Dewey Redman: Sound Explorer

Dewey Redman Trio - QOW
Dewey Redman Trio - Joie de Vivre
From Coincide (Impulse! ASD-9300), rereleased on The Ear of the Behearer: IMP 12712 [Buy Here]

Dewey Redman is one of my favourite saxophonists, who I first heard in his role as a member of one of the most extraordinary bands ever to walk this Earth, Keith Jarrett's "American Quartet" with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1931, Dewey Redman was a high school friend of Ornette Coleman, with whom he would play in later years in San Francisco and New York. After a spell on the west coast, Redman moved to New York around the time Coltrane died in 1967, and soon became known as a regular performer in exploratory ensembles such as Coleman's own groups and Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra.

Although one of the legends of the late 60s East Coast free scene, Dewey Redman's distinctive sound has never quite lost the blues and gospel roots of his Texas childhood, something that comes through on these two tunes, both recorded in September 1974 for Redman's Impulse! album Coincide, a trio date featuring Redman with Eddie Moore on drums and bassist Sirone (aka Norris Jones).

These are typical Redman performances, weaving in and out of tonality, enhanced by the implied harmonic freedom of the horn-bass-drums format. Joie de Vivre is close to being a ballad, while the mysteriously named QOW is a bluesy, funky romp defined by sing-song bass vamps from Sirone.

Dewey Redman is still active playing, recording and touring, and it is somewhat unfortunate that these days he stands somewhat in the shadow of his son, tenorman Joshua Redman.

Also worth Hearing...

Today, (Wednesday 6th April), (((NOMUSIC))) is streaming a 24 hour worldwide "audio diffusion" event today called Royal Battle. Performers include David Fenech (Paris), Fugu and the Cosmic Mumu (Tokyo), Scott Smallwood (Princeton) and the Alsace based (((NOMUSIC))) founders Carl Y and laboiteblanche. Turn the lights down low and turn it up!