What makes Soundsigns by Dewey Redman notable?

Soundsigns stands out for its experimental approach and is significant in the development of free jazz during the late 70s. The album received critical acclaim, contributing to Redman's reputation as a leading figure in avant-garde jazz and influencing numerous artists exploring similar soundscapes. Released in 1979, Soundsigns was Dewey Redman's fifth album and followed his celebrated work on Ornette Coleman's bands. At this point, Redman was solidifying his unique voice as a tenor saxophonist within the avant-garde jazz scene, emerging from the shadow of his collaborations to establish a distinct artistic identity.

How many songs are on Soundsigns?

Soundsigns has 4 tracks, running approximately 40 minutes.

Soundsigns

Dewey Redman · 1979

40 min · 4 tracks · jazz

A mesmerizing exploration of free jazz, intertwining complex melodies with an expansive rhythmic landscape.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Piece for Tenor and Two Basses — This track showcases Redman's innovative use of timbre and texture, creating a dialogue between his saxophone and the basses that challenges conventional jazz structures.
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Half Nelson — Featuring intricate improvisation, this piece highlights Redman's ability to blend lyrical phrasing with complex rhythm changes, making it a standout example of his artistry.
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Adesso lo sai — An expansive track that pushes the boundaries of jazz, it exemplifies Redman's exploratory spirit by integrating varied dynamics and spontaneous interaction among musicians.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

61 /100

Treeline

Higher than 71% of albums we've rated

The album showcases complex interplay and improvisation, solidifying Redman's unique voice in avant-garde jazz.

What we noticed

The first track features a call-and-response structure between the tenor saxophone and the two basses, creating a layered dialogue.
Each of the four tracks varies in length, with 'Piece for Tenor and Two Basses' being the longest at over 10 minutes, allowing for extended improvisation.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Piece for Tenor and Two Basses 8:23
2 Half Nelson 10:07
3 Adesso lo sai 13:59
4 Come Earth 8:00

What to play next

Listen next

The Struggle Continues

1982

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Musics

1979

Full Dewey Redman discography Artists like Dewey Redman

free jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata