// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did "Words Fall Short" say? It dropped the conversation.
| Words Fall Short | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 20, 2025 | |||
| Recorded | November 30, 2024 – December 2, 2024 | |||
| Studios | Oktaven Audio, Mount Vernon, NY | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 45:29 | |||
| Label | Blue Note | |||
| Producer | Joshua Redman | |||
| Joshua Redman chronology | ||||
| ||||
Words Fall Short is a studio album by American jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman, debuting a quartet including himself, pianist Paul Cornish, bassist Philip Norris, and drummer Nazir Ebo.[1][2] Redman's second album for Blue Note, it was released on June 20, 2025.[3]
Background
[edit]This release comes on the heels of his prior album, Where Are We, made in partnership with singer Gabrielle Cavassa. Her presence lingers on the final piece, "Era's End". Redman has shifted his focus to a fresh circle of rising musicians: bassist Philip Norris, drummer Nazir Ebo, and pianist Paul Cornish. Each of them brings impressive, freely voiced performances that never compromise the album’s overall unity.[4]
Reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| All About Jazz |   [5] |
| AllMusic | [6] |
| The Guardian |  [7] |
| Jazzwise | [8] |
| Tom Hull | B+[9] |
Selwyn Harris of Jazzwise wrote, "As with the previous Where Are We, regardless of the diverse subgenre-mix or format, Redman is playing his best self these days."[8] Matt Collar of AllMusic stated, "While it doesn't feel like Redman is looking to completely redefine his sound here, he sounds engaged and encouraged to explore new sonic areas. He's never been one to sit still creatively, and his work on Words Fall Short speaks to his ability to both draw from his idols and from his quartet while pushing himself beyond his comfort zone."[6] John Fordham of The Guardian added, "The result is an album that feels more like an ideal balance of Redman’s own ingenuity and his ensemble rapport."[7]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Joshua Redman.
| No. | Title | Guest artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Message to Unsend" | 5:07 | |
| 2. | "So It Goes" | Melissa Aldana | 6:59 |
| 3. | "Words Fall Short" | 4:48 | |
| 4. | "Borrowed Eyes" | 5:51 | |
| 5. | "Icarus" | Skylar Tang | 6:24 |
| 6. | "Over the Jelly-Green Sea" | 4:44 | |
| 7. | "She Knows" | 5:20 | |
| 8. | "Era's End" | Gabrielle Cavassa | 6:12 |
| Total length: | 45:29 | ||
Personnel
[edit]- Joshua Redman – saxophone
- Paul Cornish – piano
- Philip Norris – bass
- Nazir Ebo – drums
- Gabrielle Cavassa – vocals (8)
- Melissa Aldana – saxophone (2)
- Skylar Tang – trumpet (5)
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Croatian International Albums (HDU)[10] | 28 |
References
[edit]- ↑ West, Michael J. (June 25, 2025). "Saxophonist Joshua Redman's new record came one right step at a time". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
- ↑ Chinen, Nate (April 23, 2025). "Joshua Redman puts a young band center stage on 'Words Fall Short'". WRTI. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
- ↑ "JOSHUA REDMAN – Joshua Redman – Words Fall Short". Blue Note Records. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ↑ "Albumrecensie: 'Words Fall Short' - Joshua Redman". Jazzism (in Dutch). July 23, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
- ↑ Collette, Doug (July 6, 2025). "Joshua Redman: Words Fall Short". All About Jazz. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- 1 2 Collar, Matt. "Words Fall Short – Joshua Redman | Album". AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- 1 2 Fordham, John (June 27, 2025). "Joshua Redman: Words Fall Short review – improviser's playful delight in music-making never ceases". The Guardian. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- 1 2 Harris, Selwyn. "Joshua Redman: Words Fall Short". Jazzwise. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Tom Hull: Grade List: Joshua Redman". Tom Hull. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ↑ "Lista prodaje (strano) 26. tjedan 2025. (23.06.2025. – 29.06.2025.)". Top lista (in Croatian). July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.