My story behind this record is that in 1991, I was slumming across Europe doing the Hostel/Europass/Study Abroad (or two) schtick. I had not so much music, and was understandably elated when Curry sent me an audio care package. One cassette that became an instant favorite included a number of tracks from this here album. And I’ve loved it ever since. End of story.
AllAboutJazz: Tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson was born on April 24, 1937 in the small city of Lima, Ohio. He spent his childhood and adolescence in Lima in a family of 15 children where he was exposed to a variety of musical styles. By the time he was a high school student he was already arranging and writing music for the school band and other local outfits. It was in high school that a music teacher introduced him to the tenor saxophone.
After graduation he enrolled first at the Kentucky State College to study music and then moved on to Wayne State University in Detroit. There he had as classmates several future jazz greats such as Yusef Lateef and Donald Byrd. From 1960-1962 he enlisted in the US army where he led several small jazz groups and won first place in a musical competition and was sent on a tour to entertain the troops all over Japan and Europe where he met a few of the expatriate musicians.
After being discharged from the army he traveled to New York and sat in at Birdland with Dexter Gordon and other local musicians. During one of these sessions he was introduced to the trumpeter Kenny Dorham who was so impressed by his musicianship that he arranged for Joe Henderson’s first recording session as a leader with Blue Note Records. This resulted in the record Page One (1963) which to this day remains one of his most critically acclaimed albums. This recording also spawned the standard Blue Bossa.
CDUniverse: The title Page One is fitting for this disc as it marks the beginning of the first chapter in the long career of tenor man Joe Henderson. And what a beginning it is; no less than Kenny Dorham, McCoy Tyner, Butch Warren, and Pete La Roca join the saxophonist for a stunning set that includes "Blue Bossa" and "Recorda Me," two works that would be forever associated with Henderson. Both are bossa novas that offer a hip alternative to the easy-listening Brazilian trend that would become popular with the masses. Henderson and Dorham make an ideal pair on these and other choice cuts like the blistering "Homestretch" and the engaging swinger "Jinrikisha." These both show the already mature compositional prowess that would become Henderson's trademark throughout his legendary career. The final blues number, "Out of the Night," features powerful work by the leader that only hints of things to come in subsequent chapters.
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on June 3, 1963.
Originally released on Blue Note (84140).
About this here copy: Apart from the Curry cassette, I never owned a copy of this album until 1996, when I found it used on CD at Amoeba Records in Beserkeley, CA. An “Out of Print” sticker was affixed to the corner, which was their way of justifying the $15 purchase price. Fortunately for us all, the album was eventually remastered by Rudy Van Gelder hisself, so if you like what you get here, you can probably go out and find yourself an even better copy somewheres but below is strictly preremastered stuff...
AllAboutJazz: Tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson was born on April 24, 1937 in the small city of Lima, Ohio. He spent his childhood and adolescence in Lima in a family of 15 children where he was exposed to a variety of musical styles. By the time he was a high school student he was already arranging and writing music for the school band and other local outfits. It was in high school that a music teacher introduced him to the tenor saxophone.
After graduation he enrolled first at the Kentucky State College to study music and then moved on to Wayne State University in Detroit. There he had as classmates several future jazz greats such as Yusef Lateef and Donald Byrd. From 1960-1962 he enlisted in the US army where he led several small jazz groups and won first place in a musical competition and was sent on a tour to entertain the troops all over Japan and Europe where he met a few of the expatriate musicians.
After being discharged from the army he traveled to New York and sat in at Birdland with Dexter Gordon and other local musicians. During one of these sessions he was introduced to the trumpeter Kenny Dorham who was so impressed by his musicianship that he arranged for Joe Henderson’s first recording session as a leader with Blue Note Records. This resulted in the record Page One (1963) which to this day remains one of his most critically acclaimed albums. This recording also spawned the standard Blue Bossa.
CDUniverse: The title Page One is fitting for this disc as it marks the beginning of the first chapter in the long career of tenor man Joe Henderson. And what a beginning it is; no less than Kenny Dorham, McCoy Tyner, Butch Warren, and Pete La Roca join the saxophonist for a stunning set that includes "Blue Bossa" and "Recorda Me," two works that would be forever associated with Henderson. Both are bossa novas that offer a hip alternative to the easy-listening Brazilian trend that would become popular with the masses. Henderson and Dorham make an ideal pair on these and other choice cuts like the blistering "Homestretch" and the engaging swinger "Jinrikisha." These both show the already mature compositional prowess that would become Henderson's trademark throughout his legendary career. The final blues number, "Out of the Night," features powerful work by the leader that only hints of things to come in subsequent chapters.
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on June 3, 1963.
Originally released on Blue Note (84140).
About this here copy: Apart from the Curry cassette, I never owned a copy of this album until 1996, when I found it used on CD at Amoeba Records in Beserkeley, CA. An “Out of Print” sticker was affixed to the corner, which was their way of justifying the $15 purchase price. Fortunately for us all, the album was eventually remastered by Rudy Van Gelder hisself, so if you like what you get here, you can probably go out and find yourself an even better copy somewheres but below is strictly preremastered stuff...
320kbps
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