Rick Laird – Soft Focus

An album led by guitarist Rick Laird, but a set that's probably equally noteworthy for the presence of tenorist Joe Henderson on a few tracks – who really shines here in an overlooked late 70s session! The core group is great enough – as Laird has these round, classic jazz guitar tones that slide in with soulful beauty next to the piano and Fender Rhodes of Tom Grant – and when Henderson's not around, Grant's solos are especially great – and really have this lyrical power that grabs us right away, and almost makes us forget the presence of Joe! But then Henderson comes back with that subtle edge of his – similar to his playing on the Mirror Mirror record – a raspy tone that really deepens the whole proceedings. Henderson produced the record, and plays on the tracks "Outer Serge" and "Tranquility".

An album led by guitarist Rick Laird, but a set that's probably equally noteworthy for the presence of tenorist Joe Henderson on a few tracks – who really shines here in an overlooked late 70s session! The core group is great enough – as Laird has these round, classic jazz guitar tones that slide in with soulful beauty next to the piano and Fender Rhodes of Tom Grant – and when Henderson's not around, Grant's solos are especially great – and really have this lyrical power that grabs us right away, and almost makes us forget the presence of Joe! But then Henderson comes back with that subtle edge of his – similar to his playing on the Mirror Mirror record – a raspy tone that really deepens the whole proceedings. Henderson produced the record, and plays on the tracks "Outer Serge" and "Tranquility".