Joshua Redman Takes a Stand
By Gary Fukushima
When tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman recorded “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” for his new album, where are we, he had no idea Tony Bennett would pass right before the album was released. Though the two never met, both have a strong connection to that city by the bay. The album is Redman’s 16th as a leader, but a first in several ways. It’s his debut on Blue Note Records and the first time he’s included a vocalist, in the person of Gabrielle Cavassa. The 29-year-old singer resides in New Orleans, but she went to college in San Francisco and began her career there. Another connection to the bay.
By Suzanne Lorge
By Phillip Lutz
By Phillip Lutz
Endea Owens is on a roll, and it’s up to us to keep up with her. At this early stage of her career, the bassist and bandleader — a proud product of the Detroit music scene (Michigan State University ’15) and Juilliard jazz graduate — can be seen almost nightly in the The Late Show with Stephen Colbert house band. She’s performed with popular heavyweights like Diana Ross, Solange and Elvis Costello. As a composer, she’s been commissioned to create new music for Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYO Carnegie Hall Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Symphony. She’s won an Emmy, Grammy and George Foster Peabody Award. Her debut album, Feel Good Music, was just released, featuring her group The Cookout. At the helm of that band, she’s headlined major jazz clubs and festivals, and a memorable Tiny Desk appearance on NPR, delivering an uplifting mix of jazz, gospel and neo-soul energy. On the same day of her debut headlining gig at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam this summer, she made time for her first Blindfold Test on the nearby Central Park talk stage.
