 As
we continue making what we hope will be a significant, though small
contribution to jazz history, we at Arkadia feel it is important to
honor the legacy of some of jazz's greats. For this project--the fourth
in our series of musical homages--we asked some of today's brightest
talents to create a portrait of one of the great tenor saxophone players
to emerge out of the 1960's: Joe Henderson. Always soulful and dense,
Joe's sound is the synthesis of the bop and avant-guard movements as
they moved through the 60's and beyond. Since Joe's first recordings, he
has always had an immediately recognizable sound and style. Many of his
songs became instant standards. His compositions not only reflect the
times in which they were composed, but the future sensibility of jazz as
well; they encompass the humor of Monk, the drive of Parker and the
intensity of Rollins and Coltrane, all with the indelible Henderson
thumbprint…only he could
have composed these songs.
The
Joe Henderson Project (Eric Reed, Carl Allen, Rodney Whitaker, Javon
Jackson, Terrell Stafford, Randy Brecker and Steve Nelson—plus a
special appearance by Arkadia Jazz recording artist Joanne Brackeen, who
was Joe Henderson’s pianist for a number of years) interprets some of
the songs (that typify the Henderson sound and spirit) in their own
unique style and manner,. From the soul swagger of "Mamacita"
and "Recorda Me" to the calm beauty of "Isfahan" and
"Ask Me Now", to the dry humor of "Isotope" and
"Granted" and the lugubrious and mysterious
"Gazelle" and "Inner Urge", to the blow-out of
"The Kicker", Henderson's message is loud and clear: these
songs are here to stay, and are more important now than ever before. All
of the artists on this collection have benefited from Joe's music and
influence, and their musical statements say more than any written words
can convey. Wide in scope and deep in nature, we will remain in debt to
Henderson for many years to come. As such, we fell very strongly that it
is important from time to time to say…Thank You, Joe!
BOB KARCY, Founder
& CEO, Arkadia Records
|
ARKADIA JAZZ