Joshua Redman Elastic Band: Shut Your Mouth
Track
Shut Your Mouth
Group
Joshua Redman Elastic Band
CD
Momentum (Nonesuch 79864)
Musicians:
Joshua Redman (tenor sax), Sam Yahel (bass synth, rhodes, organ, clavinet, lead synth), Jeff Ballard (drums).
Composed by Sam Yahel
.Recorded: Multiple locations, no date given (CD released in 2005)
Rating: 92/100 (learn more)
Most funk bands bring in a whole posse to slam that backbeat into submission. But a funk trio with no bass guitar? And no percussionists to keep company with the drummer? Leave it to Joshua Redman to try to stretch his Elastic Band to build such a big sound with so small a cadre. Of course it helps that Sam Yahel has more electric equipment plugged in than a Best Buy on Labor Day weekend. But drummer Jeff Ballard deserves special credit for keeping this number simmering for the full 5½ minutes. And our star of the sax acts like he trained his axe on stacks and stacks of Stax. Tawdry crossover, you say? I reply: "Shut your mouth!"
Reviewer: Ted Gioia
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