This 1971 Avant-Garde album was totally Japanese, in regard to where it was recorded live and the Japanese musicians that accompany Joe Henderson in making it happen. The only non-Japanese about this album is Joe Henderson himself and the 4 songs performed. Of these three Japanese Jazz musician only the drummer was known in the America (Read below). From all the enjoyable hours of listening to Joe Henderson, I always get the impression of a calm collective and peaceful man. He was a an improviser to the extreme but was very much under control to a point where there was no real wildness. In my opinion, he was the best tenor saxophonist in playing a ballad, there’s no doubt about it. He also was in the forefront of the civil rights Jazz movement in the 60’s. This album, “Joe Henderson in Japan” has a certain feel to it, the Jazz Con Class Radio listeners will actually experience a sort time travel back into time and will find themselves sitting right there watching Joe Henderson and company playing away! The Japanese audience’s knowledge, support and love for Avant-Garde Jazz also creates the most perfect atmosphere. This feature is my token appreciation to all the Japanese listeners that storm this radio station in the wee hours (NYC Time), THANK YOU! Check the schedule link for play times, enjoy!
About the album:
Digitally remastered by Kirk Felton (2000, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California). Tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson is heard in peak form throughout this set. Performing at the Junk Club in Tokyo, Henderson is joined by an all-Japanese rhythm section (electric pianist Hideo Ichikawa, bassist Kunimitsu Inaba, and drummer Motohiko Hino) on lengthy versions of “‘Round Midnight,” “Blue Bossa,” and his two originals “Out ‘n’ In” and “Junk Blues.” Henderson sounds quite inspired throughout the set, and the obscure rhythm section (only Hino is known in the U.S.) really pushes him…….Read More
