Eddie Henderson: For All We Know

Furthermore Recordings
By Ric Bang
Buy CD: For All We Know

Eddie Henderson, who plays trumpet and flugelhorn, is another of the jazz national treasures still active in his 70s.

If a character with his background and experience were concocted for a book or movie, the audience would find it difficult to believe: His first trumpet lesson came from Louis Armstrong; one of his childhood friends was Miles Davis; and his mother and her twin sister were members of the original Cotton Club chorus line, when Fats Waller was playing there.

Henderson studied music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, earned a degree in zoology from UC Berkley, studied medicine at Howard University, served his residency in psychiatry and practiced general medicine for 10 years.

And he performed with jazz groups during this period.

His first musical break occurred with one of Herbie Hancock’s groups and, over the years, Henderson has been a part of units led by Hancock, Art Blakey and other name artists. Henderson also has led his own groups from time to time.

The quartet featured here includes guitarist John Schofield, bassist Doug Weiss and drummer Billy Drummond. Note the absence of a pianist; Henderson has performed previously with Schofield, and neither felt the need for a keyboard instrument in this album.
Eddie composed two of the eight tracks (“Sand Storm” and “Popo”); the rest are covers of tunes that have a special meaning to him. “Jitterbug Waltz,” written by Waller, was featured in an old film (Henderson’s mother was seated next to Fats on the piano bench); and “Cantaloupe Island” is one of the songs that made Hancock famous. Henderson’s wife, Natsuko, wrote “Be Cool”; and “Missing Miles” is a tribute to Miles Davis, written by Al Foster.
The rest of the menu includes songs often played by artists Henderson has worked with. His renditions of “For All We Know” and “By Myself” are particularly noteworthy; his style is laid-back, funky at times, and his tone and phrasing are pure jazz.
We all should be as blessed in our chosen fields, at his age, as Henderson.

The Cookers: Warriors

JLP Records
By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Warriors

So, who are The Cookers?

Merely a septet of jazz icons whose youngest member is more than 50 years old; the rest are in their 70s. As a result, it’s difficult to name an artist or group that these guys haven’t (collectively) performed with.

The instrumentation consists of two trumpets (Eddie Henderson and David Weiss), alto sax and flute (Craig Handy), tenor sax (Billy Harper), piano (George Cables), bass (Cecil Mcbee) and drums (Billy Hart). Most of these artists are better known as sidemen than leaders: Cables, as one example, was the pianist for almost every group that Art Pepper led during his career. Most of the others here worked with Art Blakey, Miles Davis and other top groups that reigned from the 1960s on.

These guys aren’t merely masters of their instruments; they’re also composers and arrangers. All but one of this album’s tracks are originals by members of the septet; interestingly, most are done at balladic tempos. Everything is beautifully arranged and swings wonderfully.

This is pure jazz, as played by master artists. I loved it.

The Benny Golson Jazztet: New Time, New 'Tet

Concord Records
By Ric Bang • Originally published in The Davis Enterprise, 4.2.09
Buy CD: New Time, New 'Tet

Tenor saxman, composer and arranger Benny Golson, born in 1929 and still active, is a living legend. The Howard University graduate has worked with many of the jazz giants who were key to the bebop genre, including John Coltrane, the Heath brothers, Clifford Brown and Tadd Dameron.

Golson considered the latter to be the most important influence on his writing.

Golson's jazz standards include “Killer Joe,” “Whisper Not,” “Along Came Betty” and “I Remember Clifford.” He and the late Art Farmer co-led their famous Jazztet for several years, after which Golson concentrated on studio and movie soundtrack work. His musical contributions were an important part of the TV shows M*A*S*H, Ironside and Room 222.

Golson also had a key cameo role with Tom Hanks, in The Terminal.

Golson's new Jazztet features some fine, relatively new, sidemen. The basic sextet includes Steve Davis (trombone), Eddie Henderson (trumpet), Buster Williams (bass), Mike LeDonne (piano) and Carl Allen (drums). Vocalist Al Jarreau helps the group reprise “Whisper Not.”

The result is nice, tight and swinging. The covers of Sonny Rollins' “Airegen” and Thelonious Monk's “Epistrophy” provide a new spark to these jazz classics.

All in all, it's a groovin' album. Welcome back, Benny!