Freddie Redd Quintet: Shades of Redd

Blue Note BLP 4045

Recorded August 13, 1960, Mono

Recording Engineer: Rudy Van Gelder

Released May 1961

Musicians: 

Freddie Redd – piano

Jackie McLean – alto saxophone

Tina Brooks – tenor saxophone

Paul Chambers – bass

Louis Hayes – drums

"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 Review. He awarded the album 5/5 stars. I agree entirely.

Someone paid $2,727 for a copy of the 1961 original LP on Discogs. Happily, for the rest of us who live in the normal world, there are excellent reissues at affordable prices. One may still have to skip a couple of restaurant outings to get the Classic Records reissue from 2005 (in excellent mono sound), or the Music Matters Jazz 45 RPM reissue from 2009 (in superb stereo sound).

It is also part of The Complete Blue Note Recordings of Freddie Redd, a 3-LP, numbered, limited edition box set by Mosaic Records. The latter, released in 1989, is worth seeking out, albeit now very expensive on the collectors' market.

This is essential Jazz music. 

Listen to Blues-Blues-Blues here.

Then listen to Ole here.