Beyond

Review Consider Redman a middle-aged lion, though he's only 31. No longer the prodigious youngster of 1991, when he won the Thelonious Monk Institute competition, this talented, probing saxophonist has become as accomplished a composer as player. His seventh Warner Brothers release is a provocative anomaly, equally supple and sturdy. If it rarely catches fire, it just as rarely fails to nourish. The tunes run the gamut from the emotive balladry of "Neverend," the shortest piece, to "Twilight ... and Beyond," an ambitious 11-minute exploration of timbre and tempo. Sparked by the thoughtful piano of Aaron Goldberg, Reuben Rogers' purposeful bass, and the impressionistic drums of Gregory Hutchinson, Redman always sounds assured, his confidence and authority unmistakable. But the dryness of his tone keeps this music from connecting viscerally, instead sticking to a cerebral plane above all. One could say his titles tell the story: "Belonging (Lopsided Lullaby)," "A Life?" "Stoic Revolution." If they're witty - like the music - the titles are also enigmatic, puns that don't always make their point as clearly as they might. The tunes often are as tricky as the tempi, their drama more intellectual than physical. Redman is in fine form - he's a trim, long man, like his sax lines - and the band is more than sympathetic. While you can hear Rollins and Coltrane in some tunes ("Stoic Revolution" sounds like an outtake from an early-'60s Trane recording on Atlantic.), Redman's voice is his own. What's most heartening about Beyond is its complexity. Not only is it anything but easy-listening, but it's committed, the product of four men who spark a dense, collective improvisation. Repeated listening shows these tunes wear well. Whether they move you is another question. It's one worth asking of this record again and again. --Carlo Wolff, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc. -- From Jazziz Product Description With spirited playing reminiscent of his classic self-titled debut and with a new quartet, this new release is a step into the future for the young leading light in jazz sax.
ASIN: B00002DEIX
VSKU: DBV.B00002DEIX.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Redman, Joshua
Binding: Audio cd
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: Individually inspected: Guaranteed to play perfectly or your money back. Case may show wear and may be in library packaging. Ships Fast!