Joe Henderson

[Peter Friedman]

Not long after I got out of the US Army and returned home to Detroit, I often went to a jazz club to hear the Joe Henderson Quartet.. Joe was living in Detroit.

It was so very many years ago I am unable to recall who made up the rhythm section for that gig. Though  Joe was a new name to me, I recall digging Joe's tenor playing very much. It was not very long after that when Joe's first Blue Note record was released.

 

[HutchFan]

1 hour ago, Late said:

Listening to the 2025 remaster of Multiple right now. No compact disc issue to accompany this new remaster, which is sad. This is an undervalued album in Henderson's discography.

I agree with you, @Late.  Multiple is a terrific album -- and WAY underrated, imo. 

I was surprised (but happy) to see it reissued by Craft.

 

Edited Wednesday at 06:12 PM by HutchFan

[Pim]

11 hours ago, Peter Friedman said:

Not long after I got out of the US Army and returned home to Detroit, I often went to a jazz club to hear the Joe Henderson Quartet.. Joe was living in Detroit.

It was so very many years ago I am unable to recall who made up the rhythm section for that gig. Though  Joe was a new name to me, I recall digging Joe's tenor playing very much. It was not very long after that when Joe's first Blue Note record was released.

 

That’s a great story Peter. Must have been a wonderful experience.

10 hours ago, HutchFan said:

I agree with you, @Late.  Multiple is a terrific album -- and WAY underrated, imo. 

I was surprised (but happy) to see it reissued by Craft.

 

Yeah I think that one really stands out in the already excellent Milestone catalogue. The Craft reissue sounds terrific 

[Late]

On 12/3/2025 at 9:09 PM, Pim said:

The Craft reissue [of Multiple] sounds terrific.

I've only heard it through Bandcamp, but I agree. I sooo wish it would've had a new compact disc reissue. At least vinyl is out there.

[Late]

70's Joe isn't as famous as 70's Miles, but that era of Henderson is worthy of wider investigation. In Japan is blowing my mind all over again. I wish there were more than four songs on the U.S. compact disc. The rhythm section on that record is definitely no slouch. They were inspired!

[felser]

26 minutes ago, Late said:

 In Japan is blowing my mind all over again. I wish there were more than four songs on the U.S. compact disc. The rhythm section on that record is definitely no slouch. They were inspired!

If I could only own one Henderson album, that would probably be it.  

[Late]

8 hours ago, felser said:

If I could only own one Henderson album, that would probably be it.  

Now THAT is saying something! For me, it'd probably be Our Thing, but In Japan would certainly be in the running. Any Henderson fan who only knows his Blue Note work needs to hear In Japan.

[clifford_thornton]

Those are probably his best two.

[JSngry]

Inner Urge is pretty strong too.

[Holy Ghost]

See a poll forming....

This is my thing:

[Daniel A]

4 hours ago, Holy Ghost said:

See a poll forming....

This is my thing:

Definitely for me as well.

[clifford_thornton]

On 12/3/2025 at 1:05 PM, Peter Friedman said:

Not long after I got out of the US Army and returned home to Detroit, I often went to a jazz club to hear the Joe Henderson Quartet.. Joe was living in Detroit.

It was so very many years ago I am unable to recall who made up the rhythm section for that gig. Though  Joe was a new name to me, I recall digging Joe's tenor playing very much. It was not very long after that when Joe's first Blue Note record was released.

 

wow.

[Late]

Great story, Peter!

I wish that Joe had recorded even more for Blue Note, but—can't change history, and can't get greedy!😁

In 1990, I was in Los Angeles and visited The Record Collector. I asked the (knowledgeable though very cranky) owner "where the Joe Henderson section" was. He kind of smirked, and then led me to a section of the shop with a tall ladder. "Up there," he said. I climbed the ladder and found what I was looking for—a first pressing of Power To The People. I can't remember what I paid, though I do remember I only had two $20 bills on me. (So, under $40, I guess.) That summer, I only played that record, over and over. I still had a horrible job in food service, and that record kept me going.

[Rooster_Ties]

My first two Joe records — Mode for Joe and Power to the People (along with KOB and Nefertiti) — were THE very FIRST jazz albums I ever owned (circa 1990, summer before my junior year of college).  Got ‘em all at the very same time.

And I played all four constantly for 2 or 3 months straight, right after I got ‘em — and those particular two by Joe remain my favorites of his.

Edited 45 minutes ago by Rooster_Ties