Milestone Years Henderson

In Pursuit Of Blackness (1971). The first 120 seconds or so of "Mind Over Matter" feature Joe Henderson, Stanley Clarke, and underground luminaries Lenny White (drums) and George Cables (keyboard) engaged in free-form, expressionist, abstract improv and then, in a short contained explosion, Henderson starts blowing his tenor like he's spitting out rounds of bullets from a gun. A torrent solo follows and, just when you think the song won't let up, in comes Curtis Fuller's trombone and then Pete Yellen's flute…

Joe Henderson - The Kicker (1968) {Milestone Japan VDJ-28061 rel 1989}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 239 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 91 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 131 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1968, 1989 Milestone / Victor Japan | VDJ-28061
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Saxophone

A key link between Joe Henderson's earlier years at Blue Note and his later, freer work for Milestone – recorded in a style that's got plenty of Blue Note hardbop touches, yet also done with a sense of freedom that you'd never expect from that label! Joe's grooving in a straight, yet angular mode – working with a sextet that include Mike Lawrence on trumpet, Grachan Moncur III on trombone, Kenny Barron on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums – all in a mix of soulful, exotic, and slight Latin styles – a sound that's clearly influenced by the work of Horace Silver at times, but carried off beautifully by Joe in a bold, young tenor voice.

This Fusion gem puts one of the most underated vocalist together with a few 70's fusion heavyweights and out comes a very enjoyable recording. George Duke, Alphonso Johnson, Airto and friends put out some of the hippest fusion in the 70' & 80's. Flora uses their musical abilities to the max on "That's What She Said." Using a variety of wordless vocal technics layered over electric keyboards and driving rhythms, these songs capture the fun and freedom that fusion later lost as it grew more commercial. Flora's entire catalog is ripe with music like this.

Nine years after the breakup of the final version of Return to Forever, Chick Corea ended a long period of freelance projects by forming his Elektrik Band. This set, the group's initial release, finds Corea meeting up for the first time with the great bassist John Patitucci and drummer Dave Weckl; half of the selections also have either Carlos Rios or Scott Henderson on guitar. Due to the high musicianship, the personalities of the players, and Corea's colorful compositions, the Elektrik Band quickly became one of the top fusion groups of the late '80s. This album is a milestone in contemporary jazz.

Tom Grant - Mystified (1976) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series CDSOL-6357}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 228 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 94 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 160 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1976, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6357
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Post Bop / Jazz Funk / Piano / Rhodes

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. Nothing mystifying here – as the album grabs us right from the get-go – with wonderful Fender Rhodes lines from leader Tom Grant, and plenty of soulful tenor from the great Joe Henderson! The album's an overlooked gem from Joe's late 70s years – and the the player is right at home next to Grant's keys – which are sometimes acoustic, and sometimes accompanied by a wordless, humming sort of vocal – which really gives the album some strongly soulful currents! The rest of the quartet features Rick Laird on bass and Ron Steen on drums – and the electric tunes are especially wonderful, and are almost an extension of the vibe of some of Joe's late Milestone albums. Titles include "Caribbean Firedance", "Gazelle", "No Me Esqueca", and "Peddie Has A Point".

A fine straight-ahead jazz saxophonist, Eric Alexander grew up in the state of Washington. He initially attended Indiana University, studying classical music as an altoist. However, he soon discovered jazz, switched to the tenor, and transferred to William Paterson College in New Jersey. After graduating, he moved to Chicago and gained important experience touring with Charles Earland while also becoming a fixture in local clubs. In 1991, Alexander placed second at the Thelonious Monk Institute's saxophone competition, finishing just behind Joshua Redman…

A fine straight-ahead jazz saxophonist, Eric Alexander grew up in the state of Washington. He initially attended Indiana University, studying classical music as an altoist. However, he soon discovered jazz, switched to the tenor, and transferred to William Paterson College in New Jersey. After graduating, he moved to Chicago and gained important experience touring with Charles Earland while also becoming a fixture in local clubs. In 1991, Alexander placed second at the Thelonious Monk Institute's saxophone competition, finishing just behind Joshua Redman…

Heaven and Earth is a double album containing 2.5 hours of new music. The Earth side represents the world Kamasi sees outwardly, the world that he is a part of. The Heaven side represents the world he sees inwardly, the world that is a part of him. “The world that my mind lives in, lives in my mind.”