Joshua Redman’s meteoric rise to the top rungs of saxophone stardom has
been a wonder to behold. At 31 years old, he has established himself as
one of the best saxophonists of his generation through seven highly
acclaimed records on Warner Brothers and a seemingly endless string of
tour dates.
By now it’s well known that Redman was fresh out of Harvard on his way
to a law degree when he made a hairpin turn into a career in Jazz.
Thoughtful and serious even at that tender age, he explained it simply. "Jazz is
a calling... not a rational decision, (but) spiritual and emotional."
Given his ancestry, it’s no wonder that such important values have been
instilled in him. His father, tenor great Dewey Redman, was a member of Ornette
Coleman’s group and the cooperative Old and New Dreams, and provided the
younger Redman one of his first touring opportunities.
Shortly thereafter, Joshua won the 1991 Thelonious Monk Institute of
Jazz Competition, resulting in a contract with Warner Brothers, and the
Redman mission was launched into orbit. He’s continued to travel the globe,
pursuing a myriad of projects toward his ultimate artistic goals.
Articulate and well versed on the alto AND tenor, along with
soprano, his sense of adventure has taken him into explorations of fresh
territory with each new project and album. His latest recording,
"Beyond," is a collection of ten originals that utilizes an array of colors, with
Eastern modality, collective improvisation, odd time signatures and deep
grooves contributing to an album that epitomizes Redman’s spiritual
search for meaning. Elements of John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Coleman Hawkins,
Dexter Gordon and Lester Young have all been woven into his personal
sound.
Committed to Jazz, not just his career, Joshua was also Artistic director
and artist-in-residence for the San Francisco Jazz Festival’s SFJAZZ
Spring Season 2000. A native of the Bay area, Redman has lived in New York for
the past decade.