An artist fully committed to deepening his sound and exploring his potential, Joshua Redman unveils an expanded band, a new horn, and some infectious, funk-inflected rhythms on 1996's Freedom in the Groove, his fifth album for Warner Bros.
"One thing I've discovered about myself," Redman says, "is that I'm an eclectic as a person and as a musician. I grew up listening to and loving all kinds of music, and that variety and diversity are in my soul. For me, this album represents an extension of the soul and spirit of jazz improvisation - interaction and spontaneity - into territory that isn't conventionally considered part of the jazz idiom."
To take on this challenge, Joshua expands his usual quartet with the addition of guitarist Peter Bernstein, well-known for his work with Larry Goldings and Lou Donaldson. "Having a guitar in the band was crucial to exploring this territory," Joshua emphasizes. "Another instrument allows you to flesh out your voice compositionally, and a guitar is much more flexible than a more traditional quintet instrument." Bernstein's ability to fit seamlessly into Redman's concept is one of the album's defining traits, from the rock-solid tenor/guitar phrasing of "Home Fries" and the conversational exchanges on "One Shining Soul" to the flexible lead-shifting of "When the Sun Comes Down" and the rhythmic and melodic layering of "Cat Battles."
Amidst the other changes heard on Freedom in the Groove, Redman also makes his debut as an alto saxophonist on "Invocation" and "Can't Dance." With his soprano (heard on "One Shining Soul" and "Pantomime") and trademark tenor also at hand - Joshua proves himself not only a formidable triple-sax threat, but as usual, a musician of rare emotion and unsurpassed taste.