Word: redman
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...three musicians shared equal billing and are respected individually, although McBride and Blade have both played as Redman's sidemen over the past few years. McBride in particular has led his own distinguished group, and is one of the most sought-after sidemen on the scene today. The show at the Regattabar--an intimate, classy jazz club--was distinguished not only for the caliber of the individual musicians, but for the ability of all three musicians to assume the role of leader. With the ample time each had to solo, all demonstrated a remarkable combination of technical ability, musical depth...
...additional show, the first of three to come that day. Their confident swaggers and wide grins as they took the stage were a clear signal that they wanted to establish a good rapport with the audience, who were ready to hang on every note. After a congenial introduction, Redman uncapped the mouthpiece of his tenor saxophone, counted off and launched into an animated rendition of "Surrey With The Fringe On Top," a familiar tune from the Rodgers-Hammerstein musical Oklahoma...
...good opportunity for the trio to show that they were a cohesive group, not just a haphazard all-star assembly. The ease with which McBride navigates his hulking instrument was immediately apparent. He laid a solid foundation for the tune as Blade tastefully used brushes on his kit alongside. Redman then hung on a high note and slid upward to mark the beginning of his solo, in which he demonstrated his full, thick tone in all registers of the instrument. It was an apt starter for the show--giving audience members a hook to appreciate the band's stylings...
...right one of these days," McBride said of the intricate new Redman original, conceding its difficulty. "Off Center" is marked by a relatively simple melody repeated over a complex, busy rhythm figure, which combine to make the time signature of the head of the piece somewhat unclear. While the band had been tastefully restrained up till then, the solo section of "Off Center" gave the band members, particularly Blade, a chance to really come alive. Redman saw fit to change the timbre of his playing and force honks and cries from his horn. Blade got his first solo...
...band made an abrupt transition in tempo and mood as Redman began a long cadenza to preface the ballad, "What's New?" Here his very slow, almost imperceptible vibrato and airy, floating tone were vividly apparent. He played several motifs in different octaves, never once hinting that he might be performing at the extreme registers of his instrument. After the drums made a discreet entrance, and the delicate melody had been presented, McBride picked up a bow and displayed a facet of his amazing versatility as he coaxed a lush, sustained solo from his instrument...