Joshua Redman emerged in the early ’90s as one the more impressive young tenor players in recent memory, almost like a warmer, more tuneful Sonny Rollins. His first record, a 1993 self-titled release, was governed by sure-footed instinct for melody.
But then Wish, released later that same year and featuring guitarist Pat Metheny, almost immediately ripped that hypothesis to shreds. The title track is actually a tune from Joshua Redman, included in a version done live at the Village Vanguard – but that’s where most of the similarities end. This recording instead finds Redman pursuing a degree in Ornette-thology.
Also sitting in are thumpers Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins on bass and drums. They, along with Metheny, had been associated with Ornette Coleman over the years. Wish even blasts off with Coleman’s composition “Turnaround.” Here’s where it really gets weird: Joshua Redman’s father Dewey (like his son, a saxophonist) played with Coleman. Dewey was also on Metheny’s great 80/81 release on ECM – which likewise featured a version of Coleman’s composition “Turnaround.”
Pat Metheny, in fact, contributes much toward making Wish what it was: A bold new direction of Joshua Redman. The youngster seemed to have emerged already assured, and with his own voice. Wish proved that wasn’t entirely true: Redman could still be taken to new plateaus when roughed up by a great backing group.
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