Joshua Redman - Captured Live! (1994)

1. The Deserving Many
2. Blues on Sunday
3. Sweet Sorrow

Musicians:
Joshua Redman - Tenor sax
Brad Mehldau - Piano
Christian McBride - Bass
Brian Blade – Drums

There is something strange about this record. Total playtime is only 35.39 minutes and, for a major jazz artist, the sleeve and packaging have an amateurish feel about them! Another mystery is that the session was recorded in 1994, but the record has only just appeared. We are also told that it was recorded live and the audience is very enthusiastic, but where was it recorded? All we know is that it was somewhere in NYC!

That was the downside; the upside is that this is some of the most exciting tenor sax jazz I have heard. In 1994 Joshua Redman had only just appeared on the NYC jazz scene. I tried to get into the Village Vanguard in 1996 to see him, but was turned away because they were full. He has an amazing technique and an exciting style, together with a seemingly never ending flow of interesting improvisations. He is supported by an excellent rhythm section. Christian Mc Bride is an amazing bass player, capable of holding things together at very fast tempos, whilst driving everything along. The piano solos by Brad Mehldau are equally as inventive as those of the leader. Drummer Brian Blade is a major contributor to the overall group sound, even if his solos are overlong for my taste.

No composer credits are given so I assume the compositions are all originals: they are all worthy of their performance. I particularly liked Blues on Sunday. ---Don Mather, musicweb-international.com

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