Showing posts with label Eddie Henderson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eddie Henderson. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Willie Jones III - My Point Is...

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:55
Size: 127,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:43)  1. Manhattan Melodies
(7:47)  2. The Wind Of An Immortal Soul
(5:31)  3. Christina
(8:45)  4. My Point Is
(7:18)  5. The Maze
(5:43)  6. Early Morning
(4:30)  7. Peace
(7:34)  8. Blues For Dat Taz

Over the years, the name of Willie Jones III has really become one that makes us want to stop and check out a record and this time around, not only does the set feature Jones' name on the front but the quintet also includes great performances from Ralph Moore on tenor, Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Eric Reed on piano, and Buster Williams on bass! With a lineup like that, Reed just can't miss and the record takes us back to the kind of instant classics we were hearing from Henderson, Moore, and Reed twenty years back but given that sort of special vision that makes Willie both a great drummer and leader, one who's evolving into a one-man powerhouse of jazz given that he also produces and releases his records himself. And yet there's nothing smalltime about this set especially with Henderson and Moore in the lead, the latter of whom is always a treat to our ears. Titles include "Manhattan Melodies", "My Point Is", "The Wind Of An Immortal Soul", "The Maze", "Blues For Dat Taz", and "Early Morning".  © 1996-2018, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/859299/Willie-Jones-III:My-Point-Is

Personnel:  Willie Jomes III, drums;  Eric Reed, piano;  Buster Williams, bass;  Eddie Henderson, trumpet;  Ralph Moore, tenor sax

My Point Is...

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Eddie Henderson - Shuffle and Deal

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Size: 135,2 MB
Time: 59:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2020
Art: Front

1. Shuffle and Deal (5:30)
2. Flight Path (5:15)
3. Over the Rainbow (8:11)
4. By Any Means (3:15)
5. Cook's Bay (7:19)
6. It Might as Well Be Spring (9:22)
7. Boom (4:04)
8. God Bless the Child (6:53)
9. Burnin' (4:56)
10. Smile (4:13)

Heading into his 80th birthday, Eddie Henderson issues Shuffle And Deal a material addition to his vast oeuvre of leader dates. The album builds on several long-term creative relationships fostered during the trumpeter’s prolific career. He returns to the studio with practically the same winning lineup from his 2018 release, Be Cool, and daughter Cava Menzies and wife Natsuko Henderson again contribute compositions. Most notably, though, the aesthetic pull of the album derives from Henderson’s deep affinity with freakishly empathic pianist Kenny Barron.

The word “shuffle” is a play on the groove of the title cut a sophisticated, Miles Davis-inspired composition Henderson penned for the album but also describes the recurrence of tunes from his and his players’ established repertoire. Henderson includes two Barron compositions: “Flight Path,” a fervent, melodic imperative, and the charming Latin medium-tempo “Cook’s Bay.” There’s also altoist Donald Harrison’s “Burnin’” and four lovingly polished standards recognizable ballads rendered all the more touching alongside the rambunctious originals.

Besides Henderson’s own pieces, two other tunes are all-new with this release. Menzies’ clever, mixed-meter “By Any Means” delights with its clean horn lines and irresistible harmonic undertow, and Natsuko Henderson’s neo-soul “Boom” featuring Mike Clark’s high-velocity drumming sparkles with intensity.

But it is Henderson’s clarion trumpeting that guides the crush of talent on this album. His musical wisdom, gleaned during decades spent on the best jazz bandstands, informs every unerring note.By Suzanne Lorge
https://downbeat.com/reviews/detail/shuffle-and-deal

Personnel: Eddie Henderson, trumpet; Donald Harrison, alto saxophone; Kenny Barron, piano; Gerald Cannon, bass; Mike Clark, drums.

Shuffle and Deal

Monday, February 19, 2024

Bill Barron - Higher Ground

Styles: Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:08
Size: 117,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:52)  1. Caravan
(7:19)  2. I Thought About You
(4:17)  3. More Blues
(5:28)  4. We'll Be Together Again
(6:40)  5. Emanation
(7:40)  6. Alone Together
(6:11)  7. Interpretation
(5:38)  8. Time, Motion, Space

Bill Barron's final recording as a leader (cut just 8½ months before his death at age 62) was released for the first time on this 1993 CD. Barron was still in his prime and this effort (a quintet date with trumpeter Eddie Henderson, pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Ben Riley) is more straight-ahead than usual. Barron, who usually did not play standards much, performs four here (including "Caravan" and "Alone Together") and his three originals (plus one by younger brother Kenny) are also very much in the hard bop vein, less avant-garde than usual. The leader's solos, however, are as adventurous as ever, and the CD is easily recommended as an example of his excellent, underrated playing.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/higher-ground-mw0000121824

Personnel: Bill Barron (tenor saxophone); Eddie Henderson (trumpet); Kenny Barron (piano); Rufus Reid (bass); Ben Riley (drums).

Higher Ground

Friday, February 16, 2024

Eddie Henderson - Witness to History

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:00
Size: 128,7 MB
Art: Front

(7:02) 1. Scorpio Rising
(8:35) 2. Why Not?
(7:40) 3. Sweet and Lovely
(8:45) 4. It Never Entered My Mind
(5:21) 5. Freedom Jazz Dance
(5:02) 6. I'm Gonna Miss You, My Darling
(7:04) 7. Totem Pole
(6:27) 8. Born to Be Blue

Make no mistake: it is the hot buttered soul, "Shaft"-like theme of "Scorpio Rising" that first snags one's attention. But once snagged, the old cool sets in and Witness To History, trumpeter Eddie Henderson's self curated soundtrack, unwinds with a wicked fervor. A deep, wicked joy.

Henderson who has pretty much seen it all from the impulsive, jazz rock Realization (Capricorn, 1973) through The Cookers to the still palpable Shuffle and Deal (Smoke Avenue, 2020) looks back for a PBS documentary due for release in early 2024 and knows for sure he has had a good run. He then intuitively and soulfully gathers a few wily and confident cohorts and it is away to the races.

But it is not that frantic metro influencer gallop for this crew. Not by any means. These cats are all pure blue, after-hours shuffle. Because not only is Henderson, now in his eighty-third orbit, at a zenith in said orbit, ditto that of Donald Harrison's blue venue sax and George Cables' pianistic touch. Splice all that in with the interstitial elasticity of bassist Gerald Cannon and drummers Lenny White andMike Clark and "Scorpio Rising" becomes an infectious roll through the back alleys of late 1970s urban noir. The liquid gold of "I Am Going to Miss You, My Darling," written by the trumpeter's wife, beautifully occurs.

It is very hard to learn that everyone should lay back on the groove, but to this group it is a banner taken into battle. A badge of honor. Witness To History is full of badges and banners. First heard on Lee Morgan's eventful The Sidewinder (Blue Note, 1964), "Totem Pole" holds all the flash and slink of the original but with its own immediate vibe. Cables' jumpy "Why Not" is a slow steamer highlighted by trumpet and saxophone punching the air. As it should be, "Sweet and Lovely" is all trad jazz with Cannon in the lead.

Maybe when and if it all becomes accountable, Witness To History does not stand the test of time. Maybe it does. The same can be said for all and any of us. But that does not make Witness To History any less of great record. In fact it just being makes it all that much better.By Mike Jurkovic https://www.allaboutjazz.com/witness-to-history-eddie-henderson-smoke-sessions-records__22447

Personnel: Eddie Henderson - trumpet; Donald Harrison - saxophone, alto; George Cables - piano; Lenny White - drums ; Gerald Cannon - bass

Witness to History

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Willie Jones III - Groundwork

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:43
Size: 98,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:41)  1. Git'cha Shout On
(6:10)  2. Hindsight
(6:48)  3. Dear Blue
(5:23)  4. Toku Do
(4:43)  5. Charity
(6:27)  6. Groundwork
(4:02)  7. New Boundary
(4:25)  8. Jamar

Drummer Willie Jones III is releasing a new album, Groundwork, dedicated to the late Cedar Walton, Ralph Penland, Mulgrew Miller and Dwayne Burno, influences on Jones who have passed in recent years. Jones’ sixth album as a leader and the 17th release on WJ3 Records, is now available on iTunes and Amazon.com and will be in stores on February 19. On Groundwork, according to a press release, Jones explores the works of Walton, his former bandleader; Penland, an early mentor; and Burno, Jones’ contemporary and former band mate. 

The album also includes original tunes by Buster Williams, Eric Reed and more. Musicians on the recording include Williams (bass) and Eddie Henderson (trumpet), Reed (piano), Warren Wolf (vibes) and Stacy Dillard (saxophones).  https://jazztimes.com/news/drummer-willie-jones-iii-dedicates-new-album-to-departed-influences/

Personnel:  Drums – Willie Jones III;  Bass – Buster Williams; Piano – Eric Reed; Tenor Saxophone – Stacy Dillard; Trombone – Steve Davis; Trumpet – Eddie Henderson; Vibraphone – Warren Wolf

Groundwork

Thursday, March 3, 2022

Herbie Hancock - Gershwin's World

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:39
Size: 155,2 MB
Art: Front

( 0:56)  1. Overture (Fascinating Rhythm)
( 4:48)  2. It Ain't Necessarily So
( 5:58)  3. The Man I Love
( 4:00)  4. Here Come De Honey Man
( 5:51)  5. St. Louis Blues
(11:05)  6. Lullaby
( 3:31)  7. Blueberry Rhyme
( 1:26)  8. It Ain't Necessarily So (Interlude)
( 4:45)  9. Cotton Tail
( 4:43) 10. Summertime
( 1:56) 11. My Man's Gone Now
( 4:44) 12. Prelude in C# Minor
( 9:13) 13. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G, 2nd Mvt
( 4:38) 14. Embraceable You

Gershwin's World is a tour de force for Herbie Hancock, transcending genre and label, and ranking among the finest recordings of his lengthy career. Released to coincide with the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin's birth, this disc features jazzman Hancock with a classy collection of special guests. The most surprising of Hancock's guest stars is Joni Mitchell, who delivers a gorgeously sensual vocal on "The Man I Love," then provides an airy, worldly take on "Summertime." On these two tracks, she shows she has come a long way from her folksinger beginnings to become a first-class jazz singer in her own right. Stevie Wonder's unmistakable harmonica complements Mitchell's singing on "Summertime" and shares lead instrument space with his own voice on the W.C. Handy classic "St. Louis Blues." Jazzman extraordinaire Wayne Shorter smokes a solo spot on Duke Ellington's "Cotton Tail" and carves out some space for his soprano saxophone in the midst of "Summertime." 

A number of the young lions of jazz are featured on various cuts, and Herbie's old pal Chick Corea joins the leader for a piano duet of James P. Johnson's "Blueberry Rhyme." Gershwin's wonderful, extended "Lullaby" finds Hancock teamed with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, as does an attractive arrangement of a "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra" by Maurice Ravel, whose jazz influence can be heard on the piece. In addition, one of the most beautiful tracks on the album places star soprano Kathleen Battle's voice at the forefront of Gershwin's own "Prelude in C# Minor." Yet with all the fine performances by his guests, Gershwin's World remains Hancock's show, and he plays magnificently throughout. From beautiful to funky, percussive to melodic, improvisational to tightly arranged, Hancock and cohorts take a wondrous journey through the music and world of Gershwin. ~ Jim Newsom  http://www.allmusic.com/album/gershwins-world-mw0000038316

Personnel: Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea: Piano; Madou Dembelle: Djembe; Massamba Diop: Talking Drum; Cryo Baptista, Bireyma Guiye, Cheik Mbaye: Percussion; Eddie Henderson: Trumpet; Kenny Garrett: Alto Saxophone; James Carter: Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, Wayne Shorter: Tenor Saxophone; Bakithi Kumalo: Bass and Guitar; Ira Coleman: Bass; Terri-Lynn Carrington: Drums, Marlon Graves: Guitar, Robert Sadin: Percussion Programming; Stevie Wonder: Harmonica and Vocals; Charles Curtis: Cello, The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Kathleen Battle: Vocals, Joni Mitchell: Vocals.

Monday, November 22, 2021

Joe Farnsworth - Beautiful Friendship

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:16
Size: 163.2 MB
Styles: Standards, Hard bop
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[8:29] 1. Eddie's Mood
[5:51] 2. A Beautiful Friendship
[9:15] 3. Joobie
[6:40] 4. Lament
[7:56] 5. I'm Not So Sure
[8:29] 6. Something In Common
[9:40] 7. I See You, Brother
[7:21] 8. Melancholee
[7:31] 9. Joe's Tempo

Joe Farnsworth (D); Cedar Walton (P); Eddie Henderson (Tp / Flh); Eric Alexander (Ts); Steve Davis (Tb); Nat Reeves (B).

For his debut session, drummer Joe Farnsworth assembled a crew that mixes veterans Eddie Henderson and Cedar Walton with Farnsworth's regular running mates from the Criss Cross stables: tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander and trombonist Steve Davis, along with bassist Nat Reeves. The mood is definitely Blue Note bop, and as such fits well within the Criss Cross catalog. By soliciting tunes from his sidemen, Farnsworth put together a strong program that elicits fully engaged playing from all the participants. Alexander especially digs in on his own "Joobie," a duet with Farnsworth, and one of two tracks here dedicated to the memory of Farnsworth's late brother, James, a bebop baritone saxophonist. With the set opening and closing with compositions dedicated to participants, the recording has a warm fraternal feeling. Musically, Farnsworth keeps the session moving with steady time, showing why he's so in demand by both veterans and his peers. ~David Dupont

Beautiful Friendship

Monday, November 1, 2021

Eddie Henderson - Realization / Inside Out (Anthology: Volume 2 The Capricorn Years)

Styles: Trumpet And Cornet Jazz
Year: 1973
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:28
Size: 178,0 MB
Art: Front

(10:09) 1. Scorpio-Libra
( 8:53) 2. Mars In Libra
( 8:48) 3. Anua
( 2:34) 4. Spiritual Awakening
( 7:14) 5. Revelation Realization
( 9:00) 6. Moussaka
( 2:17) 7. Omnipresence
( 5:07) 8. Discoveries
( 3:34) 9. Fusion
( 7:22) 10. Dreams
( 9:27) 11. Inside Out
( 2:56) 12. Exit #1

Balancing a career in psychiatry with his love of forward-thinking post-bop and fusion, trumpeter Eddie Henderson has cut a distinctive path in modern jazz. Mentored by Miles Davis in his teens, Henderson emerged as an original member of Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi band in the 1970s, appearing on the landmark jazz-funk album Sextant. From there, he embarked on a solo career, issuing several of his own cross-pollinated funk and disco-infused albums for Capricorn, Blue Note, and Capitol Records. These albums, and especially his breakthrough U.K. hit "Prance On" from 1978's Mahal, were influential touchstones for later hip-hop, electronic, and acid jazz musicians. A licensed psychiatrist with a degree from Howard University, Henderson often split his time playing jazz and working in medicine. From the late '80s onward, he has remained a vital presence on the New York City jazz scene, releasing a bevy of well-regarded acoustic jazz albums like 2010's For All We Know and working as a member of the hard bop supergroup the Cookers.

Born Edward Jackson Henderson in New York City in 1940, Henderson grew up in a family steeped in the jazz tradition. His mother was a professional dancer at the Cotton Club, while his father was a member of the legendary Charioteers vocal group. Encouraged to play music, he first picked up the trumpet around age nine, and famously received an early lesson from Louis Armstrong, whom his mother knew from her days in Harlem. During his teens, Henderson moved to San Francisco with his family, where he continued to progress as a musician. A driven, highly disciplined student while in high school, he balanced his music practice, with studying, playing sports, and participating in competitive figure skating. It was during these years that he first met his longtime idol Miles Davis, who stayed at his parent's house when playing in the Bay Area. From the late '50s on, Davis was a heavy influence on the trumpeter's approach to jazz. It was also through Davis that Henderson first met future boss and bandmate Herbie Hancock.

After a stint in the Air Force, Henderson enrolled for medical school, earning his undergraduate degree at the University of California, and later finishing his medical studies at Howard University where he graduated in 1968. During his time at Howard, he would often spend the weekends driving from Washington, D.C. to New York to study with Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan. After earning his M.D., he then returned to the Bay Area where he served out a psychiatric residency and played jazz in his off-hours. While there, he was asked to join Herbie Hancock's innovative funk and fusion-based Mwandishi ensemble for a week-long run of shows in San Francisco. This led to a full-time appointment, and from 1970 to 1973, Henderson toured and recorded with the group, appearing on the influential 1973 album Sextant. As a leader, Henderson debuted with two well-regarded albums on the independent Capricorn Records label, 1973's Realization and Inside Out. Produced by Skip Drinkwater, whom Henderson met via his work with guitarist Norman Connors, these albums essentially featured the Mwandishi band with Hancock on electric keyboards, Bennie Maupin on reeds, Patrick Gleeson on synthesizers, Buster Williams on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. There were also contributions from drummers Lenny White and Eric Gravatt, as well as future-Headhunters percussionist Bill Summers. Both albums showcased a funky, avant-garde, electric fusion style similar to Henderson's previous work with Hancock. More Drinkwater-produced albums followed on Blue Note, including the psychedelia-dipped Sunburst with George Duke and 1976's Heritage, which featured a young Patrice Rushen on keyboards, sax, and flute.

Around this time, Henderson signed with Capitol Records and released three albums beginning with 1977's Drinkwater-produced Comin' Through. These productions built upon his previous efforts, but found him moving in even more of a cross-over direction with a less spacy, more dance-oriented approach to jazz-funk. In 1978, he scored a U.K. hit with the disco-infused "Prance On," off Mahal. His Capitol era culminated in 1979's equally disco- and soul-leaning Runnin' to Your Love. Although somewhat dismissed as "commercial" in the decades following the fusion era of jazz, Henderson's electric recordings enjoyed great popularity with hip-hop and electronic musicians, and are often cited (along with Miles Davis' and Herbie Hancock's work) as influential on the development of trip-hop and acid jazz. Moving to New York full-time in 1985, Henderson's solo recordings slowed somewhat as he worked increasingly as a physician. Nonetheless, he stayed active, appearing on albums with Billy Hart, Leon Thomas, Gary Bartz, and others. With 1989's Phantoms, he returned to regular recording with a series of albums that found him embracing an acoustic hard bop sound. He presence continued to grow throughout the '90s with harmonically nuanced, hard-swinging albums like 1994's Inspiration, 1995's Dark Shadows, and 1999's Reemergence. These albums still found Henderson indebted to Davis, but displaying his own brand aggressive, post-bop lyricism. It was an approach that only deepened as he entered his sixties, delivering such albums as 2004's Time and Spaces, 2006's Precious Moment, and 2010's For All We Know. Along with his own work in the 2000s, Henderson also played with the Mingus Big Band, Benny Golson, and others. He worked regularly with Billy Harper, eventually joining the saxophonist in the all-star ensemble the Cookers alongside longtime associates drummer Billy Hart, pianist George Cables, and bassist Cecil McBee, as well as trumpeter David Weiss and saxophonist Donald Harrison. A regular at New York's Smoke nightclub, Henderson has released several albums for their in-house label, starting with 2015's Collective Portrait. That same year, he celebrated his work with Hancock on 2016's Infinite Spirit: Revisiting Music of the Mwandishi Band. In 2018, he delivered his second Smoke Sessions date with Be Cool, featuring Cookers bandmate Harrison, pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Essiet Essiet, and drummer Mike Clark.~Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/artist/eddie-henderson-mn0000169948/biography

Personnel: Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn – Eddie Henderson (Mganga); Alto Flute, Flute, Saxophone [Stritch], Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Bennie Maupin (Mwile); Bass, Bass [Fender] – Buster Williams (Mchezaji); Congas – Bill Summers; Drums – Billy Hart (Jabali), Eric Gravatt (Kamau), Lenny White III); Drums, Percussion – Billy Hart (Jabali); Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes and Univox] – Herbie Hancock (Mwandishi); Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Clavinet, Organ – Herbie Hancock (Mwandishi); Saxophone [Stritch], Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo Flute, Tenor Saxophone – Bennie Maupin (Mwile); Synthesizer – Pat Gleeson; Synthesizer [ARP, Moog], Organ – Pat GleesonNotes

Realization / Inside Out (Anthology: Volume 2 The Capricorn Years)

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Gary Bartz - Music Is My Sanctuary

Styles: Jazz Funk
Year: 1977
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:02
Size: 83,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:22) 1. Music Is My Sanctuary
(5:57) 2. Carnaval De L'Esprit
(4:11) 3. Love Ballad
(6:53) 4. Swing Thing
(5:55) 5. Oo Baby Baby
(6:42) 6. Macaroni

Surrounding himself with a world-class ensemble of disco-jazz-fusion musicians and armed with the Mizell brothers at the production console (who were near the peak of their careers around this time), Gary Bartz took the route of Donald Byrd and brought new elements of funk, soul, and a foreshadowing of the soon-to-be-commercial disco craze all into a 40-minute workout on Music Is My Sanctuary. While purists shook their heads in disapproval and disdain at Bartz's new direction (one emulated by several jazz pioneers at the time), those who could take off their traditional jazz mufflers would find Bartz and the Mizells making some highly infectious, soulful music. Further accentuated by the addition of Syreeta Wright on vocals, the Mizells took Bartz into nearly uncharted territories for jazz musicians. The results of this experimentation more than paid off, with the dividends being Bartz's most polished, focused releases.~ Rob Theakston https://www.allmusic.com/album/music-is-my-sanctuary-mw0000027322

Personnel: Gary Bartz - Saxophone (Alto, Soprano), Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizer, Vocals; Larry Mizell - Keyboards, Vocals; George Cables - Piano; David T. Walker, John Rowin, Juewett Bostick, Wah-Wah Watson - Guitar; Curtis Robinson, Jr., Welton Gite - Bass; Howard King, James Gadson, Nate Neblett - Drums; Bill Summers, James Mtume - Percussion; Eddie Henderson, Ray Brown - Trumpet; Sigidi, Syreeta Wright - Vocals

Music Is My Sanctuary

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Courtney Pine - Modern Day Jazz Stories

Styles: Saxophone And Flute Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:00
Size: 136,1 MB
Art: Front

( 1:24)  1. Prelude - The Water Of Life
( 4:21)  2. The 37th Chamber
( 4:56)  3. Don't 'Xplain
( 8:48)  4. Dah Blessing
( 5:58)  5. In The Garden Of Eden - Thinking Inside Of You
(10:36)  6. Creation Stepper
( 7:33)  7. Absolution
( 3:50)  8. Each One - Must) Teach One
( 6:39)  9. The Unknown Warrior - Song For My Forefathers
( 3:41) 10. I've Known Rivers
( 1:09) 11. Outro - Guiding Light

On his return to Antilles and his debut with the Verve Group, Courtney Pine reaches out to unchartered musical zones, reflecting the sound of the street in a modern mix of pop, hip hop and jazz music. Described as Courtney's most focused album to date, Modern Day Jazz Stories combines the worlds of jazz and hip hop, utilizing the traditional sounds of jazz instruments simultaneously with turntables, but without overdubs. Full album to ship to jazz and college radio. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Jazz-Stories-Courtney-Pine/dp/B000004703

Personnel: Saxophone [Tenor], Saxophone [Soprano], Flute – Courtney Pine; Double Bass – Charnett Moffett; Drums, Percussion – Ronnie Burrage; Guitar – Mark Whitfield; Piano [Acoustic], Organ [Hammond B3] – Geri Allen; Trumpet – Eddie Henderson; Voice – Cassandra Wilson

Modern Day Jazz Stories

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Kevin Hays Quintet - Sweet Ear

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:16
Size: 128,7 MB
Art: Front

(9:26)  1. Neptune
(6:39)  2. Sweetear
(4:09)  3. Fun
(6:06)  4. Almost Always
(6:23)  5. You And The Nigth And The Music
(7:09)  6. Beatrice
(6:57)  7. Lonely Woman
(8:23)  8. Judgement

A talented pianist, Kevin Hays grew up in Connecticut and started lessons when he was seven. He made his recording debut with Nick Brignola; toured with the Harper Brothers (1989-1990); and worked with Joshua Redman, Benny Golson, Donald Harrison, Roy Haynes, and Joe Henderson, among others. Kevin Hays recorded three albums with Bob Belden, and in 1994 cut his first record as a leader, Seventh Sense (Blue Note). ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kevin-hays-mn0000082897/biography

Personnel: Piano – Kevin Hays; Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Vincent Herring; Bass – James Genus; Drums – Joe Chambers; Trumpet – Eddie Henderson

Sweet Ear

Monday, August 12, 2019

Ron McClure - Never Forget

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:40
Size: 157,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:52)  1. Halfmoon Again
(7:28)  2. Hello Spring
(4:07)  3. Lament for Lost Heroes
(7:26)  4. Belle
(6:39)  5. Never Forget
(8:41)  6. Hey New Day
(6:12)  7. We'll Say Hello Again
(6:32)  8. Illusions Of ...
(6:23)  9. Stinky Fingers
(9:16) 10. Remember Me

A resourceful and flexible bassist, Ron McClure has thrived in hard bop, jazz-rock, and free and bebop sessions and bands. One of the finest upper register players on either acoustic or electric, his rhythmic skills are tremendous. McClure has also been an active educator since the early '70s, teaching at Berklee and Long Island University and doing workshops both nationally and internationally. He started on piano at age five, and later played accordion and bass. McClure studied privately with Joseph Iadone and attended the Hartt School of Music, graduating in 1963. He later studied composition with Hall Overton and Don Sebesky. McClure played with Buddy Rich in the mid-'60s, and worked and recorded with Marian McPartland, Herbie Mann, and Maynard Ferguson during that same period. McClure played in Wyton Kelly's band in 1966, then joined Charles Lloyd in 1967. The Lloyd group also included Keith Jarrett and Jack DeJohnette, and enjoyed unusual popularity and publicity for a late-'60s jazz band. They were the first American group to play at a Soviet jazz festival, and also appeared at the Fillmore, one of the few jazz acts to play there. McClure was a founding member of the jazz-rock band the Fourth Way -- with Michael White, Mike Nock, and Eddie Marshall -- in 1968. They got a good response at the Newport and Montreux festivals in 1970, but disbanded in 1971 after a three-year stint. During the '70s, McClure played with Joe Henderson, Gary Burton, Mose Allison, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Liebman, Thelonious Monk, Tony Bennett, and Jarrett. He recorded with Jerry Hahn, Julian Priester, Cal Tjader, and the Pointer Sisters, and spent three years with Blood, Sweat & Tears in the mid-'70s. McClure played and recorded with George Russell, Tom Harrell, John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Mark Gray, Jimmy Madison, Adam Nussbaum, Richie Bierarch, Vincent Herring, Kevin Hayes, Bill Stewart, and Michel Petrucciani in the '80s and '90s. McClure has done sessions as a leader for Ode, Bellaphon, EPC, Steeplechase, and Ken Music. He has a few dates available on CD. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ron-mcclure-mn0000831201/biography 

Personnel: Bass – Ron McClure; Alto Saxophone – Vincent Herring; Drums – Bill Stewart; Piano – Kevin Hays; Trumpet – Eddie Henderson

Never Forget

Monday, June 3, 2019

Eddie Henderson - Phantoms

Styles: Trumpet Jazz 
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:34
Size: 137,1 MB
Art: Front

( 7:21)  1. Beauty in the bambles
( 5:59)  2. Little girl blue
(10:57)  3. Phantoms
( 8:27)  4. In walked Lila
( 8:01)  5. Jitterbug waltz
( 8:10)  6. Naima
( 5:40)  7. Dolphin dance
( 4:54)  8. Milestones

The master trumpeter from Herbie Hancock’s first band made his first recording for SteepleChase after several years’ absence from the scene. Evolving from the Miles Davis sound of the late 60s Henderson’s playing has developed into a very intriguing personal style.  “ This must be among his best recordings ….” (Jazz Journal)

Personnel: Trumpet – Eddie Henderson; Bass – Wayne Dockery; Drums – Victor Lewis; Piano – Kenny Barron; Vibraphone – Joe Locke 

Phantoms

Monday, January 21, 2019

Stanley Cowell - Setup

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:03
Size: 138,5 MB
Art: Front

(11:04)  1. Departure
( 7:14)  2. Setup
( 6:31)  3. Varions
( 7:14)  4. Bright Passion
( 9:21)  5. Bip Bip Bam
(10:06)  6. Sendai Sendoff
( 8:29)  7. Carnegie Six

While standards have played a major role on many of Stanley Cowell's albums, the acoustic pianist sticks to his own compositions on Setup. That fact alone makes this 1993 session especially noteworthy, for Cowell is a gifted, if underrated, composer. Cowell's talents as a composer are illustrated by memorable post-bop or hard bop pieces that range from the haunting "Bright Passion" and the mysterious title song to the Thelonious Monk-influenced "Varions." Thankfully, he has some hard-swinging allies to help him bring the material to life, including trumpeter Eddie Henderson, tenor saxman Rick Margitza, trombonist Dick Griffin, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Billy Hart. Cowell was 52 when he recorded Setup, and his supporters continued to hope that eventually, he would become a bigger name in the jazz world. ~ Alex Henderson https://www.allmusic.com/album/setup-mw0000239899

Personnel:  Stanley Cowell - piano; Eddie Henderson - trumpet; Dick Griffin - trombone; Rick Margitza - tenor saxophone; Peter Washington - bass; Billy Hart - drums

Setup

Saturday, October 6, 2018

Buddy Terry - Pure Dynamite

Styles: Saxophone And Flute Jazz
Year: 1972
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:41
Size: 104,7 MB
Art: Front

(10:11)  1. Quiet Afternoon
(10:49)  2. Paranoia
(17:32)  3. Baba Hengates
( 7:07)  4. Miscegenation

Edlin "Buddy" Terry (born January 30, 1941) is an American jazz musician and alto/tenor sax player. He was born in Newark, New Jersey. In the 1960s and 1970s Terry made albums for Prestige Records and Mainstream Records. He played with the group Swingadelic from 2000 to 2010. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Terry

Personnel:  Buddy Terry - tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute;  Woody Shaw - trumpet;  Eddie Henderson - trumpet, flugelhorn;  Kenny Barron - piano;  Joanne Brackeen - piano, electric piano;  Stanley Clarke, Mchezaji - bass;  Billy Hart, Lenny White - drums;  Airto Moreira - percussion;  Mtumé - African percussion

Pure Dynamite

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Buddy Terry - Lean on Him

Styles: Saxophone And Flute Jazz
Year: 1972
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:18
Size: 99,4 MB
Art: Front

( 5:55)  1. Lean on Me (Lean on Him)
( 5:39)  2. Holy, Holy, Holy
( 3:13)  3. Climbing Higher Mountains
( 4:52)  4. Amazing Grace
(10:17)  5. Inner Peace
( 5:45)  6. Precious Lord, Take My Hand
( 7:34)  7. Love Offering

One of the fullest albums we've ever heard from saxophonist Buddy Terry a set that has him blowing along with a set of soulful larger backings sometimes with a bit of gospel overtones as well! The lineup on the album's pretty darn hip players who include Larry Willis on electric piano, Jay Berliner on guitar, Ernie Hayes on organ, Wilbur Bascomb on Fender bass, Bernard Purdie on drums, and Lawrence Killian on percussion plus added vocals from a group that includes Dee Dee Bridgewater, Alphonse Mouzon, and Peaches Wilson! Buddy arranges and conducts and while his tenor and soprano get some space in the arrangements, the overall sound is more focused on the full spirit of the group. Titles include "Lean On Me (Lean On Him)", "Love Offering", "Inner Peace", "Amazing Grace", "Precious Lord, Take My Hand", "Holy Holy Holy", and "Climbing Higher Mountains".  © 1996-2018, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/850259/Buddy-Terry:Lean-On-Him

Personnel:  Buddy Terry - tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, arranger;  Eddie Henderson - trumpet, flugelhorn;  Jay Berliner - electric guitar;  Larry Willis - piano, electric piano;  Ernie Hayes - organ;  Wilbur Bascomb - electric bass;  Bernard Purdie - drums;  Lawrence Killian - percussion;  Alphonse Mouzon, Dee Dee Bridgewater - vocals

Lean on Him

Sunday, July 15, 2018

Eddie Henderson - Be Cool

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:01
Size: 179,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:37)  1. Smoke Screen
(5:01)  2. Be Cool
(7:04)  3. After Youve Gone
(7:00)  4. Loft Funk
(6:25)  5. Fran Dance
(5:26)  6. The Moontrane
(7:07)  7. Naima
(6:44)  8. The Sand Castle Head Hunter
(8:17)  9. Nightride
(6:37) 10. Toys
(5:44) 11. Easy Living
(6:55) 12. Dla Juzi

Though he's run the challenging career gamut from Miles Davis to Herbie Hancock's lauded explorations with Mwandishi he was an integral part of 1973's watermark Sextant (Columbia Records) to a doctorate in psychiatry and acclaimed records of his own, ie: '93's Inspirations (Milestone Records), '73's electronic spaciness Realization (Capricorn Records) among others, trumpeter Eddie Henderson has managed to swing low under the horizon, a highly regarded, highly respected player in the circle of players and all knowing jazz heads.  As solid and sturdy as any band of vets, the cool unwinds with the soulful, bubbling syncopation of Kenny Barron's "Smoke Screen," heralding in Henderson's Be Cool, and we're off to the races real quick. In the service of cool, Henderson has enlisted hip help from pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Essiet Essiet, saxophonist Donald Harrison and drummer Mike Clark. All are on their A Game, especially Henderson, whose brassy, bluesy tone sets the pace, knowing this could be a record to be remembered for. 

The usually kicking "After You're Gone" is daringly taken here as a still, reflective conversation of souls and hearts between trumpeter, pianist, and bassist. "Loft Funk" written by drummer Mike Clark and Jerd Levy, brings back the sparkling bounce as Essiet holds forth, his cohorts jumping and funking around him, having a particularly playful time. A spirited "Fran Dance," a percolating reverie on Woody Shaw's "The Moontrane," Harrison's lavish "The Sand Castle Head Hunter" and a punchy nod to Herbie Hancock with "Toys" makes Be Cool a high point for veteran camaraderie and ensemble playing, with one standout tracking following on the heels of another, leaping from one bedrock to the the next. Before he walks out the door to his next gig, Henderson says that his wife always advises him to be cool. And you know what the philosopher's have passed down through the ages: "Happy wife, happy life." With it's sweet mix ballads and bop, Be Cool proves to be, for the moment, Henderson's best. It has taken the words of his missus to heart. ~ Mike Jurkovic https://www.allaboutjazz.com/be-cool-eddfie-henderson-smoke-sessions-records-review-by-mike-jurkovic.php

Personnel: Eddie Henderson: trumpet; Donald Harrison: saxophone; Kenny Barron: piano; Essiet Essiet: bass; Mike Clark: drums.

Be Cool

Saturday, May 26, 2018

Gary Bartz - The Red And Orange Poems

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:39
Size: 136,3 MB
Art: Front

(7:01)  1. By Myself
(9:26)  2. Nusia's Poem
(5:55)  3. I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life
(6:44)  4. J Seas
(9:55)  5. Relentless
(4:11)  6. Along The Twelve Tone Row
(5:57)  7. Soulmate
(9:24)  8. But Not For Me

Alto veteran Gary Bartz may not have made it as big as originally predicted, but as shown on this 1994 studio date, he developed a sound of his own and was always capable of coming out with exciting yet thoughtful music. Joined by such associates as trumpeter Eddie Henderson, John Clark on French horn, pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Dave Holland, drummer Greg Bandy and percussionist Steve Kroon, Bartz is in excellent form on a variety of standards (including "By Myself" and "But Not for Me") and originals.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/red-orange-poems-mw0000122640   

Personnel: Gary Bartz (alto saxophone); Eddie Henderson (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Clark (French horn); Mulgrew Miller (piano); Dave Holland (bass); Greg Bandy (drums); Steve Kroon (percussion

The Red And Orange Poems

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Eddie Henderson Quartet - Echoes

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:00
Size: 175,0 MB
Art: Front

(12:01)  1. On Green Dolphin Street
(12:47)  2. Dubai
(11:20)  3. Oasis
(10:12)  4. Lost
( 9:30)  5. Sand Storm
( 5:57)  6. Tender You
(14:10)  7. Dolphin Dance

Eddie Henderson was one of the few trumpeters who was strongly influenced by Miles Davis' work of his early fusion period. He grew up in San Francisco, studied trumpet at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, but was trained to be a doctor when he permanently chose music. Henderson worked with John Handy, Tyrone Washington, and Joe Henderson, in addition to his own group. He gained some recognition for his work with the Herbie Hancock Sextet (1970-1973), although his own records (which utilized electronics) tended to be commercial. After Hancock broke up his group, Henderson worked with Art Blakey and Mike Nock, recorded with Charles Earland, and later, in the 1970s, led a rock-oriented group. In the '90s, he returned to playing acoustic hard bop (touring with Billy Harper in 1991) while also working as a psychiatrist.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/eddie-henderson-mn0000169948/biography    

Personnel: Eddie Henderson - trumpet;  Gilles Naturel - double bass;  Laurent De Wilde - piano;  Simon Goubert - drums

Echoes

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Eddie Henderson - Heritage

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:44
Size: 90,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:52)  1. Inside You
(3:44)  2. Acuphuncture
(5:19)  3. Time and Space
(4:12)  4. Nostalgia
(6:08)  5. Kudu
(7:33)  6. Dr. Mganga
(6:55)  7. Dark Shadows

For 1973's dynamite Realization and Inside Out, trumpeter Eddie Henderson reassembled most of the legendary Herbie Hancock sextet he'd been part of. In 1975 after leaving Capricorn for Blue Note, he kept elements of that group together for Sunburst, his label debut, with some major changes: George Duke played keyboards in place of Hancock; bassist Paul Jackson was replaced by Alphonso Johnson, and drummer Mike Clarke with Billy Hart. It resulted in a funkier experimental outing that tightened up the tunes a bit, but left plenty of blowing room for himself, reedman Bennie Maupin, and trombonist Julian Priester. The set sold well commercially, but many jazz critics derided it because of its perceived "commercial" overtones. Released in 1976, Heritage was greeted with even more ambivalence, but has since come to be regarded with Sunburst as one of the great recordings of Henderson's career by an entirely new generation who hold funky rhythms and electronics in high esteem. Henderson brought back Priester, and Jackson and Clarke returned to the rhythm section (Hart played on the album's final cut, "Dark Shadow"). Filling out the band were a young Patrice Rushenon keyboards, saxophonist, flutist, and clarinetist Hadley Caliman in place of Maupin, and percussionist James Mtume from the Miles Davis group. Henderson emulates the spacier edges of Davis' electric period in his own playing. Long lines of few notes are accompanied by hypnotic basslines and multi-layered polyrhythmic percussion on "Time and Space." On "Acuphuncture," Rushen's wah-wah keyboards, Jackson's driven bassline, and Clarke's rimshots and breakbeats introduce a lilting pair of lines from Caliman's flute and Henderson's trumpet, but within a minute, the tune cracks open into a driving, hard funk jam with Henderson laying down some short, choppy post-bop lines on his horn. Things become even darker and funkier on "Kudu," where Jackson's bassline is at the top of the mix. 

It's furious as it pops against Mtume's roiling congas in direct assaultive counterpoint to Clarke's kit work. Rushen creates fat, choppy chords and vamps for Henderson, Priester, and Caliman to solo over. It's tighter than Miles' electric material, but less spacy. Priester's trombone feels like a futuristic version of one on the front line in the J.B.'s. "Mganga" has a less pronounced set of lyric imagery, and offers the best explanation for some punters' trouble with the set: the abstraction (and absence) of a true front line sense of lyric in favor of angular, articulate countermelodies played by individual horns that move toward the rhythms almost in opposition, rather than play above them. The beautiful Star Trek futurism of the brass over Rushen's crazy solo also rocks. Caliman's bass clarinet tone is all but indistinguishable from Maupin's on "Dark Shadow" except for its economy. (He plays a continuous seven-note vamp through the entire tune.) The loopy, mournful wah-wah trumpet overdubs are a contrapuntal melody to that, but the drums begin to shake loose during Priester's future blues solo. The cut explodes at about the four-minute mark via Henderson's solo before deconstructing all but the vamps toward its close. Heritage is a wonderful set, and should be revisited by anyone who either missed or was put off by it initially. For the new generation of jazz and funk heads, this one is right up your alley these are some dark, freaky, and delicious grooves that bear further investigation. Heritagewas re-released on CD in 2008 as part of the Blue Note Rare Groove Series.~ Thom Jurek https://www.allmusic.com/album/heritage-mw0000791530

Personnel: Eddie Henderson (trumpet, flugelhorn, horns); Julian Priester (alto, tenor, tamboura, trombone, alto trombone, tenor trombone, bass trombone); Hadley Caliman (flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone); Patrice Rushen (clarinet, electric piano, Clavinet, clavichord, synthesizer); James Mtume (piano, congas, percussion); Paul Jackson (electric bass); Mike Clarke , Woody Theus, Mike Clark , Billy Hart (drums).

Heritage