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 December 3, 2025 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 December 6, 2025 by Rooster_Ties

[Holy Ghost]

3 hours ago, Late said:

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.

Much love for Power to the People. I need to dig deeper in Joe's Milestone catologue. 

[Pim]

Im a big fan of Joe both as leader as a sideman. All of the Blue Notes are great but my favorites would be:

- Inner Urge

- In n Out

on Milestone:

- Multiple

- Tetragon

- Power to the People

Later Joe:

- Mirror Mirror

- So Near So Far

- Double Rainbow

[Guy Berger]

Power to the People and In Japan are obviously exceptionally good, but I’ve been listening to some of the other later Milestones and they’re also quite enjoyable.  Joe had a combo of great sound and great ideas and was willing to make the most out of any setting into which he was placed.  And the settings on those albums are generally quite good if not always great.

[JSngry]

 

[Holy Ghost]

Been mentioned already, mentioning it again, brilliant record, maybe his best:

 

 

[Late]

1 hour ago, Guy Berger said:

I’ve been listening to some of the other later Milestones and they’re also quite enjoyable.  Joe had a combo of great sound and great ideas and was willing to make the most out of any setting into which he was placed.  And the settings on those albums are generally quite good if not always great.

Agreed. Black Is The Color contains one of my very favorite Henderson solos—on "Vis-A-Vis":

 

[HutchFan]

Among the later Milestones, Canyon Lady is also tremendous, IMO.

[Pim]

6 minutes ago, HutchFan said:

Among the later Milestones, Canyon Lady is also tremendous, IMO.

Oh yes

 

8 hours ago, Late said:

Agreed. Black Is The Color contains one of my very favorite Henderson solos—on "Vis-A-Vis":

 

Both excellent Milestone records. Top notch Joe.

[Late]

1 hour ago, HutchFan said:

Among the later Milestones, Canyon Lady is also tremendous, IMO.

Much agreed. When I was younger, I couldn't get with Joe's backing on this record. I "only" liked his solos. Thankfully, I grew up (some) and started hearing the whole record. I wonder what Joe thought of his 70's records; there's probably an interview out there somewhere.

 

Dig the In Japan photo without text!

[mikeweil]

7 hours ago, Late said:

Dig the In Japan photo without text!

Fully agreed!

[Eric]

20 hours ago, Holy Ghost said:

Been mentioned already, mentioning it again, brilliant record, maybe his best:

 

 

Simply adore this album!