Customer Reviews

Page One

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the only record, which i own, where each track is a notch above the previous, in terms of writing, and improvising...the CD (LP) just gets better and better.

For a jazz newcomer, the songs to lookout for are Kenny's Blue Bossa and Joe's Recorda Me, but don't be fooled. If you buy this record, it won't become one of those records you pull out on occassion to hear 2 songs. You will immediately take to the beauty of the remaining four, especially the last two songs.

Joe Henderson was Blue Note's most requested tenor sideman during the 60s. While his playing evolved (and objectively improved) later on, there is a certain richness in his playing present on his blue note records, that is not always there on his Milestone gigs (while I adore those too.) This album MUST be more acknowledge as a plateau in jazz compostion. It would be impossible to improve upon the record. Not too many are in the same league...Kind Of Blue, Moanin', Love Supreme, Unity, Hubtones, Speak No Evil, Song For My Father, Sweet Rain, Out To Lunch, Saxophone Collosus, and probably about 20 others....but what does this have that others don't?...

...this record is the only record that I believe you can put on and listen from beginning to end, and be consistantly enthralled without one moment of hesitation or impatience for the next soloist to take stage. It is perfect. Every jazz listener who does not own it is doing themselves a major disservice. It sums up the brilliance of the probably the greatest tenor of the past 35 years. I miss you Joe!

-Dave

I was just 14yrs. old when this album came out,and I bought it by mistake. This was however the best mistake I ever made on music. From the first track to the last I was captivated by every note of every solo. Joe just blew me away with his tone and his style. Bossa Nova was just coming on the scene in America and Blue Bossa was so unlike anything I had ever heard. Joe played tenderly on ballads,but with a hard edge that was missing from other tenors of the time. This album became my favorite and the standrad by which I would judge all others. It's now more than 40yrs. old and still the record I play all tracks from whenever I play it." Long live Joe Henderson"
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This album, recorded in June 1963, was Joe Henderson's (tenor sax) first recording as a leader for the Blue Note label, and features Kenny Dorham (trumpet), McCoy Tyner (piano), Butch Warren (bass) and Pete La Roca (drums).

Half of the material here, although very enjoyable to listen to, is not as inspired as we might expect considering the personnel at hand. One of the problems is the relatively short duration of most of many of the solos herein, denying the improvisor the opportunity to explore and develop a myriad of moods and dynamics - a crucial element of any purposeful, emotional offering.

So let's say that none of the performers is consistently at their best in this session, yet there are at least two works here of great significance - 'Jinrikisha' and 'Out Of The Night'. The other stuff is good, but these two are great.

The recording quality is good.

Blue Bossa - This popular Kenny Dorham jazz standard is heard here with the original composer present. Unfortunately, the rendition is quite uninspiring. The solos by Kenny, Joe, McCoy and Butch are straightforward and less inventive than elsewhere in this album.

La Mesha - Another Dorham original, this soulful ballad contains some nice harmonies in the head. Joe solos first, and is rich and colorful in his execution. Kenny follows with a clean, sensitive yet somewhat unemotional display. McCoy, as he often does, plays the standards and ballads in an unoriginal, yet polished fashion, and his work here is no exception.

Homestretch - A hard-bop number by Joe, this piece swings real hard. The head is sharp and choppy. Joe goes first, reeling out a brief yet energetic solo. Kenny and McCoy follow with very brief and uninspired solos. They trade a few fours with Pete, then out.

Recorda Me - This popular Henderson composition features a catchy head in a medium tempo straight 4 feel. Joe takes honors, and besides a few bright spots, is rather uninspired. Kenny and McCoy, although pleasant in their solos, don't break any new ground on this one. Pete and Butch are equally subdued.

Jinrikisha - This medium tempo swing piece, written by Joe, has a fresh, cool feeling to it. Joe comes out swinging in his solo, and for the first time is this session, we hear some of the soulful lines that define Joe's original style, still emerging and maturing at this date. Kenny seems to struggle with the chord changes a bit, but swings nicely. McCoy is finally coaxed out his shell a bit - just enough to allow us to recognize him as the session's pianist.

Out Of The Night - Another relaxed, cool composition by Joe. The head, shared by Joe and Kenny, is witty and nice. Kenny has a short, reserved solo, followed by Joe's most inventive and emotional display of the session. McCoy, too, performs his most purposeful improvisation of the session here, yet only hinting at his true identity. Butch gets a solo of his own, and is up to the task.

Although not consistently rich and pure, this is nonetheless a very good album, and a pleasure to listen to over and over again. There's no gimmicks, no clichés, just a very nice jazz album that would fit comfortably in most collections. If you're looking for some real serious Henderson, I recommend most highly his fourth, and perhaps his best Blue Note, 'Inner Urge', as well as 'In 'N Out' and 'Mode For Joe'. (I've never heard the very rare second Blue Note, 'Our Thing').

There are no words to describe one of the best Blue Note or Jazz sessions ever. However, I must stress that this transfer to SACD by Analogue Productions outclasses easily the RVG CD reissue. Get it while you can!

This album is tight from start to finish. It starts with the infectious Kenny Dorham number "Blue Bossa", a strong beginning that continues throughout the album. It's hard to believe this is Joe Henderson's first session as a leader as he delivers a strong, fluid performance. His contributions to the album are just as impressive as Kenny Dorham's. I particularly like "Homestretch" and "Out of the Night." McCoy Tyner really impressed me with his expert piano playing on this album. The rhythm section of Butch Warren and Pete LaRoca are understated, but solid. Highly recommended.

Page One is one of those rare jazz albums that anyone, whether they usually listen to rock, pop, or jazz, can pick up and enjoy. The improvisation is amazing throughout, and the song writing is Kenny's and Joe's best. Recorda-Me and Blue Bossa are two of the best tunes ever written. Hands down. And on this recording, both of them are played wonderfully. In my opinion, this is the best Joe Henderson album out there. Start with this before going on to "In'n'out" or "Our Thing".

Among my 100+ jazz albums, this is probably one of my top five favorites along with such classics as Kind of Blue, Somethin' Else, Takin' Off, Speak no Evil and Song for my Father. Joe Henderson's soloing here is terrific, and some of the best tenor soloing out of all my recordings. At times it can be "harsh" and "biting", but the way he uses notes and rhythm to create melody is a real pleasure to listen to. Kenny Dorham's approach to soloing is nearly the opposite of Joe's, as it is smooth and lyrical, but the contrast really adds to the recording. McCoy Tyner adds so much to this album as well. His piano intros to recorda me and blue bossa are simply magical in the way that they set the mood for both songs. This album deserves to be rated among the best in jazz. I cannot recommend it enough.

It is amazing to me that this CD has only a handful of
reviews, while 'Kind of Blue', while admittedly a fantastic
album, has more than 600. True, this may be slightly less
accessible on first listen than KoB, but it captures more
of the jazz tradition than KoB does, and the songs on this
excite me more. Recordame is one of my favorite jazz tunes,
and Joe's playing on it is really beautiful. One of my two
or three favorite all-time jazz albums, and I've been listening
to jazz seriously for 20 years.

I can't fault Joe Henderson on any cd. He's a master but I like some other cds of his a bit more. This was very early and as such is still a 5 star but he has made some cds so strong that I reserve 5 stars for them ergo 4 stars for Page one. Still I recommend it to anyone who is interested or knows anything about Jazz. They'll appreciate it both for beauty and as a collectors item.

As a Joe Henderson fan, I can understand those who give this disk 5 stars.

I could do the same. However, if I try to be objective, I would say that this album has a minor flaw that makes it 4 stars.

My problem with this disk is Kenny Dorham. Yes, he is credited for bringing Joe to the world by recruiting him to his band. He is also a fine trumpet player. For my taste, however, he comes up a little short when compared to Miles or Freddie Hubbard. I get the sense that he can't quite keep up with the chord changes that Joe throws at him, especially on Jinrikisha. On Blue Bossa, he seems to be pretty restrained, never straying very far from the melody.

This might not be a problem except that Joe is so harmonically fluent and rhythmically creative: only the best can keep up with him.

In his favor, Kenny wrote two songs on this disk: Blue Bossa, which is a great tune and a jazz classic and La Mesha, which I think is an even better tune. It's a ballad somewhat in the Naima mold. Joe just wails away on it. Fantastic!

But overall, when you compare other disks that pair Wayne Shorter and Freddie Hubbard, Miles and Coltrane, Freddie and Eric Dolphy, Lee Morgan and Joe Henderson or even Woody Shaw and Joe Henderson, I think it's reasonable to say that Kenny Dorham is not quite holding his end up.

So, I would recommend this disk as a "second wave" purchase. Once you have a bunch of the albums with the other trumpet/sax pairings I mentioned, then go for this one. If you're looking to get familiar with Joe Henderson, I would recommend "At the Lighthouse." That disk will give you a sampler of different Joe styles. It also has both Blue Bossa and Recuerda Me....and Woody Shaw plays some excellent trumpet that won't let you down even slightly.