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Blistering bebop and stunning songs

Take a bit of modern bebop and add some Bruce Springsteen and the Eagles, and you've got the makings of an era-defining gig at the Barbican on day three of the EFG London Jazz Festival. Saxophonist Joshua Redman bought his latest jazz outfit to London and stunned an appreciative crowd. Two standing ovations proved the quality of this gig last night.

Joshua Redman at the Barbican (c) Mark Allan


Vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa joined Redman for what must count as one of the highlights of this year's festival. A new line-up that evoked the joy of Redman's latest album Where are we, with Paul Cornish (piano), Philip Norris (bass) and Nazir Ebo (drums).

Some of my favourite tracks from the album were there: Chicago Blues, Streets of Philadelphia and Stars Fell on Alabama, the latter of which was followed by a beautiful rendition of John Coltrane's Alabama. Several of the tracks began with individual solos, including the truly beautiful By The Time I Get To Phoenix, which Redman himself introduced. His sax ranges across the whole spectrum from the lowest notes of the tenor right up to some unfeasibly high harmonics and one of the things he does so, so well is the sotto voce quiet that is hard to do at all.

For each of the cities that Redman visits with this band, they're performing a specially-chosen and for us in London, it was A Foggy Day in London Town, which was particularly apt, given the November weather that is often the case for the EFG LJF. Anyone who left at the end of that final dedication to London missed the encore of the Eagles' Hotel California. Each one of these covers was done with love and a touch of humour.

There are few jazz gigs that include Springsteen and the Eagles, but Redman managed all the tracks with aplomb and originality.

I reviewed his album for KindofJazz, and it's definitely worth a listen for the kind of jazz that thrills with its modernity and hints of the giants on whose shoulders Redman stands with pride and genius.

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