Customer Reviews

In Japan

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This CD will amaze you. It's a recording of a 1971 date in Tokyo, and it ranks right up there with the great live jazz recordings of Parker, Coltrane, Dolphy, Davis, Mingus and others. Henderson, backed by a group of Japanese musicians, blasts through 45 minutes of music that will leave you wondering why this release ever went out of print.

His solo entry on Monk's "'Round Midnight" sets the release off, and after pianist Hideo Ichikawa joins him, Henderson shows why why he's the best living saxophonist since Coltrane. He honks, he bleats, but he never loses the essential beauty of the tune. It's a wonderful tribute to Monk, equal to Coltrane's great solo on the tune while he was with Miles.

Throughout, the Japanese bandmates prove equal to the task of playing with Henderson. Ichikawa, in particular, is powerful on electric piano, particularly on the set closer, "Junk Blues."

Henderson is the rare player who managed to listen to all of the major influences -- Parker, Young, Hawkins, Coltrane -- and absorb them all without losing his own voice. Thankfully, as of this writing, he is still with us. Everyone should listen to this release as a tour-de-force of tenor sax playing, released at a time when people were ready to dismiss jazz as a viable form. Not so quick, the Japanese said. They finally reminded us that some of our best products -- such as jazz and Joe Henderson -- are homegrown.

Okay, first off, this is the kind of playing I associate with Joe Henderson. "Inner Urge" has always been one of my favorite albums, and this album ranks right up there with it. Henderson's sound is so rich and full here, plus he fills his solos with fresh, creative and satisfying ideas. Henderson sounds at his best by himself and with his Japanese cohorts. And speaking of which, they support Henderson as wonderfully as any big name American Jazz star could have. This is as much an ensemble recording as it is a showcase for Henderson. My only complaint is that the album seems short, not that it is really short, but that I get caught in the album and when it ends, I am still wanting more! Any album that achieves this is a masterpiece in my opinion. Highly recommended!

There are very few examples of the late great Joe Henderson recorded live--but this exceptional date is one of them. Recorded in Japan with the cream of Japanese musicians backing him, Henderson offers a primer in the art of saxophone playing. There is a fire here missing in his Verve recordings, refined as they are, that just makes you feel alive and human. It's the spirit that many of his excellent Blue Note recordings like "Inner Urge", "Mode for Joe" and "In'n'Out" conveyed. This recording along with the "Live at the Lighthouse" sessions represent the best of Joe's Milestone period before he joined Verve.

In 1971 Joe Henderson left for Japan in search of a new adventure. In the 70's jazz was experiencing a severe down swing in interest and growth in the U.S.

The Japanese however, were just beginning to discover the wonders of this eclectic and cultural experience called jazz. Joe found what was to be hailed as the days greatest rhythm section in Japan. Henderson was able to introduce his music to an awestruck and adoring crowd with the help of Hideo Ichikawa (electric piano), Kunimitsu Inaba (bass), and Motohiko Hino (drums). The excitement and discovery for the audience and Joe served as a launching pad to creativity. The instantaneous spontaneity and spark of musical genius coming from literal strangers impressed Joe. This night was to be history in the making. Some of the most heralded and acclaimed live jazz music was ever recorded.

The ebbing and flowing of Henderson's playing is no doubt as complex as it is entertaining. He jumps from contemporary , bebop, and freeform, all within the time span of one song. The rhythm section is true to the task as they are able to follow and compliment Joe regardless of which musical road he decides to take at a any given moment. That, in and of itself, is more amazing than they way the star of the show performs.

A piece of history has once again reemerged from the archives. This is a jazz classic to be sure. It's a wonder how such quintessential and important music gets buried and neglected. Here it is in all it's glory and completeness for you to enjoy again.

(Note how I listed the track times? There aren't a lot of tracks, just a lot of music!)

Keith Hannaleck May 30, 2000 MuzikMan's Sound Script

Joe Henderson Live in Japan is AWESOME! From start to finish, this has to be Joe's best album he ever made.

His rendition of Theloneous Monk's "Round Midnight" is amazing, soulful, inventive, just great. I love his intro to this song.

"Out'n'In" is my favorite song. For about nine minutes, its Joe Henderson blowin' the hell out of his horn. And he does not lose a drop of energy in this song.

"Blue Bossa" a classic if I ever heard one. As many times and different ways as I've played this song, I've never heard it played with that much intensity, its unreal.

"Junk Blues" is the swinginest(if thats even a word) song on here. Its almost too intense.

The rythem section that backs Joe is one of the finest I've ever heared. Most of all, they are perfect, they don't drop or add a single beat. No matter what Joe does, they compliment it presicely and don't fluctuate on one beat. You can set a metronome to them. A great Jazz album, one thats too often looked over. A true master in the moment, the essince of Jazz to say the least!