Customer Reviews

State of the Tenor

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Joe Henderson is probably not the first tenor sax player's name to pop to most people's lips when asked, but as this double album shows, more's the pity. What you get here is a pure, concentrated example of first-class sax playing with two marvellously empathetic accompanists. Except to put it that way makes it sound as if Ron Carter on bass and Al Carter on drums are there just to back him up. Although the tenor sax is undoubtedly the lead instrument the more you listen to this session the more you appreciate the sharing of musical ideas between the three musicians. The music is what counts to them. At times, where the music requires it, the drums just back right out leaving only the tenor and bass weaving sinuous threads around each other. It might sound crazy to say this is the drummer 'contributing' to the music, but so often you hear small groups where the bass / percussion / rhythm section seems hell-bent on playing on regardless of whether it makes musical sense. I don't know how long these three had played together prior to this recording but they certainly sound as if they know exactly what's going on inside each other's heads. Don't worry if you don't recognise many of the titles of the tracks. The inventiveness and imagination displayed is incredible, and I suspect that even on those tracks where you think you know the melody, the development will take you off in directions you never thought of before. At times the bass will play just a simple insistent 2 or 3 note riff and let the others improvise around it for minutes at a time; at others times all three artists are contributing strongly to the sound. This latter aspect is one of which I am particularly fond : beacuse it is such a small group you can still visualise all three musicians and appreciate the totality of the music they are making. The recording of this live session is first class and the atmosphere sounds as though it was quite intense. You can almost imagine the audience perched on the edge of their seats watching and wondering they way people do when seeing someone doing high-wire walking. Half of you wants them to succeed magnificently, half of you gorishly wants to see them fall. Well, there are certainly some wobbles here (hey, the guys are human!) but the recoveries are just as breathtaking as you want. And, yes, they do all make to the other end in one piece. I first heard a track from this ('Loose Change' on CD 1) on BBC Radio 3's (normally the straight-laced classical station) 'Jazz Record Requests' programme and went straight out the next day and purchased it. It's that good. Since then it has quickly hoisted itself in to one of my all-time favourite jazz CDs. Go on, do yourself a favour, you won't regret it.

This record has the whole package: masterful musicians in top form, original song selections and arrangements, scintillating interplay, and good sound quality. As with all late Joe Henderson, the playing overall gives the impression of sophistication and calm. But amidst all of this, there is a fiery, questioning, anguished, boundary-pushing musical connection and expression. Ron Carter is masterful, weaving moments of tension, lyricism, delicacy and dissonance into his baselines and solos. Al Foster is varyingly subtle, loud, obnoxious and seamless when the moments call for it. Joe Henderson overall summons the image of an old wise man, with much to say, but tastfully giving his students only choice anecdotes so as not to overwhelm them. (This seems to be the difference between early and late Joe, there is always inherent knowledge, but over the years he gained wisdom. He expressed his knowledge broodingly and loudly in the 60s; more recently he expressed it hushly and wisely.) He plays masterfully, always accessible but at the same time questioning and unexpected. This recording never loses its freshness and intelligence over repeated listenings. It is continuingly rewarding and a good buy.

Short and simple: if you play tenor sax this CD belongs in your collection. Joe Henderson runs through a variety of styles, both traditional and non, showing what the tenor is capable of doing in the hands of someone well-versed in all styles of jazz. With backing by Ron Carter and Al Foster, the trio lets the lines of each composition stand out like strands on a spiderweb. Again, if you are serious about jazz this is something you need to check out.

This truly is the pinnacle of Joe Henderson's performing career--and what better setting than a live trio to showcase him. Ron and Al are equally miraculous and share the spotlight deservingly. This music has really touched me emotionally and I have seldom heard such an awe-inspiring group like this.

One of the great tenor disks of all time. It's a fantastic trio disk with Henderson, Ron Carter, and Al Foster at the top of their form.

This album is fantastic, but there's another trio set with Joe Henderson that captures him in even greater form: The one called "An Evening With Joe Henderson, Charlie Haden, Al Foster" on Red Records from 1987. That's the TRUE state of the tenor!