First acquisition of the year is this Henderson gem on Milestone. Slowly ticking off his albums on that label, and this is the fourth one. Almost got a fifth at the end of last year but the grading was way off on that one.
This is definitely up there among my favorite Henderson albums. It’s very accessible, with a mix of hard bop and post-bop styles.
A nicely recorded session. It features a great tenor sound which is earthy and natural, a natural drum sound as well with nice details present on the cymbals, the bass is thick and full and the piano is delicately pleasant.
Recorded on two different dates in 1967 and 1968 at Plaza Sound Studios i NYC. We have two different quartets, one with Henderson on tenor, Don Friedman on piano, Ron Carter on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums. Kenny Barron and Louis Hayes are present instead of Friedman and DeJohnette on one of the sessions.
Favourite tunes is the smokin’ Henderson original ”The Bead Game” and the soothing ”Waltz for Sweetie” penned by Walter Bishop Jr.
