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