (g), Peter Martin (p), Christopher Thomas (b), Brian Blade (dr)
'Timeless Tales (for changing times) 1998: standards from Gershwin, The Beatles, Steve Wonder, Bob Dylan, Cole Porter and others. With Brad Mehldau (p), Larry Grenadier (b), Brian Blade (dr)
'Beyond' 2000: with Aaron Goldberg (p), Reuben Rogers (b), Gregory Hutchinson (dr)
