Born in Berkeley, California, Joshua Redman is the son of legendary saxophonist Dewey Redman and dancer Renee Shedroff. He was exposed at an early age to a variety of musics (jazz, classical, rock, soul, Indian, Indonesian, Middle Eastern, African) and instruments (recorder, piano, guitar, gatham, gamelan), and began playing clarinet at age nine before switching to what became his primary instrument, the tenor saxophone, one year later. The early influences of John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Cannonball Adderley, and his father—as well as The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, the Temptations, Earth, Wind and Fire, Prince, The Police, and Led Zeppelin—drew Joshua more deeply into music. But although he loved playing the saxophone, academics were always his priority and he never seriously considered becoming a professional musician.
In 1991 Redman graduated from Harvard College summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Social Studies. He had already been accepted by Yale Law School, but deferred entrance for what he believed was only going to be one year. Some of his musician friends had recently relocated to Brooklyn, and they were looking for another housemate to help with the rent. Redman accepted their invitation to move in, and almost immediately he found himself immersed in the New York jazz scene. He began jamming and gigging regularly with some of the leading jazz musicians of his generation: Peter Bernstein, Larry Goldings, Kevin Hays, Roy Hargrove, Geoff Keezer, Leon Parker, Jorge Rossy, and Mark Turner, among others. In November of that year, five months after moving to New York, Redman won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition. This was only one of the more visible highlights from a year that saw Redman beginning to tour and record with jazz masters such as his father, Jack DeJohnette, Charlie Haden, Elvin Jones, Joe Lovano, Pat Metheny, Paul Motian, and Clark Terry.
Now fully committed to a life in music, Redman was quickly signed by Warner Bros. Records and issued his self-titled debut album in the spring of 1993, which subsequently earned Redman his first GRAMMY nomination. That fall saw the release of Wish, where Joshua was joined by the all-star cast of Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, and Billy Higgins. MoodSwing followed in 1994 and introduced his first permanent band, which included three other young musicians who have gone on to become some of the most important and influential artists in modern jazz: pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Brian Blade.
Redman continued to release a series of celebrated recordings including Freedom in the Groove, Timeless Tales (for Changing Times), and Beyond with a variety of different band line-ups, establishing himself as one of the music’s most consistent and successful bandleaders. An affiliation with Nonesuch Records began in 2005 with the album Momentum and saw the release of a wide range of projects including the duo album Nearness with Mehldau, The Bad Plus Joshua Redman, Still Dreaming, and the reunion of his quartet with Mehldau, McBride, and Blade on RoundAgain and LongGone. Redman makes his Blue Note Records debut with the 2023 release of where are we.
Redman was a founding member of the SFJAZZ Collective and has recorded and performed with musicians including Ray Brown, Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, The Dave Matthews Band, Bill Frisell, Herbie Hancock, Roy Haynes, Milt Jackson, Quincy Jones, Big Daddy Kane, B.B. King, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, DJ Logic, Yo Yo Ma, Branford Marsalis, John Medeski, Marcus Miller, MeShell Ndegeocello, Nicholas Payton, Simon Rattle, Dianne Reeves, The Rolling Stones, The Roots, Kurt Rosenwinkel, John Scofield, Toots Thielemans, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, Stevie Wonder, and many more. Redman has been nominated for ten GRAMMY Awards and has garnered top honors in critics and readers polls of DownBeat, Rolling Stone, and more. He wrote and performed the music for Louis Malle’s final film Vanya on 42nd Street and is both seen and heard in the Robert Altman film Kansas City.
From its inception, the Blue Note label has stood for “The Finest In Jazz.” The same can be said for Joshua Redman. Over the past three decades, the saxophonist, composer, and bandleader has consistently demonstrated how to honor the music’s verities while expanding its reach in contemporary settings. On where are we, Redman’s first recording as a Blue Note artist, he delivers one of... read more
Joshua Redman is embarking on an extensive Fall tour that will bring the acclaimed saxophonist across the United States and Europe behind the release of his stunning new Blue Note debut where are we, which MOJO called “a graceful triumph of understated virtuosity” in a rave 4-star review. Redman has also released... read more
Acclaimed saxophonist Joshua Redman has shared his riveting cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Philadelphia,” the third single to be revealed from his forthcoming Blue Note debut where are we out September 15. One of his most compelling albums to date, where are we is a musical journey across the United... read more
Joshua Redman has released “Baltimore,” the second single to be revealed from the acclaimed saxophonist’s forthcoming Blue Note debut where are we due out September 15. One of two instrumental tracks on the album, “Baltimore” was written by the classically influenced songwriter Gabriel Kahane and is given a... read more
Acclaimed saxophonist Joshua Redman has announced a September 15 release date for his stunning Blue Note debut where are we. One of his most compelling albums to date, where are we is a musical journey across the United States of America that also marks Redman’s first-ever vocal album with the dynamic young singer... read more
Saxophonist Joshua Redman, one of the most acclaimed and charismatic jazz artists to have emerged in the past 30 years, has signed to Blue Note Records, the legendary label and standard bearer of The Finest In Jazz Since 1939. Redman will release his Blue Note debut where are we this Fall and will be touring the... read more
Sep 12
Joshua Redman
Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix United States
Sep 13
Joshua Redman
Lensic Performing Arts Center, Santa Fe United States
Sep 14
Joshua Redman
Catalina Bar & Grill, Hollywood United States
Sep 15
Joshua Redman
Catalina Bar & Grill, Hollywood United States
Sep 28
Joshua Redman
Monterey Jazz Festival 2024, Monterey United States
Oct 02
Joshua Redman
The Alluvion, Traverse City United States
Oct 02
Joshua Redman
The Alluvion, Traverse City United States
Oct 03
Joshua Redman
The Ark, Ann Arbor United States
Oct 04
Joshua Redman
St. Cecilia Music Center, Grand Rapids United States
Oct 05
Joshua Redman
Zellerbach Theatre, Philadelphia United States
Oct 31
Joshua Redman
Jazz Alley, Seattle United States
Nov 01
Joshua Redman
Jazz Alley, Seattle United States
Nov 01
Joshua Redman
Jazz Alley, Seattle United States
Nov 02
Joshua Redman
Jazz Alley, Seattle United States
Nov 02
Joshua Redman
Jazz Alley, Seattle United States
Nov 03
Joshua Redman
Jazz Alley, Seattle United States
Nov 06
Joshua Redman
The Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield United States
Nov 07
Joshua Redman
Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon United States
Nov 08
Joshua Redman
Berklee Performance Center, Boston United States
Nov 09
Joshua Redman
Blues Alley Club, Washington United States
Nov 09
Joshua Redman
Blues Alley Club, Washington United States
Nov 10
Joshua Redman
Blues Alley Club, Washington United States
Nov 10
Joshua Redman
Blues Alley Club, Washington United States
Nov 15
Joshua Redman
Frederick P. Rose Hall, New York United States
Nov 16
Joshua Redman
Frederick P. Rose Hall, New York United States
Nov 22
Joshua Redman
The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries, St. Louis United States