Roy Hargrove Quintet With The Tenors of Our Time – (1994 – Label: Verve)

Verve has certainly pushed the boat out for Hargrove, newly captured from Novus. For his first release they have provided him with no less than five guest stars—all tenor players. They are Joe Henderson, Johnny Griffin, Stanley Turrentine, Branford Marsalis and Joshua Redman. What Hargrove’s incumbent tenor player, Ron Blake, thought of this is not known, but he plays remarkably well himself. The change certainly seems to have done Hargrove good. He sounds more relaxed and expansive here than on previous albums, with the slightly manic enthusiasm toned down a bit, although this was always more evident in person than on record. He is 23 now, roughly the same age as Lee Morgan when he was with The Messengers, no longer a prodigy with something to prove. It is now 38 years since Clifford Brown died and his influence among trumpeters has proved as durable as Charlie Christian’s among guitarists. Who could have imagined then the brilliant players yet unborn who would follow his brief, inspiring example?

Tracklist:
1. Soppin’ The Biscuit   
2. When We Were One   
3. Valse Hot   
4. Once Forgotten   
5. Shade Of Jade   
6. Greens At The Chicken Shack   
7. Never Let Me Go   
8. Serenity   
9. Across The Pond   
10. Wild Is Love   
11. Mental Phrasing   
12. April’s Fool

Personnel
Roy Hargrove (Tp, fh)
Ron Blake (Sop & Ten Sax)
Cyrus Chestnut (Piano)
Rodney Whitaker (Bass)
Gregory Hutchinson (Drums)

Additional personnel: (Ten Sax)
Stanley Turrentine,
Johnny Griffin,
Joshua Redman,
Joe Henderson,
Branford Marsalis    

Recorded at Clinton Recording Studios, New York, New York on January 16 & 17, 1994 and at Teatro Mancinelli, Orvieto, Italy on December 28, 1993. Includes liner notes by Bob Blumenthal. – Label: Verve

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Joshua Redman: Timeless Tales "For Changing Times" (1998 – Warner Bros)

Where does the time go? The ‘90s seem to be flying by faster than previous decades. Tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman  just came up a few years back in a media “explosion” that introduced his Warner Bros. albums and provided biographical details about his Berkeley youth years, his Harvard credentials, his Thelonious Monk Institute award, and the differences in style between Josh and his father, saxophonist Dewey Redman. In just three months (already) the younger Redman will turn 30. Far from being born “with a silver spoon in his mouth” the saxophonist has shown creative skills as an expressive communicator through his instrument and as an innovator who will readily pump up the hard-core edge in his performances. The acoustic piano trio on Timeless Tales is a perfect fit and each artist can be heard clearly in support of Redman’s melodies. Redman employs the alto sax on “Yesterdays,” “Love For Sale” & “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” and soprano sax on “I Had a King” & “Eleanor Rigby.”
“Summertime” begins the session, which is somewhat lightweight while remaining within the confines of a creative journey. Redman’s approach to the horn is warm and laid-back, while the trio behind him explores various textures from a subdued vantagepoint. Right from the start, each of the four artists show that they prefer creative interplay and a free flow of ideas. Cole Porter’s “Love For Sale,” Jerome Kern’s “Yesterdays,” and Irving Berlin’s “How Deep Is the Ocean” certainly come to mind as classic jazz standards, but Redman’s decision to include newer tunes too, proves his point that good music comes from all eras. The haunting melody of Joni Mitchell’s “I Had a King” is presented in a sparse setting with both pianist and saxophonist offering solo spots. Stevie Wonder’s “Visions” is presented with a Latin beat and an expressive ballad charm. The quartet picks up the energy level some on Bob Dylan’s “The Times Are A-Changin’,” which has a comfortable rural charm. These tunes tell stories. The tale accompanying “Eleanor Rigby” is a familiar one, and Redman depicts it in a manner, which contains both drama and sweetness. Prince’s “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore” ends the session in a lovely blues fashion enhanced by the quartet’s overt head-shakin’ finger-poppin’ slap-bass sense of telling a familiar story. Highly recommended.
Jim Santella (All About Jazz)

Track List:
1. Summertime
2. Interlude 1
3. Visions
4. Yesterdays
5. Interlude 2
6. I Had a King
7. The Times They Are A-Changin’
8. Interlude 3
9. It Might as Well Be Spring
10. Interlude 4
11. How Deep Is the Ocean?
12. Interlude 5

Personnel:
Joshua Redman (soprano, alto & tenor saxophones)
Brad Mehldau (piano)
Larry Grenadier (bass)
Brian Blade (drums)

Original Release Date: September 22, 1998  –  Label: Warner Bros / Wea

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