JAZZ FEST COUNTDOWN 13

Duos – The Art of Conversation Part 2:

Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman

The second duo concert that has me restless in my seat is Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman. Both musicians are also no strangers to duos: Brad Mehldau has recorded duo albums with Joel Frahm as well as with Pat Metheny; and Joshua Redman toured with Fred Hersch as a duo earlier this year. Both are great, virtuosic improvisers, high-profile leaders in their own right, but also old friends and colleagues so seeing them interact in a duo situation should be really great.  

Brad Mehldau grew up in Connecticut and attended the famed William Hall Highschool. This same school produced musicians Joel Frahm, and young bloods Richie Barshay and Noah Preminger. After attending The New School in 1988, he went on to play with many musicians, notably with the Joshua Redman Quartet. Since then he has gone on to great fame with his own solo career. Known for a wide range of influences from classical, jazz and pop repertoire, Mehldau has really stepped it up recently with new innovative albums, a Downbeat Magazine feature and lots of performances.

Joshua Redman is the son of the great tenor man Dewey Redman, originating from Berkley, California. Redman took a different path, one similar to Francois Moutin (bassist playing with Ari Hoenig and Jean-Michel Pilc) or pianist Aaron Goldberg. All these musicians were on a different career path before deciding to go pro in music. Redman graduated from Harvard with a B.A. in Social Studies. Already accepted into Yale Law School, he decided to move to Brooklyn, quickly got involved in New York’s jazz scene and five months later won the Thelonious Monk Competition. After this Redman started to hang in the jazz masters club, playing with Charlie Haden, Paul Motion, Elvin Jones and the like. 

Here is a taste of Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman from a year ago.

The duo will be performing two sets at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival on Sunday June 27^th, 7pm and 9pm at the National Arts Center Studio. Tickets available at  http://ottawajazzfestival.com/