Quote:
Originally Posted by Wynton
I know you didn't ask, Kudz, but I'm going to recommend some other albums where Joe Henderson was credited as the leader. I would unhesitantingly recommend each of these:
Big Band
Double Rainbow
In 'n out
Lush Life
Mirror, mirror
Our thing
Mode for Joe
Inner Urge
State of the Tenor
Page One
Tetragon
So near, so far (the only one on this list I haven't heard, but it looks good too)
Of course, there are countless others where he is a sideman.
Speaking of Joe-a belated thanks for this list, Wynton. I went on a bit of a Joe-binge after this exchange.
Our Thing has turned into one of my perpetual re-listens, and his solo version of "Lush Life", that closes the album of the same name, is pure jazz, a man digging deep into a song and finding nooks and crannies no one else has.
Also, I'm sure you've heard it since, but
So Near, So Far is outstanding, a Miles Davis tribute (he did it right after
Lush Life, apparently). Joe had similar melodic ideas to Miles (in terms of usage and theory, not necessarily inventiveness), so it works less as a "tribute" than a natural extension. In a quartet setting, and with John Scofield's guitar taking the functional place of the piano (he is brilliant, as usual), this is worthy of repeated listenings.