JOSHUA REDMAN
Joshua Redman’s name resonates deeply in the jazz world as a gifted improvisor, a charismatic performer, and an insightful thinker on the nature and meaning of music.
The son of legendary saxophonist Dewey Redman and Renée Shedroff, a dancer and librarian, Joshua’s childhood was steeped in music, movement, storytelling and the written word. That influence is evident in the remarkable path he’s carved, blending emotion and intellect into a sound and style unmistakably his own.
After graduating summa cum laude from Harvard University and deferring his acceptance to Yale Law School, Redman moved to New York City, immersing himself once again in the world of the arts. Gigging and recording with some of the greatest musicians of all time – Charlie Haden, Elvin Jones, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, McCoy Tyner, Clark Terry, Milt Jackson, and his father, Dewey Redman, to name just a few – he found himself at the epicenter of the city’s thriving jazz scene. It was there that a true calling began to emerge.
In 1991, shy and reluctant, but encouraged by friends, Redman entered and won the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Competition, widely regarded as the preeminent event of its kind. The industry quickly took notice.
In 1992 he signed with Warner Bros. Records and a year later released his eponymous debut album, earning him a Grammy nomination—the first of ten across a distinguished career.
Redman’s first Quartet featured pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Brian Blade — some of the most influential musicians of their generation, who would go on to shape the future of the art form.
Throughout the 1990s, and well into the new century, Redman continued to refine his craft and expand his vision, releasing a string of acclaimed albums — some notable highlights being Wish (1993), Moodswing (1994), Spirit of the Moment (1995), Freedom in the Groove (1996), Elastic (2000), Back East (2007), Still Dreaming (2018), and where are we (2023).
His apprenticeships and collaborations read like a who’s who of musical giants: Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Roy Haynes, Roy Hargrove, Stevie Wonder, Meshell Ndegeocello, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, The Rolling Stones, the Dave Matthews Band, Umphrey’s McGee, The Bad Plus, Brad Mehldau… A true testament to his versatility and wide respect among elders and peers alike.
Redman’s creative reach extends beyond the stage and studio. His music has been featured in film and television, broadening his impact on the cultural landscape. He composed the original score for Louis Malle’s Vanya on 42nd Street (1994), contributed to Clint Eastwood’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997), and appeared in Robert Altman’s Kansas City (1996) and Ken Burns’ documentary series Jazz (2000–01).
In 1997 he brought his love of jazz to a new generation when he was featured on the beloved children’s show Reading Rainbow; and again, in 1999, when he voiced the character Uncle Josh on PBS’s Arthur, alongside legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
As the Artistic Director of the SFJAZZ Spring Season (2000 - 2007) Redman ventured into the world of programming, presenting and curation. And within that same time span, as a founding member and musical director of the SFJAZZ Collective (2004 - 2007), Redman helped formulate and fulfill the group’s mission: to honor and celebrate great works of the modern jazz era, while at the same time serving as an essential incubator for the creation, development and performance of new music.
In 2019 he joined Stanford University as a Visiting Artist (and in 2025 was appointed Artist In Residence). Often eschewing conventional teaching methods, Redman encourages spontaneity, authenticity, and freedom of expression, all while respecting the enduring norms and exacting standards of an ever-evolving jazz language.
With a career spanning over three decades, Joshua Redman remains a vital force in contemporary jazz. A bridge between tradition and innovation, performance and mentorship, intellect and emotion. His music continues to invite listeners into a world where every note tells a story and every beat becomes a shared moment of human connection.
Paul Cornish
Los Angeles-based pianist and composer Paul Cornish strives to inspire freedom and collaboration in his music and community. Hailing from Houston where he was a student at the prestigious High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Cornish was one of seven jazz prodigies worldwide selected to be awarded a full fellowship to attend the esteemed Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz at UCLA. Here, he completed his Master’s degree, studied, and performed with such renowned artists as Herbie Hancock, Billy Childs, Robert Hurst, and Walter Smith III.
Cornish released his debut album with Blue Note Records, You’re Exaggerating, in August 2025 and he was a finalist in the 2023 American Pianists Awards and the Herbie Hancock International Jazz Piano Competition. In 2021, he won first prize in the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition and received 18th Street Arts Center’s (Los Angeles) Make Jazz Fellowship. Cornish has performed extensively across the globe with such notable artists as Louis Cole, Mark Guiliana, HAIM, Snoh Aalegra, Terrace Martin, Kanye West, and many more.
Philip Norris
Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Philip Norris currently resides in New York City, having recently graduated from The Juilliard School of Music with a Bachelors and Masters degree in Jazz Studies. He first began his path in music in his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, on the piano and french horn before developing his passion for bass at age 13. His collaborations encompass esteemed names such as Wynton Marsalis, The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, Joshua Redman, David Sanborn, Veronica Swift, and more recently Emmet Cohen. In a continuum of artistic expression, Philip pursues his passion for music both in collaboration with celebrated peers and in his independent musical endeavors.
Nazir Ebo
Nazir Ebo, is a premier multi-instrumentalist from Philadelphia who has played with Christian McBride, Wynton Marsalis, Logan Richardson, Kenneth Whalum, and Bootsy Collins, just to name a few. Born into a talented musical family, Ebo has been performing since he was 9 years old, taking the stage as part of the Clef Club Youth Ensemble and Kimmel Center Creative Music Program. He now shares his gift with the next generation, teaching young players on the quest toward greater mastery of the idiom and the development of their own musical voice.
