Redman, Joshua / Compass
Album:Compass Collection:Jazz
Artist:Redman, Joshua Added:Apr 2009
Label:Nonesuch Records 

A-File Activity
Add Date:2009-04-19 Pull Date:2009-06-21 Charts:Jazz
Week Ending:Jun 21Jun 7May 31May 24May 17May 10Apr 26
Airplays:3121222

Recent Airplay
1.May 28, 2016:The Prism Experiment
Moonlight
4.Jun 19, 2009:Memory Select
Insomnomaniac
2.Sep 23, 2010:Sunshine . . . in the (Morning And) Afternoon
Faraway
5.Jun 15, 2009:Johanna's Demo
Hutchhiker's Guide
3.Jun 20, 2009:No Cover, No Minimum: Weekend Edition
Identity Thief
6.Jun 05, 2009:Memory Select
Just Like You

Album Review
Fo
Reviewed 2009-04-18 
JOSHUA REDMAN: Compass
Nonesuch, 2009

MODERN JAZZ – In his last CD, Back East, saxophone star Joshua Redman broke free from his usual tightly controlled sound and got loose in a trio format. Now he expands on that idea, employing two bassists and two drummers as interchangeable parts, in trios, quartets or all at once (with one rhythm section per stereo channel). It works very well: Redman’s straight-arrow tone and friendly melodic style are still there, but the changing rhythmic ground adds a welcome openness and spontaneity. This is a fine disc, easily among Redman’s best.

* * * * | Fo’s Picks: 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13

1. 2:05 – slow, amorphous: delicate sax maneuvers with two basses
2. 6:44 – upbeat modern groove, highly lyrical sax musings
3. 6:39 – stepping-stone melody; twin drums create a tricky obstacle course
4. 7:32 – slow, moody, dignified: grows from quiet duet to turbulent double-trio
5. 5:47 – upbeat boppin’ stroll: perky melodic line, excellent drums, bass solo
6. 3:38 – trio with soprano sax: fluttering intro, gently spiraling tune
7. 8:39 – jittery trio, bounces from insistent theme to slow march to bop glide
8. 5:00 – Beethoven! subdued double-trio crawls through the gloom
9. 5:05 – trio dodges and ducks around a steady theme
10. 3:22 – very odd march, like wind-up soldiers, some double-time segments
11. 6:26 – classic hardbop, upbeat and sly, breaks down for loose soloing
12. 8:32 – ballad becomes vigorous, falls back for bass duet, surges up again
13. 2:57 – haunting theme, becomes a sluggish thump

[ Fo ] 04/18/09

Track Listing
1.Uncharted 7.Insomnomaniac
2.Faraway 8.Moonlight
3.Identity Thief 9.Un Peu Fou
4.Just Like You 10.March
5.Hutchhiker's Guide 11.Round Reuben
6.Ghost 12.Little Ditty
 13.Through The Valley