Joshua Redman Shares ‘God Bless The Child’ From Rollins Tribute
The recording follows Rollins’ arrangement and features Gabrielle Cavassa, Peter Bernstein, Christian McBride, and Marcus Gilmore.
Saxophonist Joshua Redman has shared a rendition of “God Bless the Child” featuring vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa, guitarist Peter Bernstein, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Marcus Gilmore. The recording comes from his forthcoming Sonny Rollins tribute album, If Ever You Would Leave Us (we play for Rollins), which brings together musicians Redman contacted in the days after Rollins’ death.
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Rollins recorded the song, closely associated with Billie Holiday, for his 1962 album The Bridge. Redman and his collaborators modeled their version on that recording, retaining Rollins’ harmonizations and form. Cavassa sings the main melody, with Redman taking a supporting role. The choice connects two acts of remembrance: Rollins’ recording paid tribute to Holiday after her death, while Redman’s interpretation honors the saxophonist whose music helped shape his own approach to improvisation.
The album began with Redman’s response to Rollins’ passing on May 26. Waking the following day, he felt a need to do something in Rollins’ memory and began calling friends and fellow musicians. Those conversations led to studio sessions in New York, organized within a couple of weeks. Alongside the players heard on “God Bless the Child,” the album includes contributions from bassist Larry Grenadier, pianist Kevin Hays, saxophonist Chris Potter, and vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant.
Redman’s relationship with Rollins’ music stretches back to his first years playing saxophone. “I discovered Sonny Rollins right around the time I picked up the saxophone, at age 10 or 11,” he recalls. He encountered Saxophone Colossus while browsing records at the Berkeley Public Library, drawn initially by its title. “That was my eureka moment. I remember putting it on, and hearing Sonny made me understand: It awakened me to the true power and potential of jazz improvisation. When I discovered Sonny Rollins, that was my gateway, and my North Star.”
