Customer Reviews

Lush Life-The Music Of Billy Strayhorn

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Henderson, who had never really been away, returned to the public's consciousness with this remarkable tribute to Strayhorn's music. While he shows absolute respect for his subject's material, Henderson, with the help of some fine sidemen, firmly affixes his own personal stamp.

One strength of the album is that Henderson mixes up his approaches to Strayhorn's wonderfully varied music, offering everything from quintets to solo performances. The quintet includes Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, Stephen Scott on piano, Christian McBride on bass, and Gregory Hutchinson on drums, a collection of some of the finest young talent around.

Marsalis's playing is strong throughout, but the music doesn't lag when he lays out. In fact, three of the strongest pieces on the CD feature the trio of Henderson, Scott and McBride ("Raincheck"), a duet of Hutchinson and Henderson ("Take the A Train") and Henderson playing alone ("Lush Life").

Throughout, Henderson gives his bandmates plenty of room. Scott is superb on "Lotus Blossom," Marsalis brings out the beauty of "A Flower is a Lovesome Thing," and McBride and Hutchinson shine throughout, Hutchinson in particular on "Rain Check" and "Take the A Train," which he shoves along like a locomotive heading for home.

As the previous reviewer said, it's a mystery why this CD hasn't been reviewed more often. It's been a staple of my collection ever since it came out and ever since I heard the first mysterious notes of "Isfahan" melt through the speakers. This is an all-timer...shame on you if you've missed it.

I really cant believe I'm the first person to review this wonderful work. This album finally brought Joe Henderson the attention he deserves. It showcases Henderson's ability to play in multiple styles both between and within songs. Add to this standout performances from the other players: Christian McBride(as usual), Wynton Marsalis (who really delivers on several tracks- he was catching alot of flak in the jazz community at the time for being too "tradition bound" and he turned some heads with his playing here)and the rest. Though the group swings well, the ballads really hold up well with repeated listening. Of my collection of 100+ jazz records this is easily in my top five and second in number of times listened to only to Miles' "Kind of Blue" and maybe Wes Montgomery "Smokin at the Half Note".

This is a terrific collection of Billy Strayhorn compositions presented in surprisingly varied arrangements. The glue holding them all together is the late, great Joe Henderson and his forthright, beautiful, well-thought-out sax playing alongside bassist McBride. The pieces with Marsalis also really shine. There's never a dull moment in this rich recording, appropriately named Lush Life. Buy it and enjoy.

This has got to be one of the all time greatest albums ever recorded! Check out U.M.M.G. and Johnny Come Lately - hard blowin straight ahead jazz at its finest. The tone that Joe gets out of his instrument is amazing - perfect. Another notable thing about this album is that Joe has allowed it to be transcribed, so all you young sax players can take a lesson from the master...thanks Joe!

This was the first of Joe Henderson's string of tribute or songbook albums, which finally brought him the recognition he deserved in the twilight of his career. It's also the best of the tributes, maybe due to the strength of the Billy Strayhorn compositions. There was more brilliance to come in Henderson's career, but not at this level of consistency.

i've heard many joe henderson albums, and they are all excellent. don't know of a bad one. but this disc is really special. from the opening duo with bassist christian mcbride on the great composition "Isfahan," right through the stunning album closer: a solo saxophone version of "Lush Life," mr henderson takes this glorious batch of billy strayhorn melodies and adds his own special soulful beauty to their essence. each tune provides a backbone for some very heartfelt exploration. i would call this a must-have for all jazz fans.

Having heard Strayhorn's music performed by Ellington, Hodges, Gillespie, Coltrane, Hartman, Torme (and others), I was quite curious what would Henderson do, joined by Wynton Marsalis and some other young lions in the rhythm section, notably Stephen Scott on piano, Christian McBride on bass and Gregory Hutchinson on drums, a more than suitable line-up to join Henderson and Marsalis.

This is BEAUTIFUL.

Since so many people wrote fine descriptions of this music, I'll just add that I agree with most of them. The music is imaginative, tradition-consciouss and swinging, like some sort of lyrical version of Charlie Mingus. Henderson's solo rendition of "Lush Life" is obvious favorite of the album but the number of great performances on this album is indeed great (listen, for example to lovely "Lotus Blossom", played in duet with Stephen Scott...)

They say this album sold well (partly due to marketing); I don't like financial pressures on art, but when great artists earn some money it kinda pleases me...

I feal this is far more subtle jazz "hit" than some other popular jazz records I don't care to mention at this point out of sheer respect for the work of this fine group (or these fine groups, since the musicians play in various combinations; from Henderson's solo to full quintet, with Henderson being the only one playing on all songs).

The Joe Henderson Quintet

Joe Henderson:Tenor Sax

Wynton Marsalis:Trumpet

Stephen Scott:Piano

Chritine McBride:Bass

Gregory Hutcherson:Drums

Billy Strayhorn

(born Nov.29,1915,Dayton,Ohio,-died May 31,1967,New York,N.Y.)

Strayhorn got his first recognition after he approached Duke Ellington with a composition in 1938,soon after,he was regularly contributing arrangments and original compositions.In 1941 Strayhorn's 'Take the 'A'

Train' became the the Duke Ellington Orchestra's theme song.As has been well documented "his work so complimented Ellingtons that it was often impossible to distinquish their respective contributions".Strayhorn was a master of the ballad,and this is well documented by several tunes in this set.His compositions exhibit a structural and harmonic sophisticatiion which he made as his trade mark and signature voice throughout his tenure,before his sudden and tragic death in 1967.

This is one of those albums were everything comes together:from the engineering,production to the peformance.

Joe's playing is stellar,very heartfelt,and crisp.The whole band sounds like they have been playing for years.The format is a unique one.We have a Tenor,bass duet-Tenor,piano,bass trio,a Quartet setting and Quintet settings and finaly capping the set off with a solo rendition of 'Lush Life'.The rhythm section,a young one,plays exceptionally throughout,and also contribute excellent solos..Highlights for me were 'Blood Count',Joes pathos here is over the top.On the Quintet sides 'Johnny One Note',Wynton smokes this one,also,'A Flower Is a Lonesome Thing',and "U.M.M.G.",you should carefully note the rhythm sections fluid and constantly inventive approach,spurring on Henderson and Marsalis throughout.A gem.We also may consider this a tribute to the great tenor giant JOE HENDERSON.God speed to both of them.A real gem.Enjoy

This is a very special album. It is one of the best of Joe Henderson's many wonderful recordings. His playing on this album is just sublime; so expressive and yet restrained. This is a cd I shall listen to many times and highly recommend it to Amazon customers who seek a wonderful introduction to Jazz, or for those who, having liked Jazz for many years, want to hear Jazz musicianship in its highest form.

One of the wonderful things about jazz is that it is so personal. Musicians choose the tunes they want to play, add their own stamp on the tunes through their improvisations, and then listeners can endlessly argue over whether or not they like what has been done. Jazz involves the musical taste of the listener and the musical taste of the musicians.

I am a huge fan of Billy Strayhorn's music, and did not enjoy this album. Then again, I'm not a big post-bop fan in general, although Joe Henderson is a fine practitioner of that school of jazz. The trouble for me is that post-bop sensibilities not only don't lend themselves to Strayhorn's music (In my opinion.), they actively detract from it.

Another reviewer gave this four stars and said that he particularly liked Henderson's version of "Raincheck". I'm giving it three stars (Because Henderson's playing is, in its way, fine - I just don't like it.), and Henderson's version of "Raincheck" made me cringe. Latinized? Seriously?

If you like Strayhorn's music, then you may not like this album, unless you are also a fan of post-bop and/or Joe Henderson.

Wynton Marsalis on this album very much lived up to Benny Goodman's stated opinion of him as an "undernourished trumpet player." In my opinion. This album went to the used-record store.