Joshua Redman wraps up a three-day engagement at the Montreal International Jazz Festival tonight at the Théâtre Maisonneuve, featuring the band from his recent Nonesuch release, Compass.  In anticipation of the performance, Redman was profiled in the Montreal Gazette, which describes Compass as “a refined experience,” featuring “sound sculptures straddling the line between freedom and formalism.”

The article focuses on Redman’s self-described tendency to “always want to be changing, growing, [and] evolving,” referencing the saxophonist’s diverse discography. Redman remarks that “as soon as a band I’m a member of expresses its identity, I want to move on to something else,” adding that he is “attracted to the unfamiliarity and…the challenge to find a sound.”

This attraction to the unfamiliar is evident in the company Redman has chosen for his stint at Montreal; he was joined on Saturday by pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Matt Penman, and drummer Eric Harland for what he called the “first conversation” of “a collaborative band we’re really excited about.” The entire line-up from Compass will be present for tonight’s set, which the Gazette noted will be only the fifth time this year that the band will have shared the stage, indicating that there is still vast musical territory for the group to explore.

Tickets for tonight’s performance are available here. To read the full article, visit the Montreal Gazette.

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Later this week, Redman will set off for a trio tour of Europe, joined by bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Gregory Hutchinson, who both appear on Compass. The band will begin on Thursday with a performance at the Parque Marechal Carmona in Lisbon, Portugal, before making their way north with concerts in the Netherlands and Germany, among others. Redman will be back in the United States at the end of the month for a performance at the Mendocino Music Festival. To view all of Joshua Redman’s tour dates and purchase tickets, click here.