Passage of Time

Yaya3, Joshua Redman

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 27, 2001)
• Original Release Date: March 27, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B00005A8NS
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #149,193 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Presented in the early 1990s as a full-blown media darling, followed by a short tenure surrounding himself with jazz heavyweights, media-savvy tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman eventually got down to the business of living up to the hype. In this mission he has sometimes faltered. Freedom in the Groove was a bland attempt to cast old-school funk and hip-hop with hard bop, and Timeless Tales (for Changing Times) cast Redman as a jazz journeyman plying standards such as "Yesterdays" and "Love for Sale." These were interesting efforts, but lacked creative risk. With 2000's Beyond, Redman seemed to have finally found himself, perhaps proving that the hyperbole was justified. Passage of Time continues Redman's breakthrough, fired not only by his self-realization, but also by his highly spirited band, consisting of pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Ruben Rogers, and super-drummer Gregory Hutchinson. Passage of Time is swift in message, concise in conception. Redman makes these eight songs compact vehicles, full of soaring melodies, rapt interplay, and luxurious, introspective, probing solos. The songs are loosely conceived through warm melodies, as the band's elastic improvs reshape the balance and direction of each song. The opening "Before" is a solo saxophone lament, setting the stage for the stormy, contemplative music ahead. "Free Speech, Phase I" works a willowy melody illustrated by hard-bop changes and flexible rhythms. "Free Speech, Phase II" is equally graceful, with even greater rhythmic daring from the musicians, particularly Hutchinson, who is expanding on the style of the explosive Jeff "Tain" Watts. "Our Minuet" and "Time" are sumptuous ruminations combining the introspection of Wayne Shorter with the soulful swing of Gene Ammons. "Enemies Within" rides a Latin groove, giving pianist Goldberg a chance to strut his best Ruben Gonzalez chordal hurricanes, as the band mambos and swings down below. The album closes with the bluesy "After," a gospel-like exultation that perfectly resolves Joshua Redman's latest passage of time. --Ken Micallef

Product Description
Japanese version featuring a bonus track --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong and Consistent Production from Excellent Quartet, October 17, 2001

By	"zimri-lim" (London, England) - See all my reviews

Passage of Time is a fine example of a strong production from a leading Jazz quartet. Led by the highly regarded Joshua Redman with his smooth and beguiling sound the quartet sounds well-balanced and with some strong compositions this is a consistently strong release which is eminently listenable from beginning to end.

Where Redman pitches himself amongst the multiplicity of today's leading Sax players is somewhere towards the sound and sensibility of John Coltrane but without the tendency for extremes of experimentation. While this may leave him open to accusations of lack of originality this is unwarranted as Redman is as creative as anybody and manages to be so without having to edge towards uncomfortable extremes. The quality of the music stands out in addition to the overall quality of the Quartet and the warmth of tone. Redman exhibits excellent musical judgement throughout in terms of tone, pace and timing. The quality of recording and sound production are both excellent and this disc sounds particularly good on a serious hi-fi.

I was fortunate enough to see this quartet playing (last night, actually at the Royal Festival Hall) a major date. At the beginning of the concert Redman announced that they were going to play one piece of music only - and this is it "The Passage of Time". For the next two hours we were treated to a wonderful rendition of this entire suite which is what is recorded on this CD. Clearly this indicates that this music is a key part of the Quartets work, a point to bear in mind when selecting between Redman discs.

All in all then a strong and eminently enjoyable release and one which I recommend highly.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Redman CD thus far, April 28, 2005

By	Matt Thornton (WA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

You must listen to this CD in its entirety. You won't be able to get into this CD if you listen to the tracks in isolation. Passage of Time is a complete composition in of itself. So do yourself a favor and put aside the time to really listen to this CD. This CD is quite different from everything else Redman has released. Get ready for a wild ride! This CD is by far his most creative and emotional work. I LOVE this album. After hearing this album I had to buy up every other Redman CD I could find. I was secretly hoping to find something comparable to this CD. There isn't one. This is Redman's best work... PERIOD!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost won over, July 17, 2002

By	bencharif (Staten Island, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I admit to being wary of this guy.

That's not Joshua Redman's fault; it's the hype and, frankly, the thrashing about for a musical identity I've been wary of. I checked out most of his earlier CDs at the public library, and I couldn't figure out what he was doing or where he was going. Until now.

"Passage of Time" has real authority, real confidence, and something real to say. It sounds completely authentic.

Redman intends that the eight tunes on this CD be understood as a unit. That requires a seamlessness--a seamlessness that's undeniable in the transitions from "Our Minuet" to 'Bronze" to "Time," but that is less than clear elsewhere.

What matters more is that each of the tunes, if one can use the term 'tune,' is interesting, rewarding the listener in new ways with each replay.

This is not to denigrate any of the other players--certainly including Redman himself--but for me the standout on this CD is drummer Gregory Hutchinson, who made me really sit up and listen. His playing is about much more than keeping time, though it is about that, too.

I think this is probably an important CD, if only in terms of what it indicates about Redman's growth and his emergence as a more mature, more focused musician.