History Freddie Redd Quintet

Freddie Redd (born May 29, 1928, in New York City) is an American hard-bop pianist and composer.

His greatest success came in 1959 in the Jack Gelber's play The Connection and in the, based on the play, feature film by the noted American experimental filmmaker Shirley Clarke, in which he both played and acted in New York City, London, and Paris. He also played on the soundtrack album which was released on the Blue Note label in 1960. It features performances by Redd, Jackie McLean, Michael Mattos, and Larry Ritchie.

Jack Gelber originally planned for the play to feature improvised music performed by jazz musicians who would also play small roles in the production. Freddie Redd however persuaded Gelber to include his original score. His success in the play did not help his career in the United States, however, and shortly afterwards he moved to Europe.

He returned to the United States in 1974. Although he has never been able to establish himself commercially in the first rank of jazz figures, musically, his playing is of the highest caliber. Punchy, jumpy and playful, yet laden with an undertone of blusey melancholy, Redd's playing is instantly recognizable. A master of the small-group, hardbop arrangement, Redd is both a dutiful soloist and an excitable accompanist who has pushed musicians to play up to their best; these have included highly regarded artists such as Jackie McLean, Tina Brooks, Paul Chambers, Howard McGhee, Milt Hinton, Lou Donaldson, Benny Bailey, Louis Hayes, Al McKibbon, Billy Higgins and many more. Redd recorded several albums as leader, including three prominent Blue Note albums.

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