Description
The newest package from the MPS Reforest the Legend series embraces the decade of 1970-1980, and covers a wide diversity of styles. Tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson gathers together jazz luminaries Chick Corea, Ron Carter and Billy Higgins for his 1980 recording Mirror Mirror.
Henderson, who died in 2001, was one of the most important jazz musicians of the last third of the 20th century. He became an overnight sensation as a member of Horace Silvers band on the release of Silvers Song for My Father. Henderson's solo on Silvers hit composition is held up as a prime example of brilliant jazz improvisation. Another highpoint in this rather reserved musician's life was the Grammy Award Henderson received in 1991 for his album Lush Life.
Henderson's playing style was influenced by, among others, John Coltrane. The connection is amply demonstrated by Henderson's ecstatic, piercing solo on his modally based composition "Joe's Bolero." On the standard "What's New," the saxophonist shows off his mellow, melodic side, a facet of Henderson's playing that always had appeal beyond the jazz community. Henderson gathered a truly all-star group for 1980's Mirror, Mirror: Chick Corea on piano, Ron Carter on bass and Billy Higgins on drums. This album isnt about a soloist and his sidemen: all the musicians are on equal footing; everyone has their space to play.
Once again sound engineers Christoph Stickel and Dirk Sommer have scrupulously remastered the original recordings. The resulting releases are high quality 180-gram vinyl pressings enclosed in record jackets containing the original artwork.
