I became a Joshua Redman fanatic after hearing this album back in 1993 during my freshman year of college. Mind you, I had never previously heard his self-titled debut, nor any work from his superb, legendary sidemen of Metheny, Haden, and Higgins, so I entered this listening experience with no expectations. (Actually, I was kind of a jazz novice at the time and I was just snatching up anything of note.) I bought this album strictly off of the admonition of a glowing review from Jazztimes magazine and was so impressed that I began singing praises about Redman to anybody I came in contact with who expressed an interest in jazz.
Although in the presence of greatness with the aforementioned rhythm section, Redman holds his own and still manages to lead the way. Truth be told, Joshua pushes the veterans to keep up with him instead of the other way around, as his melodic "duels" (not duets) with Metheny attest. Haden and Higgins nail the time beautifully. Redman's tone, technique, and lyrical phrasings are all exquisite, but what I admire the most about this album is his expression of EMOTION, which is an attribute that is sorely missing in "post-bop, neo-jazz." After all, jazz is still "soul music" rooted in the blues.
Joshua was still meshing out his own identity in this his sophmore effort, so comparisons can be made with Rollins or Coltrane, which speaks more of his ambitious musings and wonderful technical displays than merely a critique of mimicry. By the time he carved his niche on his later efforts, however, the emotional sensitivity and improvisational excursions he exhibited here seemed to have dissipated, which is why "Wish" is still head and shoulders, his best effort thus far.