This recording of Ornette Coleman's "Turnaround" comes from Joshua Redman's 1993 album Wish, a landmark session that paired the young tenor saxophonist with guitarist Pat Metheny, bassist Charlie Haden, and drummer Billy Higgins. The track is a medium-tempo swing blues in C, a deceptively simple framework that gives each soloist room to stretch. Redman opens with a commanding seven-chorus statement, building intensity through blues-inflected lines and rhythmic variety. Metheny follows with five choruses on electric guitar, bringing his distinctive tone and harmonic sophistication to the straightforward changes. Haden then takes four choruses of bass solo, his deep, singing sound and melodic approach a natural fit for Coleman's composition, which he had performed countless times in the composer's own bands. The interplay among these four musicians is striking for a group that was not a regular working band; they play with the intuitive communication of long-standing collaborators. Coleman originally recorded the tune with a pianoless quartet, and Redman's version preserves that open, exploratory spirit while adding the textural richness of Metheny's guitar. The relaxed groove and generous solo space make this one of the album's most satisfying tracks, showcasing three generations of jazz improvisation in a single performance.
