2007年VOA标准英语-Joshua Redman's 'Back East' Returns to Acoustic

By Doug Levine
Washington
27 June 2007

It's been more than 15 years since saxophonist Joshua Redman won first prize at the Thelonious Monk¹ International Jazz Competition. That honor proved to be a worthwhile stepping stone, as he went on to record more than 10 solo albums, including his latest, titled "Back East." As we hear from VOA's Doug Levine, Redman returns to his acoustic² roots while paying tribute to some of his longtime sax heroes.

Joshua Redman hasn't worked exclusively in a trio since he graduated from Harvard University and was contemplating³ a career in jazz. Then came victory at the Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition and a life of touring and recording⁴. He was so busy that finding just the right musicians to play just the right songs on an album like Back East was next to impossible, until now.

The title Back East is a play on "Way Out West," an album by saxophonist Sonny Rollins that also featured a "piano-less" trio. Redman revives several classics from "Way Out West," including "I'm An Old Cowhand⁵" and "Wagon⁶ Wheels." Rollins was a major influence on Redman, as were sax greats Stan Getz, Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane.

Back East also refers to the Eastern musical influences heard on such tracks as "India" by John Coltrane.

Joshua Redman credits his mother for introducing him to Eastern music and dance while growing up in Berkeley, California. Although his mother raised him, Joshua never lost touch with his father, famed saxophonist Dewey Redman. Dewey made his last recordings⁷ alongside Joshua on two cuts from Back East, just three months before losing his battle with liver failure last September.

Joshua leads three different trios on the album, while alternating on alto, soprano and tenor⁸ sax. His busy schedule includes a June 30 concert at the Montreal Jazz Festival, followed by a multi-city tour of Europe and Russia before returning to the U.S. August 11 to perform at the Newport Jazz Festival.

1 monk   

n.和尚，僧侣，修道士

参考例句：

• The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。
• Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。

2 acoustic   

adj.听觉的，声音的；(乐器)原声的

参考例句：

• The hall has a fine acoustic.这个大厅的传音效果很好。
• Animals use a whole rang of acoustic, visual,and chemical signals in their systems of communication.动物利用各种各样的听觉、视觉和化学信号来进行交流。

3 contemplating   

深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想

参考例句：

• You're too young to be contemplating retirement. 你考虑退休还太年轻。
• She stood contemplating the painting. 她站在那儿凝视那幅图画。

4 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

5 cowhand   

n.牛仔，牧牛工

参考例句：

• Do you know the legend of the Cowhand and Weaver Maid?你知道牛郎和织女的传说吗？
• A cowhand herds cattle past a petroleum processing plant.一个牧牛人赶着一群牛在一家石油加工厂附近经过。

6 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

7 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

8 tenor   

n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意

参考例句：

• The tenor of his speech was that war would come.他讲话的大意是战争将要发生。
• The four parts in singing are soprano,alto,tenor and bass.唱歌的四个声部是女高音、女低音、男高音和男低音。