Nonesuch
2009
Compass
About This Album
Joshua Redman's 2007 album Back East rightfully drew critical comparisons to Sonny Rollins' legendary trio date Way Out West, given everything from the mirror image implication in the title to the manner in which Redman offered the material on the set. The presence of Rollins looms large over Compass as well. Once more, Redman explores a piano-less trio, though there are some quartet and quintet numbers here. Redman is accompanied by longtime friends and collaborators, including drummers Brian Blade and Gregory Hutchinson, and bassists Larry Grenadier and Reuben Rogers. The material is with one exception -- a compelling reworking of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (here known simply as "Moonlight") -- all composed by either Redman or the group. The tunes include some beautiful ballads, such as "Little Ditty," some smoking boppers like "Round Reuben" and "Hutchhiker's Guide," and a beautiful Indo-Asian-kissed number called "Ghost." There is some stellar communication in this band -- check "March" for a single but not isolated example of the intricacies of deep listening and a generous sense of flow. The doubling of rhythm players on the quintet sides doesn't bowl the listener over -- though it could and is hinted at in places -- but rather serves the melody and the arching sense of loose harmonics Redman places at their disposal, and uses time as a device to be toyed with rather than turned in on itself in the service of pure blowing.
Track List (try tracks 2,5,6,8,10,11 and 12)

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