Joshua Redman
Tenor Sax Solo on
Whittlin'

About

Joshua Redman leads off with a sprawling twelve-chorus tenor saxophone solo on Pat Metheny's "Whittlin'," one of the longest solo statements on his 1993 album Wish. The minor blues in D at a lively 249 BPM becomes the setting for some of the album's most extended and adventurous improvisation, and Redman demonstrates his ability to sustain creative momentum over this remarkable span, building arcs of tension and release across the 12-bar form while maintaining a deep swing feel throughout. As the first of two soloists, his twelve choruses establish the high-energy foundation that carries into Metheny's subsequent eight-chorus guitar feature. The sheer volume of improvisation here captures the essence of the Wish session: virtuosic musicians engaging in extended dialogue within a straightforward but fertile harmonic setting.

Joshua Redman was 23 to 24 years old at the time.