Joshua Redman is a saxophonist, bandleader, and composer whose original works have been central to his output across more than two dozen albums as a leader since 1993. Born in Berkeley, California, in 1969, the son of saxophonist Dewey Redman, he came to prominence after winning the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition and has consistently prioritized original composition over reliance on standards. His writing spans a broad stylistic range, from hard-swinging acoustic jazz to groove-based pieces and extended-form works. Among his best-known compositions are Wish, the title track from his 1993 album featuring Pat Metheny, Soul Dance, and Blues on Sunday, all of which appear in the AllSolos catalog alongside Echoes, Tribalism, Groove X (By Any Means Necessary), The Deserving Many, and Sublimation. His landmark albums include MoodSwing, featuring his first permanent quartet with Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, and Brian Blade, and later projects with groups like the Still Dreaming quartet and his long-running collaborations with Aaron Goldberg, Reuben Rogers, and Gregory Hutchinson. Redman's composing integrates melodic clarity with rhythmic sophistication, often building pieces around repeating motifs that leave ample room for collective improvisation. His body of work as a writer stands as one of the most substantial among jazz musicians of his generation.
