Back East cover

Back East

Released

Sonny Rollins’ 1957 album Way Out West was a breakthrough release for him, featuring the legendary Harlem-born saxophonist with just bass and drums on his first trip to the other side of the US. Fifty years later, Joshua Redman (born in California, but recording in New York) offered a mirror-image response, tackling two of the tunes from the Rollins album — “I’m An Old Cowhand” and “Wagon Wheels” — alongside standards popular in the 1950s (“The Surrey With The Fringe On Top,” “East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)”), several originals, and versions of Wayne Shorter’s “Indian Song” and John Coltrane’s “India.” Redman records with three different rhythm sections: bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Ali Jackson on six tracks, Christian McBride and Brian Blade on two, and Reuben Rogers and Eric Harland on three. He also brings in guest saxophonists on three tracks; Joe Lovano, Chris Cheek, and his father, Dewey Redman, in his final studio appearance. Hearing the two Redmans tear into “India,” the older man’s gritty tone harmonizing with the younger’s earnest but intelligent and still developing voice, is a deeply moving experience and a beautiful piece of music.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Public Domain cover

Public Domain

Charlie Hunter
My Foolish Heart: Live at Montreux cover

My Foolish Heart: Live at Montreux

Jack DeJohnette, Gary Peacock, Keith Jarrett
Across the Sky cover

Across the Sky

John Geggie Trio, Donny McCaslin
Standards: Movie Music, Vol. 2 cover

Standards: Movie Music, Vol. 2

Alan Pasqua, Peter Erskine, Bob Mintzer, Darek Oles
At Basin Street cover

At Basin Street

Max Roach, Clifford Brown
Triads and More (with Special Guest Joshua Redman) cover

Triads and More (with Special Guest Joshua Redman)

Eirik Hegdal, Joshua Redman, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra
Doorways cover

Doorways

Paul Motian, Enrico Pieranunzi, Chris Potter
Street Talk cover

Street Talk

Joe Lovano, Greg Osby, Saxophone Summit, David Liebman
The Gate cover

The Gate

Kurt Elling
The Boston Record cover

The Boston Record

John McLaughlin