The Los Angeles Times calls saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Joshua Redman “one of the most vital figures in jazz of the new century.” His first trio recording, Back East, which was released last April by Nonesuch Records, was nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award. Later this month, Redman and his trio set out for a series of fourteen performances across America—including a stop at New York’s Village Vanguard. Please see below for a complete list of upcoming performances.

The Washington Post said of Back East, “Redman as made a triumphant return to form… his strongest recording in years,” while The New York Times called it “the most agile and personal record of his career.”

Redman returned to New York City in spring 2006 from his new home on the West Coast to record Back East with three different trio configurations: Christian McBride (bass) and Brian Blade (drums); Larry Grenadier (bass) and Ali Jackson (drums); and, Reuben Rogers (bass) and Eric Harland (drums). The record features guest performances by three generations of saxophone players: Redman’s late father Dewey Redman plays on two tracks (John Coltrane’s “India” and the elder Redman’s “GJ”); Joe Lovano plays on Wayne Shorter’s “Indian Song”; and Chris Cheek sits in on soprano for Redman’s own “Mantra #5.”

Redman’s hero Sonny Rollins’ seminal 1957 album Way Out West provided a conceptual impetus for the various thematic threads on Back East. Rollins was one of the first to explore the sax, bass, and drums trio. Way Out West was Rollins’ first album to feature that instrumentation. For that album, Rollins went to California to record with West Coast musicians. Redman did the reverse for Back East, coming “back east” from California to record, returning to the trio format he had immersed himself in at the beginning of his career while living in Boston and New York City.

In addition to Way Out West providing the genesis of Redman’s album’s title, Back East includes two interpretations of songs from that record, “I’m an Old Cowhand” and “Wagon Wheels.” The album also features compositions by other iconic composers, including Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, and Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein (“Surrey with a Fringe on Top”).

Joshua Redman’s first album for Nonesuch was his 2005 Elastic Band album Momentum.  Nonesuch has also released SFJAZZ Collective (2005) and SFJAZZ Collective, Vol 2 (2006), which featured Redman as artistic director and saxophonist.

For more information, please contact
Carla Sacks or Brian Shimkovitz at Sacks & Co., 212.741.1000.