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Review
Using Sonny Rollins' 1957 album, Way Out West, as a basis for his 2007 album Back East, saxophonist Joshua Redman expanded the idea of the jazz three-piece. Redman calls its follow-up, Compass, "a further exploration of the trio format . . . an expansion on, and an extension of Back East." And he's not wrong. At times, it is a dazzling album of considerable artistry. With an experienced supporting team - bassists Larry Grenadier and Reuben Rogers and drummers Brian Blade and Gregory Hutchinson, Redman stretches the players ever further, fronting both rhythm sections and, on five of the tracks here, performing with the entire line-up in a double-trio configuration.
The extreme nature of some of the playing is always brought back to the melody line with Redman's innate sense of commercialism; we go from the relative calm of Uncharted to the free runs of Faraway and the increasingly fraught melancholy of Just Like You (one of the recordings with both trios) and back again with relative ease. The album's originals are complemented by the extemporisation of Moonlight, based on Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata which beats at the album's often sad and unsettled core. Bleak, emotional and full of gravity, Compass is the sort of serious-minded album that gives jazz in 2009 a very good name. --Daryl Easlea
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Audio CD
After the beautiful 2007 Back East, here again a strong release of pure and demanding acoustic jazz from Joshua Redman. The sound appears that of a sax, bass and drums trio, but the players are three in just 6 of the 13 tracks, in two tracks there are two basses and one drummer, in five tracks two basses and two drums! The musicians accompanying Joshua are bassists Larry Grenadier and Reuben Rogers, drummers Brian Blade and Gregory Hutchinson. As in Back East, despite the various combinations of players, there is a strong consistency and never the feeling of a collection of different sessions. All original compositions, except for a really moving interpretation of the slow movement from the Beethoven Moonlight piano sonata. Amazing interactions between bassists and drummers create compelling layers of sounds, perfect ground for the more than ever unrestrained tenor and soprano saxes of this mature and confident saxophonist. Not immediately entertaining as his earlier releases or his soul-funk Elastic Band, darker and more complex than his previous release Back East, this is an advanced and challenging work for jazz lovers only.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
Beautifully recorded melodic jazz record, great tunes (all instrumental) and well played. If you like 'Kind of Blue' type jazz, then this will suit down to the ground.
Could be used as nice background music for parties,though Mr Redman would probably hate me for saying that! Try listening with good quality headphones, so you can hear the nuances of the quiet passages.
Could be used as nice background music for parties,though Mr Redman would probably hate me for saying that! Try listening with good quality headphones, so you can hear the nuances of the quiet passages.
4 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a well recorded album with some great playing frustratingly sandwiched between other stuff I found unlistenable., Far from a cool melodic sound the compositions were very skeletal bases for skilled, but for me, disjointed, uncommunicative improvisation (I don't rate the basic melodies that highly either!). I guess I can't understand jazz as this cd has received excellent reviews. I bought this cd on the basis of Redman's work on Me'shell Ndegeocello's Spirit Music album as well as Brian Blade's work with the Fellowship and the Wayne Shorter quartet, Larry Grenadier with Brad Mehldau etc. I don't think those are exactly easy listening albums, but this is a more challenging listen. I tried to appreciate it, the playing's very skilled, but frankly I think I'll be giving up on this one soon!
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