Brian Eno Drawn From Life

Joe Henderson's entry in Polygram's mellow Quiet Now series focuses on his '90s recordings for the Verve label, a period when the tenor saxophonist had settled gracefully into a well-deserved elder statesman role. This is not to say that these ten performances are unnecessarily staid or conservative; indeed, Henderson's tone was better than ever during this period, and his characteristic soloing style, following the melody fairly closely but unafraid to branch out into uncharted musical waters, is in fine form throughout.

On A Short Diary, Sebastian Rochford leads from behind. The jazz drummer’s first release under his own name for ECM is unquestionably informed by recent events in his own life, yet Rochford—a former member of Sons of Kemet and Polar Bear who also works with Brian Eno and Andy Sheppard—settles into a restrained, secondary role. Pianist Kit Downes is the main animating force on an album where the two celebrated British players coexist in a gentle place clouded by melancholy.