Dwain

• LongGone reunites an A-list quartet that has gotten together just a few times in the studio in the past 30 years. This album certainly has a lot to offer and does not lack talent or musical ability. The album starts off hot with tracks like “Long Gone” and “Disco Ears” before cooling into a more modern reserved approach for the innermost three tracks before really picking back up with the heavy-hitting closer, "Rejoice”.  The group's connectedness is undeniable and they’re constantly on the same page and moving as one.

• Joshua Redman gives us a lot on this album and wrote all of the tunes for the album. He’s extremely well versed and his playing is very eclectic yet has seemed to lighten towards a more modern approach lately as compared to some of his albums from the 90’s and early 2000’s. Listening to his live album Spirit of the Moment, it might be hard to imagine that this is the same saxophone player.

• The rhythm section is comprised of the best in the business. Brad Meldhau’s technique is unmatched and his style is so unique to him. We get a good taste of that here, although I feel there’s more for Meldhau to offer and this isn’t the pinnacle of his work. Christian McBride and Brian Blade fit the bill perfectly and I’d be hard-pressed to find much to critique about their playing throughout the album. They keep the music moving and driving, even when certain aspects of the songs are in some ways dull.

• This album creates a point of a bit of confusion with having three tracks that are energetic, interesting, and swinging and having three tracks that, for lack of better words, are slightly dull. It’s not to say that the playing is bad or there is something that the group is doing wrong on these tracks. Just that the approach ( which I know is probably the modern “hip” approach a la Immanuel Wilkins) lacks energy, drive, and of all things swing at times. Some of the melodies on these tracks do not seem to grab the attention as much as others with the more simplistic long-tone approach. With all of that being said, I do think there is still a very nutritional value to these tunes; mostly in the solo sections due to such fantastic musicians. The endings of the tunes are all really well-curated and all in all this album has some really nice moments and is worth checking out but is not the crowning piece of any of the four musicians that created it.

Overall score: 7.6/10

Max

• Joshua Redman’s LongGone album is a puzzling, yet interesting record that most definitely has a lot of nice moments. Three of the compositions are mesmerizingly brilliant that swing hard and have nice melodies followed by great solos (“Long Gone,” “Rejoice,” and “Disco Ears”), while the other three tunes seem lacking in one aspect or another. I dig the varying approaches the group takes on each track; one is certainly different from the next, which is hard to pull off. I think tunes such as “Statuesque” and “Kite Song” are meant to stretch the boundaries of jazz; yet, at times, I wonder if we’re too far from home base.

• An all-star cast is present, as can be heard from the drum stylings of Brian Blade, who continually adds interesting rhythms and comping beneath numerous solos as witnessed on “Ship to Shore” and “Rejoice.” Christian McBride is also utilized well as a timekeeper, soloist, and a melodic instrument as expressed in moments of “Statuesque” and “Ship to Shore.” Brad Meldhau is quite consistent with his contributions, always delivering ideas that seem to be musically necessary and appropriate. Joshua Redman’s improvisations are on-point, while some of his melodies are quite catchy, featuring an array of movement. Other melodies here (*cough cough* “Kite Song”) seem to be lacking something and are easily forgettable. Also, I’m not sure if “Statuesque” does much for me. At moments, it reminds me more of classical music than jazz. It also is evident that Redman’s sound and approach has ‘modernized’ a bit, as he seems to have lightened-up his sound and articulation. This version of “Rejoice” is the exception though, along with some moments on “Long Gone.”

• I do appreciate a lot of the arrangements of these songs. For instance, I adore having a bass solo go first in “Ship to Shore.” Also, there are no studio fades, which is much appreciated; each song has a defined ending that works to effectively conclude each tune in an interesting, satisfying way. I think this album also starts and ends extremely well. Both “Long Gone” and “Rejoice” are enjoyable to listen to as they’re both filled with development, intricate interplay between each instrument, and a nice use of dynamics. On the album LongGone, we’re offered the conundrum of subjectivity. Personally, I think that there are significant moments of energy, swing, soloistic development, and awesome playing, but that  would only describe 60-70% of the album. In regards to the rest of this record, I tend to shrug my shoulders.

Overall score: 7.3/10