Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn

Artist: Joe Henderson
Label: Polygram Records
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 731451177927
EAN: 0731451177927
ASIN: B0000046KH

Release Date: 1992-02-18

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Listmania:

Where my jazz collection begins
Cool Jazz with Warmth (since 1990)
Top 20 - Saxofonistas
The Top 25 Albums from 1992
A few albums by "Tenor Man"Joe Henderson
Favorite releases of the 90's
Top Jazz Albums from my favorites musicians
Great Jazz Saxophone
Just A-Walkin' the Dog
jazz that will blow you away

Tracks:

Isfahan
Johnny Come Lately
Blood Count
Rain Check
Lotus Blossom
A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing
Take The A Train
Drawing Room Blues
U.M.M.G. (Upper Manhattan Medical Group)
Lush Life

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Double Rainbow: The Music of Antonio Carlos Jobim
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Inner Urge

Customer Reviews:

An Eloquent Tribubute to Billy Strayhorn.......2007-01-27

The Joe Henderson Quintet

Joe Henderson:Tenor Sax
Wynton Marsalis:Trumpet
Stephen Scott:Piano
Chritine McBride:Bass
Gregory Hutcherson:Drums

Billy Strayhorn
(born Nov.29,1915,Dayton,Ohio,-died May 31,1967,New York,N.Y.)

Strayhorn got his first recognition after he approached Duke Ellington with a composition in 1938,soon after,he was regularly contributing arrangments and original compositions.In 1941 Strayhorn's 'Take the 'A'
Train' became the the Duke Ellington Orchestra's theme song.As has been well documented "his work so complimented Ellingtons that it was often impossible to distinquish their respective contributions".Strayhorn was a master of the ballad,and this is well documented by several tunes in this set.His compositions exhibit a structural and harmonic sophisticatiion which he made as his trade mark and signature voice throughout his tenure,before his sudden and tragic death in 1967.
This is one of those albums were everything comes together:from the engineering,production to the peformance.
Joe's playing is stellar,very heartfelt,and crisp.The whole band sounds like they have been playing for years.The format is a unique one.We have a Tenor,bass duet-Tenor,piano,bass trio,a Quartet setting and Quintet settings and finaly capping the set off with a solo rendition of 'Lush Life'.The rhythm section,a young one,plays exceptionally throughout,and also contribute excellent solos..Highlights for me were 'Blood Count',Joes pathos here is over the top.On the Quintet sides 'Johnny One Note',Wynton smokes this one,also,'A Flower Is a Lonesome Thing',and "U.M.M.G.",you should carefully note the the rhythm sections fluid and constantly inventive approach,spurring on Henderson and Marsalis throughout.A gem.We also may consider this a tribute to the great tenor giant JOE HENDERSON.God speed to both of them.A real gem.Enjoy

Beautiful Tenor Sax Playing from Joe Henderson. A Classic Album........2006-10-19

This is a very special album. It is one of the best of Joe Henderson's many wonderful recordings. His playing on this album is just sublime; so expressive and yet restrained. This is a cd I shall listen to many times and highly recommend it to Amazon customers who seek a wonderful introduction to Jazz, or for those who, having liked Jazz for many years, want to hear Jazz musicianship in its highest form.

A not-so-good album. Why? Read this... .......2006-09-13

Despite all reviews posted here in this page are given 5-stars to this release, I need to be honest and explain why I am giving just one poor star. No, I am not crazy. Let me explain my point-of-view, and after that you can decide if this JH album really deserves more stars. Just to start, this album does not have a spinal-column that could guide the band(?) or the musicians thru a solid path. There are tracks played by a duo, trio, 4tt, and sometimes a very loose quintet, and each of these tracks have a different mood, without any presence of a jazz soul, or even a real smell of jazz. Maybe the intention of recording these tunes was to make a homage/tribute to Mr Strayhorn, or maybe a recognition for Mr Henderson value in the 20th century Jazz History as one of the most important hard-boppers ever. But the result was very poor. If you really love Joe Henderson (as I appreciate), try any of his albums from the 60's (as a band-leader or as a sideman), mainly those from the Blue Note era. In time: I gave one star, in memory of his brilliant carreer. This particular album deserve zero-star.

Best of his tributes.......2005-12-07

This was the first of Joe Henderson's string of tribute or songbook albums, which finally brought him the recognition he deserved in the twilight of his career. It's also the best of the tributes, maybe due to the strength of the Billy Strayhorn compositions. There was more brilliance to come in Henderson's career, but not at this level of consistency.

Lush Album: Every Moment Worth Hearing.......2004-12-28

This is a terrific collection of Billy Strayhorn compositions presented in surprisingly varied arrangements. The glue holding them all together is the late, great Joe Henderson and his forthright, beautiful, well-thought-out sax playing alongside bassist McBride. The pieces with Marsalis also really shine. There's never a dull moment in this rich recording, appropriately named Lush Life. Buy it and enjoy.

Music CD:

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Do or Die ~ Nico

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