Joshua Redman
Joshua Redman (born February 1, 1969) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He is the son of jazz saxophonist Dewey Redman (1931–2006).
Joshua Redman

Chris Hakkens · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Name
- Joshua Redman
- Birth Name
- Joshua Redman Shedroff
- Born
- 1 February 1969
- Birthplace
- Berkeley, California
- Occupation
- Musician, composer
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- jazz · post-bop
- Education
- Harvard University · Berkeley High School
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
Joshua Redman (born February 1, 1969) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He is the son of jazz saxophonist Dewey Redman (1931–2006).
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Note VALÉORINE
Joshua Redman (born 1969) is a composer, musician and saxophonist, of American nationality. The composer was born in Berkeley.
Joshua Redman was educated at Berkeley High School and Harvard University. The composer is a member of James Farm and Phi Beta Kappa Society.
The work spans jazz and post-bop. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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gnd · 6050614-3 · gnd · 1116741717 · museum · b00a17c3-72b2-4e39-96f9-770ba6cf4573 · wikidata · Q361927 · wikipedia · Joshua Redman
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Joshua Redman • Birth Name — Joshua Redman Shedroff • Born — 1 February 1969 • Birthplace — Berkeley, California • Instrument — * Tenor saxophone • alto saxophone • soprano saxophone • keyboards • Genre — Jazz • Occupation — Musician, composer • Label — Blue Note • Website — www.joshuaredman.com
Life and career
Life and career
Joshua Redman was born in Berkeley, California, to jazz saxophonist Dewey Redman and dancer and librarian Renee Shedroff. He is Jewish. He was exposed to many kinds of music at the Center for World Music in Berkeley, where his mother studied South Indian dance. Some of his earliest lessons in music and improvisation were on recorder with gamelan player Jody Diamond. He was exposed at an early age to a variety of music and instruments and began playing clarinet at age nine before switching to what became his primary instrument, the tenor saxophone, one year later. Redman has said he is self-taught on the saxophone and has cited John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Cannonball Adderley, his father Dewey Redman, as well as the Beatles, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Earth, Wind and Fire, Prince, The Police and Led Zeppelin as musical influences. Redman graduated from Berkeley High School, class of 1986, after having been a part of the award-winning Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble for all four years of high school. After graduation, Joshua frequented the classroom jam sessions of Bay Area pianist and professor of music (at Laney College in Oakland, California), Ed Kelly. It was there that he performed alongside saxophonist Robert Stewart. In 1991, he graduated summa cum laude with a degree in social studies from Harvard University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. 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 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 and that of his father, including Brad Mehldau, Peter Martin, Mark Turner, Peter Bernstein, Roy Hargrove, Christian McBride, Kevin Hays, Jorge Rossy, Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins, among others. Redman won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in 1991, and began focusing on his musical career. He was signed by Warner Bros. Records and issued his first self-titled album in the spring of 1993, which subsequently earned Redman his first Grammy nomination. He continued to develop his style throughout the 1990s, beginning with a sideman appearance on Elvin Jones' Youngblood alongside Javon Jackson, and following up with an appearance on his father Dewey's 1992 record Choices. On his second album as a leader, Wish, he was joined by a notable lineup consisting of guitarist Pat Metheny, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Billy Higgins; this group then toured as The Joshua Redman Quartet, featuring Christian McBride in place of Charlie Haden. He continued to work with various quartets, including one with pianist Brad Mehldau until forming a new trio, Elastic, with keyboardist Sam Yahel and drummer Brian Blade. The trio debuted under the moniker Yaya3, producing one album under this name. The same group of musicians made up the core on Redman's Elastic album, before becoming known as the Joshua Redman Elastic Band. Some of his works were featured on The Weather Channel's Local on the 8s. Redman performed in a fictitious supergroup, "The Louisiana Gator Boys", in the 1998 film Blues Brothers 2000, performing on "How Blue Can You Get?" and "New Orleans". Redman also appeared alongside Roy Hargrove and others on a series of albums released in the 1990s on RCA Novus by the Jazz Networks, an ensemble of American and Japanese musicians who focused on re-interpreting jazz standards primarily for the Japanese market.
2000s
2000s
In 1999, Joshua Redman was immortalized in the children's TV show Arthur on PBS. He appeared in the tenth episode of the fourth season ("My Music Rules"), where it was rumored by the characters that he would get in a fight with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who also appeared in the episode. Instead, when the two meet they are revealed to be fans of each other's music and collaborate together on a song to entertain children. In 2000, Redman was named Artistic Director for the Spring Season of the non-profit jazz-presenting organization SFJAZZ. Redman co-founded the SFJAZZ with Executive Director Randall Kline, as the SFJAZZ Collective, an ensemble distinguished by the creativity of its members and a primary emphasis on composition. • Illustration — Redman at the Aarhus Jazz Festival in 2009 In 2004, Redman first sat in with Umphrey's McGee at their performance in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Paradise Rock Club. Redman has collaborated with Umphrey's McGee around 20 times since, including an all-improvised set in Madison, Wisconsin in January 2016. In 2006, he performed with the New Zealand Symphony orchestra in composer John Psathas' concerto for saxophone and drumkit, Omnifenix, which was released in Rattle Records' album, View from Olympus. The album won Best Classical Album for 2007 in the New Zealand music awards. • Illustration — Redman at Seattle's Jazz Alley in 2009 In March 2007, Redman announced that he was taking a hiatus from both the SFJAZZ Artistic Directorship and the SFJAZZ Collective in order to focus on new projects. In April 2007, Nonesuch released Redman's first ever piano-less trio record, Back East, featuring Joshua alongside three bass and drum rhythm sections (Larry Grenadier & Ali Jackson, Christian McBride & Brian Blade, Reuben Rogers & Eric Harland) and three guest saxophonists (Chris Cheek, Joe Lovano and Dewey Redman). His January 2009 release, Compass, continued the trio tradition, and even included some tracks with a double-trio setup, featuring saxophone, two basses and two drummers.
2010s
2010s
Starting in late 2009, Redman began performing with a new collaborative band called James Farm, featuring pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Matt Penman and drummer Eric Harland. They released their first self-titled album on April 26, 2011 and their follow-up album, City Folk on October 27, 2014. In 2011, Redman was also an inaugural member of the Independent Music Awards' judging panel to support independent artists. In early 2013, it was announced that Redman would release a new collection of vintage and contemporary ballads featuring a jazz quartet and an orchestral ensemble titled Walking Shadows. Produced by Redman's friend and frequent collaborator Brad Mehldau, the album also features Larry Grenadier (bass) and Brian Blade (drums). It was released on May 7, 2013 on Nonesuch. About Walking Shadows, the New York Times says "there hasn’t been a more sublimely lyrical gesture in his 20-year recording career." On Sunday, December 8, 2013, Redman joined a group of jazz all-stars onstage at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., to pay tribute to honoree Herbie Hancock in performance. The event aired on December 29, 2013 on CBS. In 2015, Redman received his third Grammy nomination for his solo on "Friend or Foe" from the album The Bad Plus Joshua Redman.
As lead artist
As lead artist
List of studio albums with details and chart positions • Title — Details — Peak chart positions • US Heat — US Jazz — US Trad. Jazz — US Class. • Joshua Redman — * Released: March 23, 1993 * Label: Warner Bros. * Format: CD, cassette, digital download, streaming — — — 40 — 3 — — • Wish — * Released: September 21, 1993 * Label: Warner Bros. * Format: CD, cassette, digital download, streaming — — — 6 — 1 — — • Freedom in the Groove — * Released: September 20, 1996 * Label: Warner Bros. * Format: CD, cassette, digital download, streaming — 27 — 6 — 1 — — • Timeless Tales (For Changing Times) — * Released: September 22, 1998 * Label: Warner Bros. * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — — — 10 — 2 — — • Beyond — * Released: April 4, 2000 * Label: Warner Bros. * Format: CD, cassette, digital download, streaming — 47 — 5 — 2 — — • Back East — * Released: April 24, 2007 * Label: Nonesuch * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — — — 12 — 5 — — • Compass — * Released: January 13, 2009 * Label: Nonesuch * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — 34 — 4 — 4 — — • Walking Shadows — * Released: May 7, 2013 * Label: Nonesuch * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — 16 — 4 — 3 — — • The Bad Plus Joshua Redman (with The Bad Plus) — * Released: May 26, 2015 * Label: Nonesuch * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — 13 — 8 — 5 — — • Nearness (with Brad Mehldau) — * Released: September 9, 2016 * Label: Nonesuch * Format: LP, CD, digital download, streaming — 19 — 6 — 5 — — • Still Dreaming (featuring Ron Miles, Scott Colley and Brian Blade) — * Released: May 25, 2018 * Label: Nonesuch * Format: LP, CD, digital download, streaming — 25 — 2 — 2 — — • Sun on Sand (with Brooklyn Rider) — * Released: October 4, 2019 * Label: Nonesuch * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — — — 16 — 10 — 9 • RoundAgain (with Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride and Brian Blade) — * Released: July 10, 2020 * Label: Nonesuch * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — — — 7 — 5 — — • LongGone (with Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride and Brian Blade) — * Released: September 24, 2022 * Label: Nonesuch * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — — — 11 — 10 — — • Where Are We (with Gabrielle Cavassa) — * Released: September 15, 2023 * Label: Blue Note * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — — — — — — — — • Words Fall Short — * Released: June 20, 2025 * Label: Blue Note * Format: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
As Joshua Redman Quartet
As Joshua Redman Quartet
List of studio albums with details and chart positions • Title — Details — Peak chart positions • US Heat — US Jazz — US Trad. Jazz • MoodSwing — * Released: September 13, 1994 * Label: Warner Bros. * Format: CD, cassette, digital download, streaming — 20 — 7 — 2 • Passage of Time — * Released: March 27, 2001 * Label: Warner Bros. * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — — — 6 — 4 • Come What May — * Released: March 29, 2019 * Label: Nonesuch * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — 12 — 2 — 2
As Joshua Redman Elastic Band
As Joshua Redman Elastic Band
List of studio albums with details and chart positions • Title — Details — Peak chart positions • US Jazz — US Trad. Jazz • Elastic — * Released: September 10, 2002 * Label: Warner Bros. * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — 16 — 4 • Momentum — * Released: May 24, 2005 * Label: Nonesuch * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — 8 — 4
As leader of James Farm
As leader of James Farm
List of studio albums with details and chart positions • Title — Details — Peak chart positions • US Jazz — US Trad. Jazz • James Farm — * Released: April 26, 2011 * Label: Nonesuch * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — 8 — 6 • City Folk — * Released: October 27, 2014 * Label: Nonesuch * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — 13 — 10
As a member of Yaya 3
As a member of Yaya 3
With Sam Yahel and Brian Blade List of studio albums with details • Title — Details • Yaya 3 — * Released: June 4, 2002 * Label: Loma * Format: CD, digital download, streaming
As featured artist
As featured artist
List of studio albums with details • Title — Details • Choices (with Dewey Redman) — * Released: 1992 * Label: Enja * Format: CD, digital download, streaming • African Venus (Dewey Redman featuring Joshua Redman) — * Released: 1994 * Label: Venus, Evidence * Format: CD, SACD, digital download, streaming
As lead artist
As lead artist
List of live albums with details and chart positions • Title — Details — Peak chart positions • US Jazz — US Trad. Jazz • Captured Live! — * Released: 2000 * Label: Jazz Door * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — — — — • Trios Live — * Released: June 17, 2014 * Label: Nonesuch * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — 6 — 4
As Joshua Redman Quartet
As Joshua Redman Quartet
List of live albums with details and chart positions • Title — Details — Peak chart positions • US Jazz — US Trad. Jazz • Blues for Pat: Live In San Francisco — * Released: 1995 * Label: Jazz Door * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — — — — • Spirit of the Moment – Live at the Village Vanguard — * Released: August 29, 1995 * Label: Warner Bros. * Format: CD, digital download, streaming — 21 — 7
As sideman
As sideman
• Bob Thiele Collective, Louis Satchmo (Red Baron, 1991) • John Hicks, Friends Old and New (Novus, 1992) • Elvin Jones, Youngblood (Enja, 1992) • Joe Lovano, Tenor Legacy (Blue Note, 1993) • Paul Motian, Paul Motian and the Electric Bebop Band (JMT, 1993) • Milt Jackson, The Prophet Speaks (Qwest, 1994) • Christian McBride, Gettin' to It (Verve, 1995) • Lionel Hampton, For The Love of Music (MoJazz, 1995) • Jonny King, Notes from the Underground (Enja, 1996) • Chick Corea, Remembering Bud Powell (Stretch, 1997) • Cedar Walton, Roots (Astor Place, 1997) • McCoy Tyner Super Group, Prelude and Sonata (Key'stone, 1998) • Kurt Rosenwinkel, Deep Song (Verve, 2005) • Sam Yahel, Truth and Beauty (Origin, 2007) • Brad Mehldau, Highway Rider (Nonesuch, 2010) • Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Triads and More (MNJ, 2010) • Ferenc Nemeth, Triumph (Dreamer's Collective, 2012)
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
2002
Joshua Redman 2002 09 17 Gothic Theater Englewood, CO (2002) is digitised and catalogued by Internet Archive.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q361927: Joshua Redman
Reputable secondary · Wikimedia Foundation
- “Joshua Redman”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Institutional database
- MusicBrainz artist record for Joshua Redman
Scholarly · MetaBrainz Foundation
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 1116741717, Nearness (Zusammenstellung, Joshua Redman).
Unverified · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Awards and nominations
• Award — Year — Result — Category — Work — Reference • DownBeat Critics Poll — 1993 — Tenor Saxophonist • 1994 — Jazz Artist of the Year • Album of the Year — Wish • 2011 — Tenor Saxophone — Himself • Grammy Awards — 1994 — Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group — Joshua Redman • 1998 — Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group — Remembering Bud Powell • 2006 — Best Contemporary Jazz Album — Momentum • 2008 — Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group — Back East • 2016 — Best Improvised Jazz Solo — "Friend or Foe" • 2017 — Best Jazz Instrumental Album — Nearness • 2019 — Best Jazz Instrumental Album — Still Dreaming • 2020 — Best Jazz Instrumental Album — Come What May • 2021 — Best Improvised Jazz Solo — "Moe Honk" • Best Jazz Instrumental Album — RoundAgain • 2023 — Best Jazz Instrumental Album — LongGone • JazzTimes — 1992 — Best New Artist — Himself • Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition — 1991 — N/A — Himself

Joshua Redman with Trondheim Jazz Orchestra and Eirik Hegdal at the stage of Kongsberg Musikkteater. The concert was part of Kongsberg Jazzfestival and took place on 06. July 2017.
Tore Sætre
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Hitchner, Earle. Sax Man Joshua Redman Wails About Life. Online.wsj.com. May 19, 2000.
- 2.Goldberg, Jeffrey. This is What Happens When Blacks and Jews Get Together. Theatlantic.com. June 2, 2009.
- 3.Redman, Joshua. admittedly, i'm jewish, so not totally clear on how all this works. Twitter. April 7, 2015.
- 4.Bio. Joshuaredman.com.
- 5.PBS - JAZZ A Film By Ken Burns: Selected Artist Biography - Joshua Redman. Pbs.org.
- 6.KOHLHAASE, BILL. A Young Saxman Gets Sound Advice From Jazz Giants. Articles.latimes.com. January 31, 1995.
- 7.Umphrey's McGee - Music - Setlists - Stats. All Things Umphrey's McGee.
- 8.Umphrey's McGee Goes Full Metal Jacket in LA + Interview. Popmatters.com. May 6, 2016.
- 9.Umphrey's McGee Plays All-Improv Set With Joshua Redman In Madison [Video/Gallery]. Liveforlivemusic.com. January 29, 2016.
- 10.Independent Music Awards – Past Judges
- 11."11th Annual IMA Judges. Independent Music Awards. Retrieved on September 4, 2013.
- 12.Joshua Redman Grammy Awards and Nominations, Song & Bio. Grammy. 2024-01-17.
- 13.Joshua Redman — Chart History: Heatseekers Albums. Billboard.
- 14.Joshua Redman — Chart History: Jazz Albums. Billboard.
- 15.Joshua Redman — Chart History: Traditional Jazz Albums. Billboard.
- 16.Joshua Redman — Chart History: Classical Albums. Billboard.
- 17.Competition – Past Winners and Judges.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
Institutional database
MusicBrainz artist record for Joshua RedmanMetaBrainz Foundation
Verifiedauthority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 1116741717, Nearness (Zusammenstellung, Joshua Redman).Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Partially resolvedreference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q361927: Joshua RedmanWikimedia Foundation
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
A further 1 witness is held back from this article because the person or object named in it is not yet resolved to this record. They are kept, not discarded, and return once the identity is established.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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