Saxophonist Joshua Redman joins Whitworth Jazz Ensemble at the Fox

The son of a jazz legend (saxophonist Dewey Redman)? Check.

Early exposure to a variety of musical genres and instruments? Check.

Participation in the Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble and Combo from 1983-86? Check.

But even still, jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman never seriously considered becoming a professional musician.

In 1991, an academic-minded Redman graduated from Harvard summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in social studies. Shortly thereafter, he decided to defer admission to Yale Law School for (famous last words) a year.

During this year, he moved to Brooklyn to live with friends and was quickly engrossed in the city’s jazz scene.

Just five months after relocating, Redman won the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition. He then began to tour and record with jazz greats like his father, Pat Metheny, Jack DeJohnette and Charlie Haden.

Two years after graduating from Harvard, Redman released his self-titled debut album, which earned him his first Grammy nomination.

He’s since added five more nominations to his growing list of accolades.

Redman’s latest, “Still Dreaming,” is a nod to his late father’s 1976-1987 band Old and New Dreams.

“Still Dreaming” features eight works, six of which were written by the younger Redman’s bandmates and two that were written by late members of Old and New Dreams: Charlie Haden’s “Playing” and Ornette Coleman’s “Comme Il Faut.”

On “Still Dreaming,” which was released in May, Redman was joined by drummer Brian Blade, bassist Scott Colley and cornetist Ron Miles.

He’ll take the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox stage on his own Friday during the Whitworth Jazz Ensemble’s guest artist jazz concert.

“Joshua Redman is not only one of the most important and current jazz musicians of our time, but he is also a truly inspiring and engaging artist,” Dan Keberle, Whitworth professor of music and director of jazz studies and director of the Whitworth Jazz Ensemble, said in a press release.