Saxman Redman Shows Style Beyond His Years

JOSHUA REDMAN

“Joshua Redman”

Warner Bros.

* * * 1/2

Tuneful, musical, consistently swinging, alarmingly mature-- those words keep popping up with repeated listenings to this auspicious album debut.

Tenor saxophonist Redman, son of noted tenorist Dewey Redman, is just 23, but he sure sounds older. Two facets of his art that reveal this poise beyonds years: his tone, broad and flavorful, with traces of primary influences Gene Ammons, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane; and his relaxed manner at quicksilver, bravura tempos.

From the opening, smile-evoking “Blues on Sunday” to the closing “Sublimation”--a brooding, exotic thing that starts quietly but soon turns volatile--Redman offers nothing less than first-rate acoustic mainstream-rooted jazz. Like a Sunday brunch buffet, there’s something for everyone, including James Brown’s “I Got You,” handled adroitly and with panache; “Wish,” a telling ballad that has more than a smidgen of blues grit, and “Echoes,” where Redman digs in and plays fast, appealing phrases.

The featured rhythm section--Kevin Hays on piano, Christian McBride on bass and Greg Hutchison on drums--is potent and empathetic, setting Redman up and cooking on its own.

This album is a festive introduction to a prodigy who has the all the makings of a major jazz voice. Time will tell.