The first Post- COVID season at The Soraya kicked off in high gear and high class with a twenty five year reunion that saxist Joshua Redman joked “got delayed by a few years due to unexpected lockdowns and disease”. Finally free to reunite and play, a band that began 2 score five years ago as promising upcomers and sidemen have now returned as conquering heroes and leaders in their own musical kingdoms.
The mastery of Joshua Redman, pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Brian Blade was palpable from the first moments of the 90 minute set in front of the packed and appreciative audience. Unlike most tenor players of his generation, Redman avoided the imitation of John Coltrane, taking inspiration from the likes of beefy horn men like Gene Ammons, but with a modern heart. His warm tone reached octaves at a single bound on sleek and bluesy pieces like the lithe “Mischief” or on his lonely fog of an intro of the breathy “Undertow” , while even when digging in deep as on the mid tempo ”The Shape of the Cedar Tree” he exuded a relaxed cheerfulness. His circular breathing, building up to a dramatic climax on “Undertow” created a tension around Mehldau’s noir’d ivories that was finally released at the drifting close. His soprano was lyrical as it glided over the creative propulsion of drummer Blade, who seemed to be keeping time by swatting the cymbals like flies with a flyswatter. Blade mixed grooves that were simultaneously loose and tight, being a joy to watch as he coaxed and played with the pulse on the waltzing “Father” as if it were Play-Doh.
Mehldau, the leading pianist of his generation, has become wiser and more judicious in his note selection. With soulful selection, he soulfully bopped around the jaunty “Mohawk” and lilting to the waltz of the encore of “The Oneness of Two”, and cleverly throwing in quotes ranging from the blues to Bizet throughout each solo. . McBride’s fingers danced around his bass like a Carl Lewis at the Olympics, digging into the “Haitian Fight Song “here, creating a rivulet there and proving that the bassist’s hands were quicker than the eye.
If you’ve ever gone to the circus and seen the high wire act, it’s always easy to tell which ones are masters at the trapeze by the look in their eyes. These four gents had the look, feel and sound of the ones who have walked the wire many a time, and without a net. Tonight, the greatest show on earth returned for a welcome reunion, and everyone looked better for the part.
Upcoming events at The Soraya include Lyle Lovett w/ John Hiatt 11/09, and further jazz events at The Soraya get cooking in February with the Jazz at Naz series including Christian McBride 02/-2Vince Giordano 02/04, Melissa Aldana 02/08, Joel Ross 02/10, The Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra 02/11 as well as Charles Lloyd 03/18
photos by Luis Luque/Luque Photography