Redman was recruited to play on five of the 10 tracks here by a simpático young New York-based trio. Bassist Johannes Weidenmüller alternates between an appropriate Charlie Haden thickness of tone and upper-register fleetness, and drummer Falk Willis matches coloristic detail to every beat. On the trio-only numbers, pianist Ethan Iverson guides everyone through the tradition of freedom and lyricism created by Bill Evans and Paul Bley, sometimes adding a touch of German Romanticism. The covers are sharp -- Ellington, Ornette, Herbie Nichols, Charlie Parker, "Stella by Starlight" -- and Iverson custom-builds a beauty for Redman: "Dewey Eyed, Dewey Played."

-- Jon Garelick