FIVE FUNKY JOSHUA REDMAN COLLABORATIONS

December 9, 2015 | by Rusty Aceves

Joshua Redman

A look at five of Bay Area born saxophonist Joshua Redman's most funky projects and collaborations.

1.  Joshua Redman Elastic Band. Born out the collaborative Yaya3 trio project with organist Sam Yahel and drummer Brian Blade, the Elastic Band’s 2002 debut, Elastic, is a standard bearer for contemporary jazz/funk. 2005’s follow-up, Momentum, features an extended lineup and guests including Roots drummer Questlove, vibraphonist Stefon Harris, guitarists Jeff Parker, Eric Krasno, and Kurt Rosenwinkel, and bassists Me’shell Ndegeocello and Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

2.  Me’shell Ndegeocello’s Plantation Lullabies. The bassist and vocalist’s stunning 1993 funk-infused debut, Plantation Lullabies, introduced a charismatic new star in Ndegeocello, joined by Redman’s soulful saxophone on the tracks “Step Into The Projects”, “Soul On Ice”, and “Picture Show”.

3.  Atomic Bomb: The Music William Onyeabor. In celebration of the Nigerian synth-funk musician and cult hero William Onyeabor, singer and songwriter and former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne led a national tour in May of 2014 featuring an impressive range of musicians including Joshua Redman.

4.  Gift of Gab at Rickshaw Stop/Red Bull Music Academy. In March, the San Francisco club Rickshaw Stop (just down Fell from SFJAZZ and host to the Historic Opening Night Concert after party) presented an innovative, open-ended series of duets among major musicians from the worlds of jazz, hip-hop, and the avant-garde. A highlight was the spontaneous duet of rapper Gift of Gab and Redman at his most ecstatic. 

 5.  The Bad Plus Joshua Redman. Though both the maverick trio The Bad Plus and Redman are deeply versed in the jazz tradition, neither party feels bound by genre restrictions. Their debut release moves freely between influences of rock, electronic music and the avant-garde, while always keeping groove front and center. Praised by NPR, who said “it exhibits genuinely fresh thinking,” the album has made a number of Best of Year lists, and garnered Redman a 2015 GRAMMY nomination for Best Improvised Jazz Solo on the track “Friend or Foe.”