On Joshua Redman's 2000 release, Beyond (Warner Brothers), you can already hear the funk and rock inspiration that characterizes his current funk-jazz project, the Elastic Band. However, this band is completely acoustic (Aaron Goldberg on piano, Reuben Rogers on bass, and Gregory Hutchinson on drums), while with Elastic, Redman employs Sam Yahel on organ and keyboards and Brian Blade on drums.
On "Belonging (Lopsided Lullaby)," the time signature is practically undescernable. (Is it in 7? Is it in 13?). Redman and Goldberg trade choruses, playing with ease as if it's in 4. Hutchinson thrashes the drums, propelling the music forward. On "Leap of Faith," Redman and band are joined by tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, who is often said to be influenced by Redman. (I bet the influence moves both ways.) The song starts with Redman and Turner performing a subdued duet, before the rhythm section joins in to play a melody that sounds similiar to "Still Pushin' That Rock" from Redman's electric Elastic. According to his website, Redman has his next CD coming some time this spring from Nonesuch Records.
Article comments
1 - godoggo
I went to Cal State Long Beach with Turner when he was nineteen, before he transferred to Berklee. He was essentially a Brecker clone at the time, ableit an extraordinarily facile one. He also had a big solo with the marching band. He never mentions CSULB anywhere. Probably blotted it out of his memory, understandably.
2 - Eric Berlin
What's wrong with Cal State Long Beach? It's academic standards have been rising steadily over the last five years, and it's got just about the best collegiate vibe of any campus I've been to in California (and I've been to many): artsy, funky, surf-y, and care free.
Berkeley, a town I lived in for two years, has a terrible collegiate vibe -- I imagine people have fun at "Cal," but it takes some effort.
3 - godoggo
Just being arbitrarily snotty. I think it was a farily unpleasant experience fo Mark, though.
4 - godoggo
P.S. Berklee, not Berkeley
5 - Eric Olsen
both my parents went to CSLB for a time, as did my ex-wife
6 - godoggo
Does she still dig rock? And how's Madge? Oh, my god, I'm truly ashamed of having just typed that... anyway, future smoooth jazz saz star Jeff Kashiwa was also there, and Phil Alvin could be seen wandering the halls wearing a black thrift store suit and that infamous grin/grimace of his while pursuing his master's in math.