Freddie Redd

Freddie Redd (May 29, 1928 – March 17, 2021) was an American hard-bop pianist and composer. He is best known for writing music to accompany The Connection, a play by Jack Gelber. According to Peter Watrous, writing in The New York Times: "Mr. Redd hung out at jam sessions in the 1950s and played with many of the major figures, Sonny Rollins to Art Blakey, and worked regularly with Charles Mingus. When things got tough, he just moved on, living in Guadalajara, Mexico, and in Paris and London."

Biography An autodidact, he began playing the piano at a young age and took to studying jazz seriously when he was 18, after a friend played him a record of "Shaw 'Nuff" by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie during his military service in Korea (1946–1949).

Redd's most successful project was in the late 1950s when he was invited to compose the music for The Living Theatre's New York stage production of The Connection, which was also used in the subsequent 1961 film. In both play and film, he performed as an actor and musician. The theater production was a modest hit and the troupe toured the United States and Europe, performing in New York City, London, and Paris. Redd also led a Blue Note album of his music for the play, featuring on alto sax Jackie McLean, who had also appeared in the play. Redd's success in the theater production, however, did not advance his career in the United States, and shortly afterwards he moved to Europe, spending time in Denmark and France.

Personal life Redd was born to Freddie Redd and Helen (Snipes) Redd. Redd was born and grew up in New York City; he was raised by his mother, who moved around Harlem, Brooklyn and other neighborhoods. His father was a porter and played piano while his mother was a homemaker. When Redd was two years old, his father died. Using the piano his father had left behind, Redd taught himself how to play. He learned how to play the piano when he was 18.

His late wife, Valarie Lyons Redd, died along with his children, Stephanie Redd and Freddie Redd III. His current family consists of his grandson, Leslie Clarke, a stepdaughter, Susan Redd, and two other grandchildren as well as two step-grandchildren.

After leaving high school, Redd enlisted in the Army in 1946, where he was introduced to bebop. This is where he spent the next three years learning more about the piano and playing gigs with his friends throughout bases and camps within South Korea. There were pianos in every recreation room, which is where Redd taught himself how to play and formed a band during his time of service. In 1954, he played with Art Blakey. Redd toured Sweden in 1956 with Ernestine Anderson and Rolf Ericson. After returning to the U.S., Redd visited San Francisco to work as a house pianist at Bop City and recorded for Riverside.

Death Redd died in New York City on March 17, 2021, aged 92. He died at a Manhattan care facility. His grandson, Leslie Clarke, announced that Redd had died in his sleep but the reason was not reported.

Discography

As leader/co-leader Recording date Title Label Year released Notes 1955 Introducing Freddie Redd also released as Freddie Redd/Hampton Hawes Piano: East/West ( Prestige, 1956) and Move!/Hampton Hawes and Freddie Redd (Status/Prestige, 1965) Prestige 1955 1956-09 Get Happy with Freddie Redd Pye Nixa 1958 1956-09 In Sweden Baybridge 1973 1957-10 San Francisco Suite Riverside 1958 1960-02 The Music from "The Connection" Blue Note 1960 1960-08 Shades of Redd Blue Note 1961 1961-01 Redd's Blues Blue Note 1988 1971-07 Under Paris Skies Futura 1971 1977-12 Straight Ahead! also released as Jazz Is (Trio, early 1990s) Interplay 1978 1978-08, 1978-09 Extemporaneous Interplay 1978 1985-01 Lonely City Uptown 1989 1988-05 Live at the Studio Grill Triloka 1990 Live 1990-10 Everybody Loves a Winner Milestone 1991 1991-07 Freddie Redd and his International Jazz Connection Fairplay INJazz 1998 2013-01 Reminiscing Bleebop 2021 2013-01 Baltimore Jazz Loft with Butch Warren Bleebop 2021 2014-11 Music for You Steeplechase 2015 2014-11, 2015-02 With Due Respect Steeplechase 2016

As sideman With Tiny Grimes The Complete 1950–1954, Volume 3 (1950) (Blue Moon, 1995) – compilation The Complete 1950–1954, Volume 4 (1950–1953) (Blue Moon, 1995) – compilation The Complete 1950-1954, Volume 5 (1954) / The Complete 1949 J.B. Summers (Blue Moon, 1995) – compilation

With Joe Roland Joltin' Joe Roland (Savoy, 1955) – rec. 1950-1954 Joe Roland Quintette (Bethlehem, 1955)

With others Gene Ammons, All Star Sessions (Prestige, 1956) – rec. 1950-1955 Rolf Ericson, Rolf Ericson & The American All Stars (Dragon, 1956) Art Farmer, When Farmer Met Gryce (Prestige, 1955) Howard McGhee, Music from the Connection (Felsted, 1960)