Freddie Redd Quintet – Shades Of Redd (Blue Note Clasic)

Shades of Redd is a hard bop album recorded in August 1960 and released in May 1961 on Blue Note. Freddie Redd leads a quintet with Jackie McLean (alto sax), Tina Brooks (tenor sax), Paul Chambers (bass), and Louis Hayes (drums). The compositions are all by Redd, and the performances showcase a blend of soulful melody, rhythmic punch, and thoughtful interplay—each track offering its own mood, from the brooding “Shadows” to the bluesy drive of “Blues, Blues, Blues.”

The album is often noted as a high point in Redd’s relatively small discography. The combination of horn voices—McLean’s incisive alto and Brooks’ lighter yet rich tenor—over a rhythm section anchored by Chambers and Hayes gives the record both urgency and elegance. Despite being less famous than many Blue Note big names, Shades of Redd holds its own through the strength of its writing and the passion in its execution.

Reviews

“In an all too small discography, Freddie Redd’s Shades of Redd is without a doubt his crowning achievement … his zenith as a jazz musician, would be a wonderful addition to any collection, and shows that the lesser known musicians have plenty of music to play, in addition to a unique perspective aside from the giants of this music.” — Michael G. Nastos, AllMusic