Even in the contrived, packaging-oriented world of 1990s major-label jazz, a master work of lasting impact is produced now and then. Verve threw Henderson in the studio with a pack of young lions and asked him to play a collection of Billy Strayhorn songs. Henderson and crew emerged with a beautiful recording that showcased Henderson's versatile tenor, the passion of the younger players, and the emotional appeal of Strayhorn's compositions. Some of the songs are standards of the Ellington book while others are more obscure.
A large part of the success is owed to the strategy of mixing up the instrumentation: The album includes one solo, three duets, two trios, one quartet, and three quintets, each leading Henderson in a different direction. The quintet plays it straight as Wynton Marsalis adds his polished, mainstream trumpet. "Johnny Come Lately" swings especially hard as Henderson shows the post-bop fluency first developed in Horace Silver's band and Christian McBride contributes an intriguing arco bass solo. However, the true highlights emerge from the pared-down ensembles. "Isfahan," a duo with Henderson and McBride taken from Duke Ellington's Far East Suite, finds Henderson coaxing some lovely, light-and-airy sounds from his tenor, perhaps as an homage to Duke's legendary alto Johnny Hodges. On "Rain Check," a trio with McBride and drummer Greg Hutchinson, Henderson flies into the stratosphere with probing statements, and on "Lotus Blossom," a duet with pianist Stephen Scott, Henderson's quiet flurries support Scott's elegant reading. Henderson stokes the engine with intense, far-reaching ideas on "Take the "A" Train," a duet with Hutchinson, and teases the melody playfully on the abstract solo title track.
Henderson proves he can be delicate and melodic (as on the quartet's "Blood Count") or crafty and punchy (as on the drummerless trio's "Drawing Room Blues"). Henderson's "rediscovery" by Verve might be an expedient commercial pursuit for the label or a genuine attempt at showcasing an underrated saxophone veteran. Either way, Henderson clearly takes advantage of the opportunity.
If you like Joe Henderson, check out:
Duke Ellington The Far East Suite
Christian McBride Gettin' To It
Joe Henderson The State of the Tenor
psst...you might wanna check out our bebop abode for more features on bebop artists.
