Elastic (album)

Elastic is a 2002 studio album by American jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman. All tunes were original compositions.

Reception
David R. Adler of Allmusic wrote "Coming fast on the heels of Redman's collaborative Yaya3 date with the same players (organist Sam Yahel and drummer Brian Blade), Elastic is more about pop/soul-funk than jazz, but it doesn't sacrifice any of Yaya3's organic feeling and improvisational focus. Here Yahel plays not only Hammond organ, but also Fender Rhodes, clavinet, and other assorted electric keys. Redman makes liberal use of overdubbing and signal processing, much of which is surprisingly subtle. The result is quite a lot of sound for three people, quite a lot of inspired blowing, and quite a lot of stylistic ground covered. Highlights include the agitated, over-the-top "Still Pushin' That Rock," the tight funk and involved lines of "Jazz Crimes" and "News from the Front," and the slow gospel of "Can a Good Thing Last Forever?" Redman seems fond of the Rhodes-soprano sax combination, particularly on mellower themes like "The Long Way Home" and "Unknowing." While one has to admire Redman's musical open-mindedness, his writing can take on a middle-of-the-road quality at times; on this record it surfaces on "Boogielastic". It says something that Yahel contributed the most alluring piece, a short-and-sweet song in five called "Oumou."

Track listing

 * 1) "Molten Soul"
 * 2) "Jazz Crimes"
 * 3) "The Long Way Home"
 * 4) "Oumou"
 * 5) "Still Pushin' That Rock"
 * 6) "Can a Good Thing Last Forever"
 * 7) "Boogielastic"
 * 8) "Unknowing"
 * 9) "News from the Front"
 * 10) "Letting Go"
 * 11) "The Birthday Song"

Personnel

 * Joshua Redman – Tenor Saxophone
 * Sam Yahel – Keyboards
 * Brian Blade – Drums