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Review: 'The Bad Plus Joshua Redman,' Joshua Redman & The Bad Plus

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

Now a meeting of two jazz brands known for pushing boundaries. It's the first recorded collaboration between the adventurous trio that goes by the name The Bad Plus and saxophonist Joshua Redman. It's called, appropriately, The Bad Plus Joshua Redman. Reviewer Tom Moon says it's a challenging set of songs.

(SOUNDBITE OF THE BAD PLUS JOSHUA REDMAN SONG, "AS THIS MOMENT SLIPS AWAY")

TOM MOON, BYLINE: The Bad Plus is often filed under jazz, but that's an imprecise designation. For nearly 20 years, the omnivorous trio has combined rock themes, funk back beats and classical devices into music that's boisterous, challenging and delightfully weird.

(SOUNDBITE OF THE BAD PLUS JOSHUA REDMAN SONG, "AS THIS MOMENT SLIPS AWAY")

MOON: Joshua Redman has done his share of experimenting too but mostly within jazz tradition. Here, he's out of his comfort zone.

(SOUNDBITE OF THE BAD PLUS JOSHUA REDMAN SONG, "FRIEND OR FOE")

MOON: These are intricate through composed pieces with sudden switchbacks. They draw on European classical tradition and demand a high level of group precision.

(SOUNDBITE OF THE BAD PLUS JOSHUA REDMAN SONG, "BEAUTY HAS IT HARD")

MOON: This tune, like several others on the new album, has an interesting structure. After Redman and The Bad Plus spend several minutes developing that first theme, they take a different tack chasing an idea that's even simpler and more beautiful than the previous.

(SOUNDBITE OF THE BAD PLUS JOSHUA REDMAN SONG, "BEAUTY HAS IT HARD")

MOON: The compositions are the focal point here. In structure and tone, they're worlds away from typical jazz tunes, and they inspire fresh thinking from the soloists, particularly Redman, who plays with a gutty impulsiveness he hasn't always displayed before. The title suggests an old-school summit meeting. But at its best, The Bad Plus Joshua Redman offers glimpses of a new frontier.

(SOUNDBITE OF THE BAD PLUS JOSHUA REDMAN SONG, "LACK THE FAITH BUT NOT THE WINE")

CORNISH: The title of this collaboration is The Bad Plus Joshua Redman. Our reviewer is Tom Moon. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Tom Moon has been writing about pop, rock, jazz, blues, hip-hop and the music of the world since 1983.