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 (1959), 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,<!-- Not the performances on *the* "film soundtrack." --> 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. Redd lost his father when he was two. Using the piano his father left behind when he died, 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.