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The Joshua Redman Elastic Band is at heart a trio of Redman, Sam Yahel (fellow arranger and keys man) and Brian Blade on drums (although he only plays on half the tracks on this album). Formed to explore the electrified world of jazz, the Elastic Band pursue an eclectic line in material and execution. Raiding the songbooks of Led Zep, Ornette Coleman and Sheryl Crow to add to their own compositions, they nevertheless make the music their own spiky, funky, jazz thing.

A broad range of musicians were invited to join them, including Meshell Ndegeocello and ?uestlove. Ndegeocello adds her funk-you bass to ‘Greasy G’, an original Redman compositions and one of the albums strongest tracks. Its crisp, bass-heavy lines contrast well with Coleman classic ‘Lonely Woman’, an ethereal version of this mournful tune — spacey almost drum and bassy at times — with Jeff Ballard replacing Blade on drums and adding a drum synth to the mix.

Like many tenor saxophonists, Redman gets his soprano out quite regularly but unlike most he also has a whirl at organ, bass synth and clavinet — sometimes all on one track as on ‘Put it in Your Pocket’. Brian Blade also steps down on this track allowing ?uestlove to take his place on sticks. The magic in this track though comes from the sparkling interplay between Redman’s sax and Nicholas Payton on trumpet. Sam Yahel gets in a funky Rhodes solo too.

Surprise guest status would have to go to Red Hot Chilli Peppers manic bassist Flea though. Playing on material close to his heart, the Led Zep cover ‘The Crunge’, he nonetheless cuts it in style with this jazz band on one of their shortest but most immediate numbers.

It’s clear that Joshua Redman has an excess of creative energy right now so watch out for more from this prolific voice for interesting and progressive jazz.

Also see SFJAZZ Collective