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Freddie Redd

Freddie Redd that is- consummate improvising keyboardist/composer whose original score on Blue Note for Jack Gelber's searing play "The Connection" reverberates eternally down the marble halls of the charm(ed) school of indelible jazz, thanks to Freddie's bewitching melodicism, nimble pianistic pyrotechnique, and the keening cry of Jacke McLean on alto (there's also a recording of Freddie's score on Felsted acquired on a Japanese cd reissue some years ago, with trumpeter Howard McGhee an extra added ingredient in the original mix, his quintet actually listed as the featured artist, Freddie ghosting his own parts under the moniker "I Ching")

Outside of Herbie Nichols, Freddie Redd is one of the greatest unsung ivory-huntin' heroes of jazz and a very nice man for sure. Freddie is given a hero's welcome, tumultuous ovation by the nearly sold-out, ecstatically cheering crowd where he plays, a joyous whooping throng which included such luminaries. Freddie tremendous form with his fluid technique and improvisational genius on full display, fully undimmed over the years, and in the excellent company of hard bop saxmen Lou Donaldson or smoking Donald Harrison.

One cliff-hanging moment occurred at a New York, when stalwart veteran bassist Mickey Bass's hand seized up at the top of the second set with Redd. Without a moment's hesitation young Dwayne Burno came up out of the audience, jumped onstage, stepped up to the plate, picked up Mickey's acoustic bass while they guided the ailing older jazzman gingerly offstage...and without missing more than about 4 bars mit out bass proceeded to kick it up a notch, or 2, or 3—BAM!!—(as in, Bassist A Mofo...or au Go Go...life's a flow-flow)—to the bass manner born, in other words (in point of fact Dwayne as it turns out is Donald Harrison's regular bassist and had actually played most of these Redd compositions before...so it wasn't QUITE the miracle it looked to be to the crowd...still, it was pretty damn awe-inspiring, as young Dwayne literally saved the day for night. As with so many overlooked artists, you couldn't exactly call this a comeback gig for Freddie Redd (although it was billed along those lines)—as his musical gifts had never deserted him.

Born in New York City, May 29, 1928, Freddie Redd has seen and made a lot of music. Although his recordings are sparse, his talent is immense, both as a composer and performer. While he was exposed to music early it wasn't until he was in the military, in 1946, that it was clear what he was going to do with his life. In his own words:

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5
Album Review

Freddie Redd: With Due Respect

Read "With Due Respect" reviewed by Chris Mosey


Freddie Redd is one of the last living links to the golden age of modern jazz. He started playing the piano after hearing Charlie Parker in the 1940s and made his mark on the scene in 1959 with his score for Jack Gelber's avant-garde play “The Connection." This told the story of a group of junkies, most of them jazz musicians, waiting for their man. When he arrives, everyone shoots up and one of the company dies ...

163
Album Review

Freddie Redd Quartet: The Music from The Connection

Read "The Music from The Connection" reviewed by Eddie Becton


Curtis Mayfield is often remembered for penning the popular theme “Freddie's Dead." The irony of this title echoes sentiments of out-of-the-loop jazzers who thought iconic Blue Note pianist Freddie Redd made the passage. Redd, the lyrical comrade of Horace Silver and disciple of Bud Powell, is still very much alive and well, performing more regularly in Los Angeles.

The Music from The Connection reflects the turmoil, redemption, and salvation of its characters. The Connection was actually a 1959 play, and ...

612
Profile

Freddie Redd Reconnects

Read "Freddie Redd Reconnects" reviewed by Rex  Butters


At the second annual Jazz Journalists Association award show at the Jazz Bakery, West Coast Edition, a small dapper man sits watching in the back. After an energy bath by the Vinny Golia Quintet, he strolls to the stage and without waiting for an introduction, Blue Note legend Freddie Redd beams a radiant smile beneath a stylish fedora, leading his trio of Nedra Wheeler and Bill Madison through joyous jazz scripture from the church of bebop. Their irresistibly elegant swing ...

315
Album Review

Freddie Redd: Redd's Blues

Read "Redd's Blues" reviewed by Keiran Smalley


Many times in the history of jazz, album titles have played word games with artists' names. Think of Grant Green and Green Street and Green is Beautiful. There is also Freddie Hubbard, with Ready for Freddie, Hub-Tones, and Hub-Cap. You may not have heard of the bop-pianist Freddie Redd, who not to be left out, made Shades of Redd and Redd’s Blues. The latter album, recorded in 1961, has been released now for the first time as part of Blue ...

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1

Recording

Backgrounder: Freddie Redd's The Connection

Backgrounder: Freddie Redd's The Connection

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

In 1960, pianist Freddie Redd composed and recorded The Music From the Connection. The music was originally composed for Jack Gelber's 1959 New York play The Connection, about jazz musicians and drug addiction. Redd's music was performed on stage by Redd (p), Jackie McLean (as), Michael Mattos (b) and Larry Ritchie (d). The album for Blue Note is a tour de force not only for Redd's roiling jazz-gospel piano but for McLean's aching solos. Here's The Music From the Connection ...

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Obituary

Freddie Redd (1928-2021)

Freddie Redd (1928-2021)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Freddie Redd, a hard-bop pianist whose funk-driven, percussive style and sophisticated sense of harmony were reminiscent of Horace Silver but whose recording output seemed thinner than his initial promise, died March 17. He was 92. Born in New York and largely self-taught, Redd recorded sporadically in the 1950s as a sideman, disappearing for blocks of time while touring. In the decades that followed, Redd seemed to shy away from exposure. Two of his most important albums as a leader were ...

Video / DVD

Freddie Redd on Blue Note

Freddie Redd on Blue Note

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Freddie Redd was a hard-bop pianist whose percussive, funk-flavored style had a great deal in common with pianist Horace Silver. But for some reason, Redd recorded far too few albums given his talents, preferring instead to earn his living playing clubs in the U.S. and abroad. Born in New York and largely self-taught, Redd recorded sporadically in the 1950s as a sideman, disappearing for blocks of time while touring. He recorded just three albums for Blue Note—two gems and one ...

207

Performance / Tour

Freddie Redd Returns to New York and Washington DC

Freddie Redd Returns to New York and Washington DC

Source: All About Jazz

The Legendary Hardbop Pianist Freddie Redd returns to the East Coast for three performances the week of March 23rd, 2009. Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 8pm Freddie will appear in Washington, D.C. at Twins Jazz Club with the Brad Linde Sextet featuring the music from his classic Blue Note albums of the 1960s. Twins Jazz 1344 U Street NW Washington DC 20009 202-234-0072 Friday/Saturday, March 27/28, 2009 at 10pm and 12am Freddie Redd Quintet ...

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Event

Freddie Redd "Reconnected" at Merkin Concert Hall

Freddie Redd "Reconnected" at Merkin Concert Hall

Source: All About Jazz

Merkin Concert Hall's Re-issue “Classic Recordings Live" series. On Monday February 19th at 8.00pm, they present “Re-connected". The Freddie Redd Quartet, with Lou Donaldson at Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West 67th Street, New York, N.Y. 10023. (212) 501-3330. A Jazz “comeback" story; forgotten 'Be-bop' pianist and stage actor Freddie Redd re-emerges from obscurity to perform the music he wrote for the 1960 Obie award-winning play “The Connection". Alto Saxophonist Lou Donaldson will fill in for the late Jackie McLean, along ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

With Due Respect

SteepleChase Records
2016

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Shades Of Redd

Black Lion
2008

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The Music from The...

Blue Note Records
2005

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Redd's Blues

Blue Note Records
2003

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Extemporaneous

Black Lion
1978

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Videos

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