Freedom in the Groove
Occupation
- Tenor Saxophone: Joshua Redman
- Piano: Peter Martin
- Guitar: Peter Bernstein
- Bass: Christopher Thomas
- Drums: Brian Blade
Freedom in the Groove is a jazz album by saxophonist Joshua Redman U.S. from the year 1996.
Background
As the album title suggests, Redman tries to explore for new rhythmic areas. On Freedom in the Groove Redman are the traditional hard bop style of his first albums on and tries for the incorporation of other styles from gospel to hip hop to the motto "I recognize music styles, but do not notice their limits "
The songs on the album is exclusively his own compositions, which were also arranged by Redman.
The first piece, Hide & Seek, begins with an introduction in which Redman leads on from overblown tones and tongue strokes into a funky groove.
In On Shining Soul is an R & B adaptation. Streams of Consciousness is a more contemporary piece, while Home Fries is rather bluesy and Invocation in the style of gospel music.
The quintet, consisting of Redman, guitarist Peter Bernstein, pianist Peter Martin, bassist Christopher Thomas, and drummer Brian Blade, playing (except for Peter Bernstein) purely acoustic instruments.
Reception
Leo Stanley wrote at Allmusic Album: As the title suggests, explores Joshua Redman new rhythmical areas on Freedom in the Groove. Dispensing with traditional hard bop, which has dominated his previous recordings, Redman tried to familiarize themselves with hip- hop and urban dance rhythms, resulting in a periodically fascinating but often frustrating album .... All too often, the album sounds forced and contrived, which is a shame, because the jazz / hip-hop fusion, a musician of the caliber of Redman's needs in order to be credible in the world of jazz.